The science behind cats purring

Janet Ronquillo

My cat Benito purring while sleeping on a pizza blanket.

Why do cats purr?

Most people think cats purr because they are happy and feel safe. While that is true, it could also be wrong. According to Veterinarian Wailani Sung at the company Chewy, cats don’t only purr because they’re happy. They also purr to calm themselves when they are feeling anxious or nervous. Cats purr for many reasons.  

To cats, purring or meowing is a coping mechanism to calm themselves. Your cat might purr when they are at the vet or coming back home from the vet. Your cat is trying to soothe themselves after experiencing a stressful situation. 

Cats also purr to grab your attention. When they are content, or happy about something or someone, they start to purr. They feel happy to see their favorite person or object, like a toy. They would start to rub themselves against the object to try to get their attention. 

People see a purring cat and think that they are happy. But most of the time they are wrong and not properly reading the cat’s body language. Few people see cats purring when they are sick or in pain. By purring, they are seeking help or care. Before dying, a cat might purr because they find the sound comforting for their final moments.  

To understand why a cat is purring, pay attention to their body language. Body language is everything to understand what a cat is trying to say or do. Their body language determines the situation they are in and how they are dealing with it, whether it’s positive or negative. 

How do they do it?

So, how do cats purr? Veterinary scientists at Texas A & M University recently discovered that domesticated cats have “pads” attached within their vocal cords. This adds an extra layer of fatty tissues that allows them to vibrate at low frequencies. 

However, it leaves scientists puzzled how cats are able to produce low-frequency sounds when it is commonly found in larger animals, such as elephants and lions. 

A signal from their brain causes the vocal cords to press together. The flow of air through the larynx (hollow tube in the middle of the neck) causes the cords to knock against each other, producing a vibrating sound. Scientists call this process a passive phenomenon.

The healing benefits of a cat’s purr

Veterinarians from Virginia beach veterinary hospital have recently demonstrated that a cat’s purring can help heal a wound and reduce inflammation. This could explain why a cat purrs more often when healing from an illness or injury.

Scientists also discovered that a cat’s purring can also help humans too. The vibrations from a cat’s purr can help lower blood pressure, lessen stress, and even encourage healing. 

To be able to feel a cat’s purr, gently press a finger against their neck. You could feel vibrations coming from their neck! Or you could gently press your ear against their body and still be able to hear their purring. When cats make biscuits (or pan) they would start to purr immensely.