• Home
  • WHO WE ARE
  • Mammals
  • Birds
  • Animal Groups
  • Reptiles
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Wild Letter | The What's What In Wildlife
Logo
Mammals

Why Do Cats Purr?

Noah Walsh
No Comments
February 16, 2022
3 Mins read
orange and white cat looking up

Cats purr for a variety of reasons, not just as a sign of happiness.

Some scientists have found that cats have a unique mechanism in their larynx which causes vibrations to occur when they purr.

A cat’s purring is usually a sign of contentment and happiness.

Many other times, a cat will purr when she is in labor with kittens when she is scared, or with an extremely ill cat.

Cats also use their purr to communicate with other cats.

For example, a mother cat starts using this purr when her kittens are about one week old.

This helps to keep the kittens in close proximity and may also help to identify them by giving a unique “voice” to each kitten’s purr.

Not only do cats use their purrs with other cats, but cats also tend to mimic the pitch of another cat’s purr when they’re in close proximity.

This may be a way for cats to communicate with each other as certain types of purrs elicit different behaviors from the receiver.

How Do Cats Purr?

why do cats purr
Photo: Ludemeula Fernandes via Unsplash

Scientists have studied why cats purr and they believe that the purring mechanism in a cat’s larynx creates sound vibrations with frequencies between 25-100 Hertz (Hz).

This frequency range lies within the level of human hearing which is roughly between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz.

To put this into perspective, the best human singers are able to produce sound frequencies roughly between 80 Hz and 250 Hz.

Different species of cats have different purring mechanisms which determine the range of pitches they can make for their purr.

Lions, leopards, and cheetahs (large feline predators) have a mechanism similar to what house cats have, which allows them to make low purring sounds.

The mechanism in the larynx of cougars (large wildcats) is slightly different and gives them the ability to make more higher-pitched purrs.

The reason why a cat’s purr is so unique lies deep within its larynx.

Scientists have discovered special rhythmic muscle contractions which cause vibrations when a cat purrs.

These special contractions are controlled by an oscillator, the same thing that controls the cat’s purr mechanism through neural circuits in cats’ brains.

Hosting 14 muscles, this small area is responsible for making a wide range of sounds including meows, hisses, and growls, as well as purring.

If you interrupted the neural pathway at the point where it led into the larynx, you would not hear a cat purr.

This shows that when a cat’s muscles contract and relax in such a way as to push air over its vocal folds, it will make a purring noise.

The frequency of these muscle contractions determines whether or not we hear a low-frequency purr or a high-frequency whine.

Why Do Some Cats Not Purr?

why do cats purr
Photo: Maiken Ingvordsen via Unsplash

Cats who have lost their vocal folds cannot make any noise, including a purr.

In these cases, the cat would need to be able to activate its laryngeal muscles by sending electrical signals from its brain to vibrate.

However, this part of the pathway is absent in these cats.

If you have ever wondered why your cat purrs, hopefully, this article has given you insight into this mystery.

We know that it isn’t just a sign of contentment but also functions as a special type of communication between cats.

Maybe next time your cat purrs at your feet while you’re busy at work, you’ll think about this and appreciate it a little more.

Check out our other animal FAQs here:

  • How Do Bats Get in the House?
  • What Do Armadillos Eat?
  • Why Do Sloths Move So Slow?

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
cat mammals wildlife
Shares
Written by

Noah Walsh

Noah is a loving person—whether it's humans, animals, or the planet as is. He does everything in his power to keep his faith and educate himself about the community and the environment, making him one of our trusty human encyclopedias!
Write Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Previous Post

Where Do Squirrels Sleep?

Next Post

What Do Ferrets Eat?

Featured Posts
Mammals

Are Pigs Smarter Than Dolphins? The Surprising Answer

November 1, 2022
Mammals

How Does A Dugong Protect Itself? The Sea Cow’s Secret Weapon

October 28, 2022
Mammals

What Are Springbok Predators? The Hunters Of These Antelopes

October 26, 2022
You might also like
black and brown reptile on green grass
Reptiles

Are Dragons Real?

3 Mins read
January 13, 2022
largest animal on earth
Mammals

Largest Animal on Earth

3 Mins read
December 29, 2021
penguin on top of snow wildlife photography
Birds

How Many Species of Penguins Are There? A Guide on These Waddling Birds

5 Mins read
April 11, 2022
close up photography of buffalo
Mammals

What is a Buffalo?

4 Mins read
January 20, 2022
tilt shift lens photography of gray bird flying on top of gray rocks
Birds

Osprey: The Ultimate Guide to the Mysterious Bird of Prey

6 Mins read
September 28, 2022
How Do Bats In The House?
Mammals

How Do Bats Get in the House?

3 Mins read
February 14, 2022
© 2022 Wild Letter. All Right Reserved.
Logo
  • WHO WE ARE
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Logo
  • Home
  • WHO WE ARE
  • Mammals
  • Birds
  • Animal Groups
  • Reptiles
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy
I accept use of cookies