Why Do Cats Purr?

“Why do cats purr?” is a more difficult question to answer than one might think. A cat’s purr is generally translated as a sign of contentment. When a cat is happy or extremely comfortable, the cat may purr. Cats purr when being stroked or petted. Some cats purr when they are lying near their owners.

Kittens often purr in the presence of their mothers’. This is considered to have the purpose of strengthening the bond between mother and kitten. However, it was recently discovered that cats purr under traumatic circumstances as well. If suddenly, severely injured, a cat may purr. The purr of a cat is not yet completely understood.

The purring of a cat during or after a traumatic injury seems to conflict with the usual contentment message attributed to purring. Purring releases endorphins that can act as a pain reliever. Purring has also been associated with promoting healing, especially of the bones. Therefore instinct might provoke a cat to purr after injury in order to receive these benefits. Though these have not been scientifically proven reasons why cats purr after injury, they are some of the possible explanations.

In addition to asking why do cats purr, people often ask how do cats purr. The mechanics of a cat’s purr are not even scientifically well understood. According to The Library of Congress, not everything is understood about how a cat purrs, but the larynx and laryngeal muscles are thought to be involved. The larynx is the voice box. When a cat purrs, the muscles of the inside of the larynx, known as the laryngeal muscles, separate the vocal cords in a way that produces the purring sound. Purring occurs as the cat inhales and exhales, which is different from most vocal sounds. Most vocal sounds like meowing can happen only while the cat is exhaling.

Though purring is considered a characteristic of domestic cats, some wild cats purr or make a similar vocalization. Cheetahs, Bobcats, Pumas, and Wild Cats purr. Though the larger cats, such as lions, jaguars, tigers, and leopards, do not purr, some make a similar sound.