The purr of cats is something known to everyone, however, the physical mechanism that causes this peculiar sound is still unknown. If your cat purrs a lot, wags its tail or purrs very loudly, here you will decipher part of its meaning.
Not only domestic cats purr, many wild cats such as tigers, panthers, lions, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs purr. Also the vast majority of smaller wild cats emit this characteristic sound while kneading, for example.
If you continue reading our site you will find out the reasons why you have asked yourself on occasion: Why does my cat purr? Continue reading and you will learn about all aspects of your cat's purr.
Theories about the purr
We said before that the feline purr is a sound whose its origin is still unknown certain and the emission mechanism.
There are two scientific theories about it: Electromyographic studies support the hypothesis that they are the muscles of the larynx of the cat, which quivering rapidly they cause a dilation of the glottis and its immediate regression, whose rapid activity causes vibrations when inhaling and exhaling air when breathing. All this physical mechanics cause the purr.
The other theory holds that this sound is hemodynamic in origin. This hypothesis states that the purr originates from posterior vena cavaSpecifically at the level of the diaphragm, since the muscles compress the blood flow, causing vibrations that are transmitted through the bronchi.
The mother's purr
During and after birth the cat communicates with her kittens by purring. Kittens also have the innate ability to purr by the time they are a week old, using it to communicate with their mother.
The purr is used by the cat to calm her puppies during the traumatic trance of childbirth. Then it serves to signal her position to her litter, since for a few days the kittens remain blind. Through her purr and her scent the mother guides her pupsto nurse. During lactation, the mother calms her kittens to prevent them from biting her nipples when suckling.
When puppies learn to purr, they communicate their mood to their mother. Pleased when they breastfeed, or it can also mean that they are not well, or that they are afraid. The purr is not monochord, it has different frequencies that the cat uses depending on each situation.
The Purr of Pleasure
All of us who have enjoyed the company of cats in our homes have felt a pleasant sensation when we feel the purr of the cat on our lap, or while petting it.
The purr of domestic cats is a kind of buzz that produces between 25 and 150 vibrations per second. Among this wide range of tones, the cat can accurately express its desires and mood. Contrary to popular belief, purring may not necessarily mean only complacency on the cat's part.
Various meanings of the purr
The most common and well-known is the purr of complacency expressed by the cat in situations that are pleasing to him. While eating the cat purrs; it also purrs when petted, but this is a more complex purr, since it not only signals that our cat is pleased, but it is also a sign of gratitude and trustwhen feeling loved.
However, the cat can also purr when he is sick and asks for our help. Cats also purr to to avoid tense situations, such as: after being scolded, or even to avoid fights with other cats by emitting a friendly purr on these occasions.
Types of purr
We have seen that through purring the cat can show various moods. Next we will relate the different tones, frequencies and their meanings in order to better understand our beloved pet:
- If our cat purrs irregularly, it is a sign of maximum complacency.
- If the cat purrs with a vigorous and regular tone, it is a sign that it wants something. It can be food, water, or a caress from us.
- If the cat purrs very loudly, it usually means that the animal is unwell and requests our help to relieve its pain or discomfort.
- When the cat purrs in a cadenced and uniform way, it means that the cat wants to end an uncomfortable situation. For example: when we stare into his eyes, which for cats is an unfriendly sign. In this case, the cat purrs in the way described above to communicate that he does not represent any danger and wants our friendship. When this happens, our response will be a very slow blink of our eyes and a caress that will end the tension between us.
- We must take into account the usual tonality of our cat. Since in the same way that people have different voice tones, each one of them has its own tone, more serious or acute, or more accelerated or slower.
