Why does a cat purr

Kittens who cannot yet hear will follow the vibrations created by the purring of their mother 4. This means that purring can help strengthen the bond between kitten and mama cat. All that said, we still need more research on feline communication to better understand how cats communicate through purring. There is also evidence to suggest that purring has healing powers. So cats may purr to calm themselves , or even to heal pain.

The vibrations created by cats purring carry a frequency that is associated with healing in traditional human medicine 6. To find out why your cat is purring, pay close attention to them. Are they purring while snuggled up cozily on your lap? If so, your kitty is probably just enjoying being close to you. Are they purring heavily while grooming themselves?

Then check for any signs of pain or injury in your cat. And if your newborn kittens, pregnant, or mother-cat are purring, well, this is probably a normal part of the mother-kitten bonding ritual. Keep track of my cat. Cats often purr as kittens, as a way to communicate with their mother.

Don't move! We don't always know for sure why cats purr, or knead , or meow. But here are some of the most common reasons why your cat purrs and what he might be trying to tell you. Because kittens are born blind and deaf, momma cats use purring to lure their kittens closer in order to keep them safe and get them their first meal. Likewise, purring serves to draw you closer to your cat, by getting your attention. Your cat may purr when he needs a little love, for instance. While you didn't teach your cat to purr, your actions may inspire more frequent purring.

If you pay attention to your cat when he purrs, he's likely to repeat that behavior in the future. That reinforcement keeps the behavior strong. Adult cats purr when they are interacting with people, objects, or animals that they love. Or when they are doing something that feels good, such as rolling or rubbing.

For instance, your cat may purr when you stroke him. Or she may purr at night when she cuddles up between your feet on the bed. Purring can be an "ask" for help. In most cases, cats will purr when they are in a relaxed environment, sending out waves of calmness. This may also occur when you stroke them, and if this is the case, your feline friend is feeling happy or sociable.

However, cats purr to communicate other emotions and needs, too. For instance, if you pick your cat up, they will either purr because they like it, or because they are nervous.

No one is certain exactly why cats purr, though there are a number of good guesses. The obvious observation is cats seem to purr when they're pleased and feeling good.

But that's not always the case: Some cats also purr when they're hungry, injured, or frightened. And most surprisingly, purring frequencies have been shown to stimulate bone regeneration—yes, bone regeneration.

Cats purr by using their larynx and diaphragm muscles, both as they inhale and as they exhale, although just how the central nervous system generates and controls those contractions isn't yet understood. Early 19th century taxonomists thought cats could either purr or roar, and split the family Felidae along these lines—"purrers' subfamily Felinae and 'roarers' subfamily Pantherinae.

Today, though, taxonomists believe most cats can purr, with a few probable though not certain pantherine exceptions: lion, leopard, jaguar, tiger, snow leopard and clouded leopard.

Cheetahs and cougars? Yeah, they purr. So, why do it?