• Question: Why do cats purr

    Asked by daniel96 to Andrew, Ben, Beth, Heather, Louisa on 24 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Heather McKee

      Heather McKee answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      As kittens
      When kittens are very young, they can’t see, and they can’t smell or hear very well. The vibrations from the mom cat purring allow the kittens to find her more easily. Her purring also acts as reassurance. She’s letting them know that she’s friendly, happy and ready for nursing them.

      As cats its thought that the same social reassurance provided by owners causes the cat to purr when your paying attention to it!

      In order to purr a cats voice box muscles rapidly twitch. This causes rapid, repeated partial closing and opening of the middle of the voice box (i.e. the area where air moves through). The repeated closing and opening causes vibrations in the air being breathed in and out. It’s these vibrations that are responsible for making the purring sound.

      The vibrations happen when the cat breathes in and out, which is why the purr sounds continuous, as if he’s not stopping to breathe at all!

      check out mangos super purr below:

    • Photo: Beth Dyson

      Beth Dyson answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      There is no definitive answer as to why cats purr! But it is definitely a mechanism of communication between cats and other cats, and also between cats and us! One of the most accepted theories is that the cat is indicating that it isn’t a threat. It may also be a call for help, or a signal that the cat is happy!

    • Photo: Andrew McKinley

      Andrew McKinley answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      When cats purr, usually it’s because someone else is stroking them! Cats tend to avoid me like a cold shower!

      The purring though is a sign of contentment – much like we go “Hhnnggmmmmmmmmmmm” when we stretch in the morning! Other than that, I don’t know enough about cats to be able to give you a full answer I’m afraid!

    • Photo: Louisa Chard

      Louisa Chard answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      I think the research suggests that cat purrs are most commlnly assocaited with positive experiences. One reason is thought to be that the cat purrs so her kittens can find her more easily as they are bind when born and can’t see or smell very well. The vibrations produced on purring helps them locate mum a bit better.

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