If there is something that all people know about cats, it is that they purr but, Why do cats purr? Many people believe that they do it when they are comfortable and happy.
However, cats also use purring to communicate other states to other cats as well as to us.
Due to the great advance on animal welfare, society is more focused on understanding how animals communicate their feelings. In fact, cats generate great curiosity among the scientific community. Nothing surprising since for more than 10.000 years they have been living with humans and, currently, it is one of the most popular pets worldwide.
Of all the carnivores they have the largest repertoire of vocalizations, this could be due to their social organization, nocturnal activity and the long period of contact that the mother has with the young.
How do they produce the purr?
It is produced through nerve impulses that act on the muscles of the larynx and make it vibrate between 25 and 150 vibrations per second. So when the cat inhales and exhales air, the glottis opens and closes, and thus the purr is produced.
Why do cats purr?
Kittens purr after two days of life, usually when they are suckling. It is the main form of communication with the mother. The cat purrs before having the young, and once they are born it is believed that the purr serves to guide the kittens to their location. It is somewhat reciprocal, since the kittens purr to indicate to the mother how they are.
In the case of adult cats, they usually purr when they are happy, regardless of whether they are alone or accompanied. If they are in a state of anxiety or in front of a dominant cat, they use it to try to appease it, they can purr louder and in a more tense body posture to calm the tension.
In fact, according to studies, they also use the purr to get the owner to respond to your demand. In this specific case, it has been discovered that together with the purr they emit a sound with a frequency similar to that of the crying of human babies. In this way, let's say that it activates the "maternal instinct" of the owner, who reacts by giving him what he asks for, be it attention, food, play, etc.
Another curious fact is that they use purring for healing purposes. Frequencies that are between 24 and 150 vibrations per minute cause mechanical stimuli to be activated in the writing, this affects bone metabolism, generating new bone cells, which causes bone tissue to remodel and repair. This is a rather peculiar mechanism, since in the case of dogs they obtain these same benefits when they walk or run. However, cats have adapted it to their "sedentary" way of life.
Another use of purring is to strengthen muscles and repair tendons, as well as ease breathing and reduce pain or swelling.
Why are there cats that don't purr?
Some owners are shocked when their cat is not purring and the first thing that comes to mind is that their cat is not happy. This has nothing to do with it, it is rather due to a cat social factor, there are cats that are more "talkative" and purr more than others. Whether they are because they are more sociable and others more introverted. Therefore, you should not be alarmed that your cat does not purr if he does so very little. But if he tends to purr frequently and stops doing so, it is convenient to pay attention to him.
My cat purrs, and a lion purrs?
Not all cats purr. In the case of small felines such as cats, lynxes and cougars, the hyoid bone at the base of the tongue is ossified and rigid, so when the larynx vibrates it allows them to purr. On the other hand, in large cats such as lions, tigers, and leopards, the hyoid bone is not fully ossified and is attached to the skull by an elastic ligament. Therefore they cannot purr but they can roar, which our little cat cannot.
Sounds other than purring
Without a doubt, the purring of cats is what most captivates us about them, however there are other sounds they make, and that we should know how to recognize that they express, such as:
- Meow. It is a sound that lasts from a fraction of a second to a few seconds, and the cat makes the sound by gradually opening and closing its mouth. In some cases, a meow may be accompanied by another sound. It does not have a closed meaning. Simply, it is a way in which the cat manages to capture the attention of the person, so that they value some situation in the environment. For example, meowing for you to open the door, feed him.
- Call for help. This sound is usually from the pups. Either because they have been left alone or are trapped somewhere or under the mother, the mother is the one who knows how to interpret them well.
- Warble or chirp. It is a sound somewhere between a meow and a growl, characterized by a rise in pitch and a duration of less than a second. Cats do this without opening their mouths. It is often part of the communication between mother and kitten, and is also used by adult cats to send friendly greetings to other cats or people.
- sexual calls. Both male and female cats emit an intense and persistent howl to attract a mate when they are in heat. Males also use it to mark territory. Many owners make the decision to neuter their cats precisely because of these pertinent "meows."
- Snort and spit. A cat trying to protect itself and threats may open its mouth wide and expel air sharply. The result is a hissing sound that lasts for almost a second, known as a snort. Kittens less than three weeks old already know how to do it. When the air discharge lasts only a small fraction of the time, the sound produced is a short spit or snort.
- Howls and howls. They make threatening sounds, seemingly endless meows. They are characterized by being sharp and noisy. This strong threat helps prevent direct fights between cats.
- Short growl. It was a low, menacing sound that lasts from a fraction of a second to a few seconds.
- Scream or scream of pain. This sound is usually made by a cat when it is hurt, it is very sharp and sudden, as if it were a rumble. The cry also marks the end of mating.
- Cackle. It is a difficult sound to describe, but once you hear it, it is impossible to forget it. This is a series of high-pitched sounds the cat makes when its jaw trembles. A typical situation in which a cat makes this sound is when he is staring at his prey with an obstacle in the way. He expresses a state of intense arousal and may become frustrated by the inability to achieve it.
In summary, it can be said that the purr is rather identified with a high, negative or positive emotional state, indistinctly, depending on the situation. I hope this article has been useful to you.