{"id":35662,"date":"2024-03-26T14:43:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T13:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2f90e44e-9a35-4539-9e95-dca6c9e0ceb8"},"modified":"2024-03-26T15:39:23","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T14:39:23","slug":"why-do-cats-purr","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/why-do-cats-purr\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do cats purr?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We take a look at the fascinating world of feline communication and physiology to unravel the secrets behind this enigmatic behaviour. <\/p>

By countryfile\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 26 March 2024 at 13:43 PM<\/p>

\n\n

It\u2019s perhaps one of the most soothing sounds known to the human ear \u2013 the soft purr of a contented cat. But why is it that our feline friends purr, what does it tell us about their mood? And perhaps most intriguingly, how loud can this seemingly delicate sound truly be? (For the surprising answer, scroll down to watch the remarkable Guinness World Records attempt).<\/strong><\/p>

Elle Boden, Behaviour Officer at Cats Protection<\/a> explains everything you need to know about purring.<\/strong><\/p>

A purring cat is often a happy cat. Credit: Getty<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>
Why do cats purr?<\/h2>
It is indeed true that cats who are relaxed may purr contentedly. But like many characteristics of cats, it\u2019s not always that simple \u2013 as we\u2019ll come to later. <\/p>
Cats can purr for a variety of reasons, and by watching their accompanying body language, you can work out why. In general, if a cat appears calm, with small pupils in their eyes, ears forward and relaxed, and their tail is pointing up or curled around them, their purring is most likely a sign they\u2019re happy. <\/p>
<\/div><\/figure><p>If they\u2019re purring while twirling around your legs or nuzzling up to you, chances are they\u2019re after a bit of attention, so a gentle fuss may be in order.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do cats purr to communicate?<\/h2><p>Just as newborn humans are born with the ability to cry to communicate their needs, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/cat-vaccinations-which-vaccinations-cats-need-and-when-kittens-should-receive-their-first-jab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">kittens<\/a> are able to purr from birth. They use it to let their mum know where they are, if they\u2019re hungry, and to develop that close bond which will keep them safe in the first few weeks of life.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-do-cats-purr-when-you-pet-them\">Why do cats purr when you pet them?<\/h2><p>Ever noticed how your cat begins to purr loudly when you\u2019re stroking or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/homemade-cat-toys-how-to-make-cat-toys\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">playing<\/a> with them? This type of purring kicks in when cats are particularly stimulated and may be accompanied by kneading, drooling and licking. <\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-does-my-cat-bite-me-while-purring\">Why does my cat bite me while purring?<\/h2><p>It\u2019s absolutely fine to continue, but some cats can get to the point of overstimulation and might bite or scratch. If this happens, leave them alone to calm down and aim to finish playtime slightly sooner next time.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can cats feel stressed when they purr?<\/h2><p>Most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/search?phrase=dog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dog<\/a> owners will tell you their dog will bark when they\u2019re happy, like when they\u2019re enjoying an energetic game, and also when they\u2019re feeling threatened, perhaps by a loud sound such as fireworks. <\/p><p>It\u2019s the same with cats and purring \u2013 they do indeed purr when happy, but they\u2019ll also purr when they\u2019re feeling stressed. This is why it\u2019s so important to watch accompanying body language \u2013 if your cat is purring while their ears are flat or turned to the side, their eyes are wide open and their whiskers are pointing forward, they may be feeling stressed. <\/p><blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>It\u2019s thought the low<strong> <\/strong>frequency vibrations caused by purring may promote bone and tissue growth, and reduce pain or swelling…<\/p><\/blockquote><p>Cats are great at self-soothing: Just as cats may purr when they\u2019re stressed, it can also mean they\u2019re in pain. If you notice your cat is purring more than usual, it may be a sign something is wrong so it\u2019s important to closely watch their behaviour, especially if they are hiding away more than usual, and contact your vet for advice. <\/p><p>One particularly fascinating theory is that cats may purr to sooth and heal themselves. It\u2019s thought the low<strong> <\/strong>frequency vibrations caused by purring may promote bone and tissue growth, and reduce pain or swelling, although there is no clear evidence to confirm this.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why do some cats not purr?<\/h2><p>Purring is one of the most common behaviours seen in cats, but that doesn\u2019t mean they all do it. All cats are unique and will have their own preferred way of communicating \u2013 whether it\u2019s through meowing, chirruping, purring or simply using body language. The key is to know your cat \u2013 if they\u2019ve never purred and have suddenly started, or if they used to purr and have abruptly stopped, it may be a sign they\u2019re unhappy or unwell.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is a purring cat good for humans too?<\/h2><p>One of the top reasons for owning a cat is to help reduce stress, and purring may play its part in this. Many people report that low-frequency ambient noise helps them relax and sleep better, so your cat\u2019s purring may well be helping you unwind. Why not have a bit of fun and record your cat purring for a unique mobile phone ringtone?<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can big cats purr?<\/h2><p>Though they may have a mighty roar, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/facts-about-big-cats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">big cats<\/a> like tigers and lions are unable to purr. Only small cats like bobcats, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/uncategorized\/reintroducing-lynx-to-the-uk-how-do-we-do-it\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lynxes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/mammal-cheetah-guide-facts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cheetahs<\/a> and our own pet cats are able to purr. This is all down to a bone in the back of the throat called the hyoid. In small cats, this bone is rigid so when the voice box vibrates, the hyoid bone reverberates to generate purring. In big cats this hyoid bone is only partly rigid, meaning they can produce roars but not purr.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How loud can cats purr?<\/h2><p>Thanks to a recent Guinness World Records attempt, we can answer that question. Tune in to discover the astonishing volume of Bella’s purring that propelled her to the pinnacle.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Loudest Purring Cat - Guinness World Records\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KegnZEFpczU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The loudest purr by a domestic cat was achieved by Bella Spink on 30 August 2023<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find out more feline facts<\/h3><p>For more information about cat behaviour, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/cats.org.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cats Protection<\/a>, and check out our expert guides to a range of questions about cats, including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/how-long-do-cats-live\">how long do cats live?<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/how-to-stop-cats-scratching-furniture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to stop cats scratching furniture<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/teach-cat-tricks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to teach a cat tricks<\/a>.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We take a look at the fascinating world of feline communication and physiology to unravel the secrets behind this enigmatic behaviour. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":35663,"template":"","categories":[1,27],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/03\/why-do-cats-purr.jpg",2121,1414,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/03\/why-do-cats-purr-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/03\/why-do-cats-purr-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/03\/why-do-cats-purr-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/03\/why-do-cats-purr-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/03\/why-do-cats-purr-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/03\/why-do-cats-purr-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We take a look at the fascinating world of feline communication and physiology to unravel the secrets behind this enigmatic behaviour.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/35662"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}