Introduction

     Have you ever wondered why or how cats purr? If you have, then you should read this website.

     Wait! Before you read on, I'll give you some examples of big cats and wild cats that purr. Purring is not just done by your pet cats and kittens. Some wild cats that purr include bobcats, lynxes, cheetahs, and pumas.

Communication With Mom and Kitten

     Humans communicate by talking. But a human baby can't talk yet and the only way it can communicate is by crying. Sometimes a human mother doesn't know what a baby actually needs or wants when it cries.

     Baby kittens have a better way to communicate with their cat mother. Did you know that a kitten and mama cat can communicate with their purr?   This connection between a mother and kitten is a way to let the mother know that their kittens are safe.

Normal Purr vs. Loudest Purr

     According to the CDC, the average purr is 25 decibels. That's about the sound level of leaves rustling in a gentle wind. The loudest purr recorded was from a British kitty named Merlin. Merlin's purr hit about 70 decibels and the cat got a world record! 70 decibels is about the sound level of a vacuum cleaner or a washing machine.                                                                                             

Do a Cat's Emotions Cause Purring?

     Purring is not just about cats and kittens communicating. It is also about showing emotions. Cats usually purr so they can communicate emotions, because unlike humans, cats can't use facial expressions and just tell you what they are feeling. 

      If you have ever spent much time with a feline friend, you already know about the familiar and comforting purring sound that is unique to cats. Sometimes the purring really does mean that a cat is happy and relaxed and content. But people that have studied cats will tell you that purring doesn't always mean that they’re happy or content.

     Cats will purr when they are relaxed, and that sends waves of calmness. However cats also purr when they are nervous or in pain. If that seems weird to you, think of it as the cats using their purrs to soothe themselves and calm down. It's like a person taking a deep breath! Even though purring may actually be a sign that your cat is not happy, you should not jump into panic mode the next time your cat purrs! 

Communicating with Cats

      Just pay attention to the signals that your cat is sending you, and you will learn the difference between when your cat is purring because it's happy and when it's purring because it's stressed out.

     Cats actually communicate in lots of other ways, too. For example, when a cat cries or mews, that generally means they are ready for food. 

Bone Regeneration 

     Would it surprise you to learn that purring causes bone regeneration? Wow, that's amazing! Well if so please DO NOT SKIP THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH! 

     One fact that may shock you is that a cat's purring stimulates bone regeneration. Yes, purring actually helps bones to grow and heal themselves!

     One of the reasons a cat may purr is because it is injured. We already learned that cats purr to calm themselves down, so cats may need to calm down after they are injured. But scientists have actually discovered that the sound frequency that cats use when they purr actually helps in healing of broken bones and wounds, and in repairing injuries to joints and tendons.

How Does A Cat Purr?

     Have you ever wondered how a cat purrs?  The purring sound occurs because of vibrations of the muscles in their larynx. The larynx is located behind the base of a cat's tongue. In humans, the larynx is where your voice box is located.

      The neural oscillator in the cat's brain sends signals to the muscles in the cat's larynx. When a cat has laryngeal paralysis, that means their larynx muscle can't move or vibrate, so then the cat can't purr.

Conclusion

     I really hope you have enjoyed this website. Now you know that there are many reasons why cats purr. A cat might purr to communicate or show its emotions. Purring might signal that a cat is happy and safe and content. But cats also might purr when they are scared or injured or stressed out as a way of calming themselves down. Finally, wasn't it interesting to learn that cat's purring stimulates bone regeneration and healing?

    Now that you are an expert, I hope you have a purr-fect day!