Got a feline friend who is always humming you their kitty song?

Cats purr when they are happy but also when they are frightened or feel threatened.

A cat purring is similar to a human smiling or a dog wagging its tail, although sometimes cats purr in response to pain or distress

Some cats may even purr while giving birth – it is likely to be a way to help cats rest and repair.

How do cats purr?

It is the product of the rapid movement of the muscles of the voice box along with the movement of the diaphragm which pushes air out of the chest cavity.

The muscles move at around 20 to 30 times per minute and as the cat breathes the air touches the vibrating muscles and thus a purr sound is produced.

Just like human voices and snowflakes each cat’s purr is unique, some may have a high pitched purr while others may be very low and quiet.

Did you know that your cat is talking to you?

Cats have a special kind of purr when they want to be fed, or if they just want some TLC.

This purr is called a ‘solicitation purr’ which involves the combination of a purr and a meow.

Cats have evolved and domesticated to live with humans, as cat owners tend to respond to this type of purr in a similar way that a parent would respond to the cry of their baby.

A cat’s purr peaks around the 220 to 520 hertz frequency range and a baby’s cry is in the 300 to 600 hertz frequency range.

Why do felines do this?

So we will feed them, those cunning creatures have learned the perfect combination of purring and meowing so that we will get up and tip over the kitty food box.

Some researchers believe that cats also purr to heal themselves -the frequencies of the vibrations are therapeutic for bone growth, pain relief and wound healing.

Not only does a cat’s purring make them happy but is also cause for cat owners to be happy.

A 10-year study at the University of Minnesota Stroke Center found that cat owners were 40% less likely to have heart attacks than non-cat owners.

Kittens meow more often than adult cats as they are born without sight or hearing, they make noise to alert others of their need for attention.

Cats can also trill which is a sound somewhere between a meow and a purr – it is a friendly greeting.

Cat also growl, chatter, hiss, yowl, beep, burble and wail, so yes they are an animal of many words.

What’s the difference between a big cat and a small one?

Cats that purr can’t roar, and cats that roar can’t purr.

Source:
courtesy of METRO

by Aisling Moloney

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]