Why cats purr next to their owners

A cat's rhythmic purr is not only relaxing, but also healing. This is the conclusion reached by scientists at the Institute in North Carolina.

Why does a cat purr when stroked and what does it mean?

I love these affectionate little fluffers and cannot imagine how I would live without my cat. All owners of cats and cats often hear the purr of their pet, it is such a pleasant melody. The house immediately fills with coziness and comfort.

Contrary to some beliefs, cats do not have a specific body part or vocal organ that makes them purr. The purring actually comes from rapid vibrations in their vocal apparatus.

How does purring begin? It actually starts with the central nervous system as a signal that goes to the cats' vocal apparatus. The muscles in the vocal apparatus tense and quickly relax as the cat inhales and exhales, which creates vibrations that can be heard and seen.

Cats have been hearing purring since they are babies, their mothers use purring to call kittens to her for food and love because when they are first born, they are deaf and blind. Kittens show their mother that they are okay by purring in return, which also helps them bond with her.

As cats get older, they purr to show that they are happy and content, and even to soothe themselves. Purring is used as a way of communicating with people, it's how they talk to us.

Can cats purr for different reasons

Yes, cats purr for a variety of reasons. Cats purr when they are happy and relaxed, as well as when they are hungry, stressed, or in pain. How can you tell the reasons for purring?

The owner knows his cat best, so it's worth paying attention to when the cat purrs. For example, he purrs when it is approaching feeding time, then he is probably hungry.

A cat that's full, doesn't want affection, and purrs for seemingly no reason? It's worth a visit to the vet to make sure the cat is healthy.

Since cats produce endorphins while purring, the veterinary community believes that this is why cats purr to calm themselves. Purring can also be a way to heal their pain, sometimes mother cats purr during childbirth.

Cat purring as a way to manipulate

Do cats really know how to purr to get their owner to do something for them earlier than usual? Yes! When a cat wants something done for them, they will add a high-pitched sound that most owners find incredibly annoying.

Thus, their purring cannot be ignored and they are likely to get what they want.

How Cat Purrs Affect Humans

Cats have made their way into people's families and hearts, and for good reason. They're cute, cuddly and funny, but not everyone knows that they have a significant impact on human health.

A cat's purr has a soothing and comforting effect on humans. In fact, having a cat can help reduce stress and blood pressure. The soothing sound of purring with the natural calming effects of stroking a cat's fur is a huge benefit to human health.

Cats purr for . exercise. Yes, they do. Purring is actually a form of low-impact exercise for cats. Cats are experts at conserving energy, sleeping 16 hours a day or just idling.

However, purring may well stimulate the muscles and bones if the cat is not literally lifting a paw!

Deciphering a cat's purr

"I'm happy." – if the cat is lying on its back, curled up with its eyes closed and not making any tail movements, this is a sign of a happy cat.

"I'm in pain." – Sick or injured cats will purr to help soothe and heal faster. To find out if a cat is purring because it is in pain, you need to pay close attention to everything it does.

"Hi, Mommy, I'm fine." – A purring kitty probably wants her mom. If the cat mom and her kittens live in the same house, you need to return the kitten to her mom. If it is a kitten who has just been adopted, make sure she is fed, feels safe, and is not cold.

Why cats purr

Domestic cats purr every day. Listen to your pet snuggled up in the sun. He will purr even in your absence. But not always from pleasure. There can be many more reasons why cats purr. And not all of them are positive. Let's break down the research on the subject and give the opinions of cat behavior experts and feline scientists.

What cat purring means

For years, a cat's purr was considered a response to positive emotions. Scientists put it on par with other means of communication, such as meows and hisses. But what exactly made cats purr was unclear. After all, animals could make a purring sound while sitting alone or suddenly vibrate at the sight of a mate.

In the early 2000s there was more research on cats and the subject of purring was discussed in a new way. According to cat behavior specialists Elisabeth von Muggenthaler, Karen Overall and a group of scientists from the University of North Carolina, there are several variations on why cats want to purr. Experts say: a cat purrs to communicate, to calm down, or to heal from injury or illness.

We've compiled 7 reasons why your cat might be purring at this very moment:

If your cat is comfortably nestled in your lap and receiving attention and affection, the purring sounds will appear as a sign of approval. Body language demonstrates complete satisfaction: the cat's eyes are slightly covered, its tail is pulled to the side or wrapped around its body, remaining motionless.

At these moments the cat may begin to move its front paws, slightly releasing its claws. From the outside it will seem as if it is stomping in place, but in fact it is an instinctive manifestation called the "milk step". As babies, kittens massage their mother's milk nipple to increase the flow of milk. And in adulthood, they recall the old habit in moments of complete relaxation.

Cats living in groups behave the same way: if they live together and help each other to wash up after a meal or before going to bed, they start purring to show their affection.

Also cats can purr after a successful hunt or at the sight of potential prey. For example, sitting near a window and watching birds flying by. However, the volume and intensity of purring sounds at these moments will be slightly lower.

Why does a cat purr – causes

The reasons for purring in cats can be very different. Let us consider the most likely and common ones.

• Pleasure and peace of mind – The cat is calm, relaxed, satisfied and satisfied, nothing bothers him.

• Communication between mother and kittens – Newborn kittens are blind and are not yet able to communicate by meowing. By purring, the mother lets the babies know that they are safe, and the babies show her that they are feeling well.

• The pet wants to show love and devotion – For a cat it is a gesture of trust, it establishes a kind of bond with a loved one. And after a nice game or a tasty meal it can show its gratitude in this way.

• He wants to get something – it can be a treat, a favorite toy or simply affection and attention.

• Getting ready for bed – When cats purr, they become calmer and more relaxed, and their sleep will be stronger and sweeter.

• Pain Relief. – Cats may purr if they are hurt or ill. A signal is sent to the brain centers of the brain and the release of endorphins reduces pain

• If they are sick – Purring too often and for too long can indicate the presence of disease in a pet. For example, this is one of the symptoms of infectious feline peritonitis.

• Communication with other individuals – Some cats show interest and friendliness to other animals by purring. Males may purr next to other, older or weaker cats. This is how they show that they will not attack.

• Anxiety and fear – The animal may be anxious before an important event or it may be worried about something, such as a stranger coming into the house.

Synopsis. Some cats purr during childbirth, soothing and easing the pain.

Benefits of purring for cats and humans

There is a theory that purring can cause cats to produce a hormone that helps strengthen and grow bone tissue. Since the animal is passive most of the time and sleeps a lot, it needs to rebuild the musculoskeletal apparatus.

A cat's purr is soothing and relaxing, helping to relieve stress and lower blood pressure. The sound of purring is at a frequency of 20 to 44 Hz. It has the ability to trigger healing processes in humans similar to ultrasound treatment.

One theory is that cats are able to treat gastritis, colitis and other gastrointestinal diseases in their owners with their purring.

Synopsis! It has been proven that cat owners are less likely to have a heart attack.

🐱 Is a cat always happy when it purrs?

Purring or purring is a loud or quiet vibrating sound that only cats make.

When cats purr, they use their vocal cords, which produce a specific "purr" when they inhale or exhale, and are set in motion by the muscles next to the cords.

It takes a brain signal for a cat to purr. When a purr sees or feels something pleasant, the organs of sight, smell and touch send signals to the brain that they feel good.

And it "orders" the vocal cords and muscles to start contracting.

Interestingly, the heartbeat and lung sounds are not audible during purring.

Why does a cat purr, and what does purring mean?

Bliss and tranquility.
The cat is satisfied with life: it has had a good meal, it is resting, relaxed, lounging in its couch and not worrying about anything.

The mother communicates with the kittens.
Little blind kittens do not know how to communicate. The cat purrs and lets the little ones know that they are completely safe.

The cat shows that he is grateful and devoted to his owner.
A pet shows how grateful it is after a tasty meal and petting from its owner. If the cat just came to the owner on the couch, lay down next to him, started purring for no reason, putting its paw towards the person, it shows its loyalty.

The cat is begging for something.
When a cat wants to get a tasty treat, ask for affectionate cuddles, or just need attention, it will try to press on the man with gentle purring.

The cat is getting ready for bed.
Cats often purr softly to themselves under their noses before falling asleep. This soothes them, making them sleep sound and deep.

Pain relief.
By purring long and deep, cats help themselves to soothe intense pain or heal a wound. This happens because of the powerful release of endorphins. Too long and frequent gratuitous purring of the cat should worry the owner.
Cats often purr during labor, soothing the pain.

Communication with other cats.
Cats, showing their goodwill to their kin, may rub their sides and purr. Cats may purr at other, older cats as if to say they won't touch them.

Fear.
Cats purr when they are afraid or worried about something. For example, when a stranger appears in the house.

To understand why a cat purrs, you need to identify the situation and know your pet's character well.

Why we love it so much when cats purr

A cat's purr evokes pleasant emotions in many people. Scientists have found that there are certain reasons for this. Studies have shown:

• The range of sounds a cat makes is beneficial to bone tissue;
• a steady purring sound regulates the nervous system;
• the vibration produced by purring normalizes the blood supply to the brain, blood pressure, and the rhythm of the heart;
• The state of tranquility that appears with these sounds relieves stress and prevents depression.

Our body subconsciously seeks the positive effect that "cat songs" provide, telling us about calm, safety, relaxation and enjoyment of comfort.

What does cat purr mean?

Scientists believe that whiskered pets make these sounds on several occasions. As it turns out, cats have been purring almost since birth. And this is the reason for Professor Bjarne Brostad of the Norwegian University of Ecology and Biological Sciences to believe that this way the animal shows that it is satisfied and does not need to change anything.

He came to this conclusion by observing how kittens purr near their mother and near humans. However, during his research, he noted that there is another type of purring that is higher in timbre and louder. According to the scientist, this is how cats show that they want something from their owner, such as demanding food. Sometimes they also make purring noises when they are hurt. In such cases, scientists believe, the animal is trying to calm down. All members of the cat family, even lions, can purr.

Interesting facts about the effects of purring

In a study in the 1990s at the State University of New York, scientists found that bone density increases when bones are exposed to low frequencies, writes Freemalaysiatoday. The experiment was conducted on turkeys, and the experience confirmed the scientists' assumption.

Cat purring falls right into this category – from 25 to 150 Hz. Consequently, it is likely that purring is part of a cat's way of staying healthy and recovering from injury. Healthy cats also purr when they are around injured people, probably in an attempt to help with healing.

And researchers from the University of California have proved, as reported by AiF, that cats can have a therapeutic effect on the human body as well. The experiment involved 20 people who had to look at pictures of cats and listen to their purring for several minutes. It turned out that cats purring normalizes blood pressure and improves the tone of the blood vessels in the brain. It has also long been proven that purring can be soothing, which helps reduce the risk of heart attack and hemorrhagic stroke.

Why do cats purr?

Every sound an animal makes has a specific evolutionary function – slightly modified during domestication, but still with the same roots. Purring, moreover, is not always the same – several variations of this sound can be identified.

For starters, it's worth clarifying that kittens start purring at about one week of age and make this sound when sucking milk from their mother.

The purring of kittens is a signal to the cat that her babies are okay and that each of them is eating.

The cat itself also purrs during feeding – this reassures the kittens of its friendliness and has a calming effect on them.

In this early period of life, purring is the most important form of communication and creates a very strong bond between the mother cat and her babies.

As in the interaction between adult cats and cats, and between cats and people, purring no longer plays as important a role as it does between cat and kittens. It is worth adding that adult cats use purr in intraspecific communication infrequently, but they use it much more frequently in human communication.

What does a cat purr mean when communicating with humans?

A cat's purr most often indicates that it is in a good mood or a request for care, that some feline need must be met. A cat purrs when it is near and wants to be petted, but it has also been observed that the purring increases in intensity as feeding time approaches.

This has led some scientists to hypothesize that cats manipulate us not only with their meows, but also with their deliberate purrs.

The purr of contentment is uninterrupted, can last a very long time and increases in intensity as the cat becomes more and more calm and relaxed. In doing so, hef often kneads us with his paws, or makes similar motions in the air.

In the case of a cat waiting to eat, you may additionally notice notes of impatience.

Why do cats purr, what does it mean?

Cats are some of the most popular pets in the world. And that's not surprising. Such cute, gentle and funny creatures leave few people indifferent.

Many people also note another amazing quality of domestic cats, which causes a storm of emotions and has a positive impact on human well-being and health. We are talking about the purring of a cat. What is it? Why do cats purr? Who else among the animals is capable of making such a chirping and melodious sound? Let's find out.

A purr is a specific purring sound that is made by almost all members of the feline family, as well as some wyverns (predatory mammals). The peculiarity of cat purring is that it is accompanied by a perceptible vibration of the animal's body.

I wonder how cats purr? The main organ responsible for purring is the brain:

1. Its cortex generates impulses that "make" the cat purr. The purring mechanism is connected with special muscles in the cat's throat. When they receive a signal from the brain, they go into motion, expanding and contracting the part of the larynx where the vocal cords are located.
2. And the special tapping sound and vibration are due to the presence of the cat's hyoid bones. Thus, the air passing through the larynx vibrates with every inhalation and exhalation of a feline.

Why do cats purr? Most lovers of these graceful animals believe that a cat purrs when it feels good. Undoubtedly, the main reason why cats purr is satisfaction. If a cat feels warm and cozy, has tasty food, played with or caressed, its purring is gratitude to its owners. This is how he expresses his love and affection.

But cats purring is not always associated with pleasant moments of their lives. Here are some of the main reasons that provoke a cat to purr softly or loudly:

What to do if a cat doesn't purr?

We were able to reasonably explain why cats purr. There are many reasons for cat purring. That said, it should be understood that cats always purr in different ways. A quiet, tranquil purr indicates that the cat is satisfied. But the louder the animal purrs, the more serious the problem (purring more than 50 Hz is a sign of pain and disease).

As noted above, purring of cats is good for humans. A sound frequency with a range of 25 to 50 Hz has a beneficial effect on the owner. Such a phenomenon is considered therapeutic sound therapy, which:

The constant purring and releasing of claws that come into contact with the host's skin is something analogous to the acupuncture process.

Many owners wonder why a cat doesn't purr. If you notice that your four-legged, whiskered friend suddenly stopped purring, look at the cat's health. He may require specialised care. Contact your vet. He will help you find out the cause, and together we will be able to correct the physical or mental condition of the cat.

When there is no apparent cause of illness, injury or stress, you should observe the cat's behavior. The animal is probably worried, afraid or has lost confidence in its owner. In this case the following actions will help to make the cat purr:

• Attention. Play with the fluffy more often, say affectionate words to him, stroke him gently.
• Tasty food. Offer your cat tasty and healthy treats. Make him happy with his favorite dishes.
• Affection. Not only people need affection and a good attitude. All animals need love and care of the owner, otherwise the pet will stop feeling safe and will stop trusting the owner. And cats do not want to purr if they do not feel loved and important.

Purring is not only a sign of a cat's pleasure. Often cats purr because of stress or pain. Observe your cat and give him help and support in a difficult situation.

Stress or illness

If your cat used to happily purr and suddenly stopped, (as with any change in behavior) this may be cause for concern. Try to see if anything else has changed in your cat's behavior so that the vet can pinpoint the problem.

Another reason why some cats purr and others do not is because of illness or injury. In this case, silence may be an evolutionary strategy to avoid detection by predators while the cats are in a vulnerable state. This behavior is usually accompanied by hiding. So if your cat is silent and avoiding you, he may have something that hurts.

Stress is usually accompanied by aggression or withdrawal. It is worth remembering that cats are very sensitive to change. A new partner, a new home, a new pet, a change in routine, a different food… all these can make your furry friend go from purring to dejection.

Older age.

Because older cats tend to be calmer than they were when they were younger, this can affect their vocalizations as well. Their purring may become softer or stop altogether. On the other hand, some older cats in their old age may talk more to express their emotions about what is going on around them. It is important to understand your cat's peculiarities so that you can distinguish between behavior that is unusual for her and what may be unusual for most.

Why do other cats purr and yours don't? He may be purring, but so quietly that you can't hear it. However, you may feel a vibration in this situation. Gently press your hand against his chest or throat, under his chin, and you will likely feel a soft purr in your palm.

Be attentive to your pets' health. If you suddenly notice a cessation or change in the tone/loudness of your four-legged dog's purr, especially if it is accompanied by other changes and symptoms, we recommend that you see your veterinarian and find out the cause of the change as soon as possible. Remember, the earlier the correct diagnosis is made, the sooner your pet will be happy and healthy again.