According to the this theory, purring is unlike speech. It’s more like involuntary snoring, which cats have no control over. It is a purely physiological feature of how air stimulates the cat’s larynx in a way that triggers self-sustaining low-frequency oscillations of the cat’s vocal cords.
Less known facts about cats and their purr Image credits:
Though there is still much to learn about the surprisingly complex behavior of purring, our understanding of it is still quite limited. On the contrary, studies have revealed several fascinating details regarding purring.
- Cat purring is thought to protect people from depression and high blood sugar. Additionally, a study indicates that owners of cats are less likely than non-owners to experience major cardiovascular problems. Additionally, owners undergoing psychological treatment may find that their pet cats or dogs provide support and companionship for individuals experiencing social isolation, cognitive decline, and other behavioral disorders.
- Try narrowing your eyes at your cat if you want to create a strong bond with her the next time you hold her. Research suggests that the best way to interact with a cat is most likely through this phenomenon, which goes by the name “cat smile.” It’s likely that many cat owners have already noticed that their cats reciprocate when they slowly narrow or close their eyes in front of them. The best part, though, is that you can use this technique on any cat—street cats can even smile when you give them a “cat smile.”
- When a pet cat died in ancient Egypt, the human members of that cat’s family used to shave off their eyebrows. Dog owners had more stringent customs; for example, when a dog passed away, the owner and his family had to remove every hair from the dog’s body and head.
- Cat lovers remember Sir Isaac Newton for creating cat doors in addition to his discoveries of gravity and calculus. When a cat and her kittens visited Newton’s office at the University of Cambridge, they occasionally found the door closed and began scratching it, a common occurrence for many cat lovers. Newton found that the cats’ scratching noises frequently bothered him, so he had the university carpenter drill two holes in his office door so the cat and her children could enter quietly.
- Cats have also been observed to purr when they notice another cat is hurt; some researchers think this is a way for the cat to try to calm down. Purr therapy is the name given to this behavior, which is also thought to help humans with swollen body parts, tendons, and damaged soft tissues.
One thing is certain: a pet cat’s purring is an essential aspect of their existence, even though the majority of the theories explaining why cats purr and how it affects people have not been scientifically validated. It is one of the few unique behaviors that allows a cat owner to at least speculate as to whether or not his feline companion is happy. In addition, it allows cats to communicate with humans and other cats.
What is purring and why do cats purr?
Purring is a low-frequency (ranging between 25 to 150 Hertz) fluttering sound (or vibration) made by a few mammal species (such as cougars, cats, snow leopards, and cheetahs) belonging to the Felidae family. Previously, it was believed that purring was the sound of blood flowing through a cat’s thorax but then other studies suggested that it could be the vibrations inside a cat’s larynx that result from the frequent constriction and dilation of its glottis during breathing (this movement in cats is controlled by brain center called neural oscillator). However, there’s still some degree of uncertainty about all of this and scientists are still unsure why and how cats actually purr.
Various studies concerning cat anatomy confirm that there is no special purring organ inside these lovable furry animals. It’s likely that even cats don’t know how they make that soft rumbling sound. Purring is an involuntary action that is totally under the control of the cats’ central nervous system. So if you were thinking of making your cat purr on command, sorry it’s never going to happen. Cats only purr when they want to — just like most things they do.
Cat owners usually found their cats purring either when they are being stroked or when they are hungry. This is why most cat owners believe that purring is cats’ way of relaxing or saying that they want something. Some studies also suggest that within a cat’s purr there is a baby-like crying sound that can urge the cat owners to respond to their pets’ needs — something called solicitation purring.
Though cats typically purr when they’re content and at ease, there are other reasons why cats purr. While mom cats are said to purr to calm her young, kittens are thought to purr to connect with their mothers and alert her to their presence at birth. It has been observed that adult cats purr when they are joyful and joyful as well as when they are scared, hurt, or in a fight.
The vibrations that occur in a cat’s body due to purring may also play a role in easing breathing, repairing bones, healing wounds, and strengthening muscles. Interestingly, these vibrations have frequencies similar to the ones that are used in the therapeutic treatment of osteoporosis. This could also be one of the reasons why cats experience fewer bone-related issues (such as osteoarthritis) compared to dogs.
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