Why Do Cats Purr?
Purring ~ However, that is sometimes true, as there is a lot more to why cats purr other than just being satisfied. It can keep them healthy.
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Purring can be relaxing for the cat and its owner. Typically, people interpret a purr from a cat as a sign it is relaxed. However, that is sometimes true, as there is much more to why cats do it than just being satisfied.
Newborn Kittens
A newborn kitten is blind and deaf, although they can purr and mew as soon as they are birthed. The helpless newborns purr so they can get their mothers' attention.
A new kitten purrs to tell their mother that they are hungry. If a cat does it when it is time to top up their food, that may be them asking you to feed them. Cats also purr when they are stressed or anxious as well.
Some cats placed in a carrier or taking a trip to the vet will start a lot of purring. Cats who are in pain may also set vibrations. However, veterinarians know that cats sometimes soothe themselves when being euthanized.
A study published in 2009 in Current Biology discovered that various purrs will sound different. For example, researchers found that cats asking for food were much "less pleasant and urgent" than those who purred, not asking for anything.
An acoustic breakdown of cats proved this to be true. Rooted through the low-pitched purr was a lot more constant: a high-frequency whine. Fascinatingly, the whining sounds are like that of a human infant crying who is in distress.
With the help of evolution, cats have learned the most dependable ways of getting a human's attention.
The Many Benefits
There is strong evidence that purring probably does more than indicate hunger or emotional response. For example, a paper from 2001 that was published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America establishes that cats (including more giant cats like pumas and cheetahs) create purrs at frequencies that promote healing.
Further evidence suggests cats do it as a preventive health measure, keeping their muscles from deteriorating and bones strong.
When humans rest too much because of injury or illness, their muscles deteriorate, and bones thin.
A cat's purr might be a way of avoiding an unlikable lifestyle outcome that includes sitting very still for extended periods, anxiously waiting for its prey to run by.
Furthermore, cats might stimulate their muscles and bones from the vibrations created by their purring.
Communication Through Purring
Learning the language for human-pet communication takes a lot of attention and time. However, if you get to know your cat well enough, you can figure out what they are trying to tell you.
If you have trouble speaking cat, try reading the felines' body language to help. For example, if your cat is lying on its side with its legs open and its eyes are partially closed, the purr most likely signifies contentment.
If a cat's legs are held close to its body, and its eyes are dilated and wide open, it is most likely a nervous purr.
Cats likely purr for many reasons and don't always get their points across to humans.
When purrs are intended messages to humans, they might range from a simple "I'm content now" to a more complex message: "You realize it is time for dinner, don't you?" Unfortunately, purrs become harder to decipher when cats aren't communicating with people.