Cats are one of Earth’s most fascinating creatures, and they amaze all of us, from head to paw. Among all their special traits, one habit they have that has been talked about a lot is purring. But what exactly is it? Why do cats purr?
Key Takeaways
Cat purring is a low-frequency vocalization, about 25 to 150 hertz, produced by rapid contractions of the laryngeal muscles.
Cats purr to communicate, express comfort, self-soothe, heal, and socialize.
It helps humans by reducing stress, enhancing healing, and supporting cardiovascular health.
What Is Cat Purring?
A cat’s purr is a continuous rhythm that is produced by their larynx and diaphragm. This happens when air passes over their vocal cords when they inhale and exhale. But how is this done?
Cats purr through a neural oscillator that comes from the brain. This sends a signal to the muscles in the throat, causing the larynx and diaphragm to rapidly contract and relax. By doing so, the opening between the vocal cords, or glottis, is constantly opening and closing.
When cats breathe, the air passes through the vibrating muscles and creates a continuous sound of about 25 to 150 hertz.
Why Do Cats Purr?
Now that we know what purring is and how cats do it, let’s talk about why cats purr.
To Communicate
Cats use purring as a means of communicating with you and other cats. When used on humans, purring acts as a signal of the cat’s emotions and feelings in the moment. The exact meaning can have several different meanings, such as a need for food, attention,
It’s also often helpful to correlate a cat’s purring and its body language to get a grasp on what it wants to say. Cats usually combine body language and purring to interact with you. For example, a cat’s purr usually translates to a greeting whenever their tail is held up straight.
To Express Comfort and Relaxation
One of the best feelings in the world is when your cat feels happy around you. When your cat purrs during moments like these, it could be possible that they feel comfortable and relaxed. This can be when they sit on your lap, lie down beside you, or even snuggle with you on the bed.
Usually, a contented cat may purr loudly. A cat purring during times like these may be accompanied by supporting body language that indicates that the cat loves being around you. This includes a relaxed posture, kneading, and slow blinking.
To Self-Soothe
Cats purr not only when there’s pleasure in their current situation, but also when they need to catch a breather. This typically happens when cats get anxious, stressed, or feel pain. They may exhibit a few behavioral changes around the house, which can also indicate that they’re troubled.
Basically, purring can be a way for cats to release the stress and discomfort they are feeling, which ultimately helps them calm down.
To Heal and Recover
It has been carefully studied that cats’ purring has some sort of therapeutic properties for them. Having a frequency of 25 to 150 Hertz, the frequency of a cat’s purring produces vibrations that could be a big help in healing from inflammation, wounds, and injuries.
Along with healing, purring has also been shown to have a part in pain relief. It’s just like their own little hospital.
To Socialize and Interact
While purring can be used to communicate with their owners, cats also purr to interact with other cats. This can be observed in mother cats and their kittens. A mother cat may constantly purr while attending to her kittens.
This helps create a strong sense of love, care, and security that comforts the young ones. Kittens can’t see or hear after birth, but they can feel their mother’s purr. This lets them know they’re safe. Cats purring with each other also form strong social bonds.
Essentially, cats purr for a number of reasons, all pertaining to how they feel. Purring is how cats show their emotions and communicate with us. But before that, we’ll talk about what purring actually is, including why they do it, which cats do it more, and how it can benefit us.
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