Cats,  Secrets of Cats,  Vet 101

Purrs Decoded

If you love cats, sharing makes us purrrr :-)

This week’s Vet 101 question for Dr. Richard Goldstein is one that Odin (pictured below) takes for granted. If you have a question for our cat expert, send it to the editor at [email protected]

I have one cat who purrs like crazy and another who rarely purrs. Is it normal not to purr and why can scientists figure out why cats purr anyway?

to err is human, to purr divine

Purring has to rank up there with one of the great mysteries of life. For years, scientists have attempted to answer the questions of how and why cats purr. Back in vet school, I remember a professor trying to examine a purring cat under fluoroscopy (kind of a live-action x-ray), but every time he tried to photograph the cat purring, she would stop!

Scientists have demonstrated that purring is produced through a coordinated effort between the laryngeal muscles in the throat and the diaphragm. But the exact mechanism is still not known. An article in Scientific American in 2006 (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-cats-purr) provided a nice review of some of the suggestions about why cats purr. “Happiness” or “contentment” is one possible reason. From a medical standpoint, the sound frequency (25 to 150 Hertz) that purring produces suggests it may be beneficial in promoting bone and muscle healing, and in stress reduction (similar to chanting “ohm” in yoga).

Since we don’t know exactly how or why cats purr, it’s difficult to know exactly why some cats don’t purr. If there has been damage to the larynx or the diaphragm, it would make sense that the “purr machine” can fail. There is also some anectdotal evidence that cats may learn to purr from their moms, so orphan kittens may not learn to purr unless they are exposed to a cat who teaches them how to do it. Or, maybe some cats just don’t like the sensation.

All of this purring talk reminds me of an experience I had in Borneo. While studying the Proboscis Monkey, we noticed a group of monkeys on one side of the river in the morning. That evening, they were on the other side of the river. How did they get there? No one had ever seen a proboscis monkey swim. The next day, we saw the most remarkable sight: the monkeys were jumping into the river one at a time, swimming across the river, while the next monkey waited atop a tree watching for crocodiles before he jumped in. I quickly reached for my camera, and, wouldn’t you know, just as I snapped the picture, the battery in my camera died and the shutter jammed closed.

Some mysteries in life are just not meant to be revealed.


Editor’s Note: tell us how your cats purr.

10 Comments

  • Mr Puddy

    Interesting Post !

    I have 3 volume of Purrs

    The normal purr when I been touched by my dad or mom, but the strang thing mom notice, after I did purrs, I have to run to my food bowl and eat.

    Medium purrs when mom stay with me while I eating.
    The loudest purrs when I make a biscuit.

    Purrs
    xoxo

  • CCL Wendy

    Hi Layla, Thanks for the welcome to the Cat Lady Coalition and for coming to see Dante. Your comments are always welcome!

    All of my cats purr, but each at different times. Dante purrs in the morning when he’s being fed his breakfast, and when he’s in a sleepy mood and I pick him up to cuddle.

    Dylan is funny. He likes our electric massager (which I call a Thumper) which makes a purring-like sound. Whenever I use it, he comes running and wants me to use it on him. He likes rubbing his muzzle over the vibrating heads, and he purrs up a storm.

    Domino generally purrs when she’s in an affectionate mood, and while making biscuits on top of me.

    Great blog!

  • Cat's Cats

    One of the best explanations I ever read was that cats purr to request friendship. This clever theory would explain purring in both content and dire circumstances.

    What I find interesting is differing purring volumes, I wonder if that equates to loud and soft voices in humans. I have pretty low purrers in my house at the moment but I had an old calico whose purr sounded like a train running through the room…she used to like sleeping on my pillow – LOL!!!

  • Marg

    I have seen cats purr when they are terrified. Magnolia, when she was at the vet, after they got her out of the carrier, she started to purr which I am sure was just from nerves. But great info . Thanks .

  • Pam Kimmell

    I agree – some mysteries simply are meant to remain as such. All I know about purring is I find it very soothing to hear – and I like to think that it’s soothing to the “purrrer” just as it is for the “purrree”.

    Pam (and Sam)

  • CATachresis

    It doesn’t look like we will ever know exactly why cats purr. Austin has one of the loudest purrs I’ve heard when he is excited and aroused. When he is content his purr is softer. Also when he is frightened he will purr, like when he goes to the vet!

    Very interesting about the monkeys!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content is copyright protected !!