The Many Reasons Behind a Cat's Purr

In this guide

Working out when a toddler is happy is fairly simple: a smile means yes, and no smile means something is needed, food, attention, comfort, or stimulation. Dogs are much the same: a wagging tail means happiness, and a still tail means something is missing.

It would be reasonable to assume cats have an equally simple tell: purring. Purring means happy, and no purring means something is wrong, right?

Not quite. As any cat owner will tell you, with a slightly weary nod, cats are complicated creatures, full of mystery and contradiction, and purring is far more nuanced than a simple happiness switch.

What actually is a cat's purr?

Before getting into why cats purr, it helps to understand how. For years, experts genuinely disagreed on the mechanism. It turns out cats do not have a dedicated "purr organ"; instead, purring results from rapid fluttering of the larynx and diaphragm, according to the Library of Congress, with the purring sound produced as breath passes the larynx during normal breathing.

Several wild cats can purr too, including bobcats, cheetahs, the Eurasian lynx and pumas, though larger cats such as lions, leopards, jaguars and tigers cannot.

Purring begins remarkably early, just a few days after birth. Scientists believe it initially signals to the mother that a kitten is healthy and well, while also helping to build the bond between them. Exactly why cats go on purring for the rest of their lives, though, is an entirely separate question.

The many reasons cats purr

Whether curled up on a lap or rubbing against a leg begging for attention, a cat's purr is a big part of why owners adore them so much; there is something deeply satisfying about such a clear, audible sign that you are making a loved one happy.

Most of the time a purr does signal contentment, but not always.

It can mean "I love you"

Cats have a reputation for aloofness, but any true cat companion knows there is a deeply affectionate animal behind that detached exterior. Purring is one of the ways cats communicate their appreciation for everything their owners do for them.

It can signal fear, stress or anxiety

Just as a person might laugh nervously or smile inappropriately when uncomfortable, such as when someone trips in front of them, cats can use purring in a similar way, according to PetMD, simply because they do not always have another obvious way to cope with what is bothering them.

Purring can also help a cat calm itself, functioning as a kind of feline self-soothing. A cat purring frequently for no obvious reason may be worth watching closely for other signs of stress.

It can signal hunger

Cats have countless ways of reminding their owners it is dinnertime, and purring is one of them. An "I'm hungry" purr tends to be louder and more insistent than a contented purr, so a cat purring loudly around the kitchen may well be discussing food specifically.

It can be persuasive

Many owners will recognise the particular purr-and-meow combination a cat uses when it wants something, such as play or attention, often before the owner has even worked out what that something is. That specific pitch closely mimics the pitch of a human child's cry, a sound humans may be instinctively primed to respond to, which makes it a remarkably effective, if slightly cheeky, strategy.

The benefits of purring

Cats are, of course, wonderful simply for being themselves, but there is evidence they may also be, in a sense, healers. Research published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America suggests a cat's purr may help the cat heal itself. The vibrational frequency of a purr mirrors frequencies known to assist in the healing of bone fractures, joint problems, lesions and sores, swelling, and muscle strain, suggesting that purring cats may effectively be engaging in a form of self-healing, perhaps even underlying the old myth of nine lives.

The restorative effects of purring are not necessarily limited to the cat itself. A 1997 German study suggests that people show improved healing responses for bone fractures, soft tissue healing and swelling when treated with certain sound frequencies, and those healing frequencies, somewhere between 18 and 35 kilohertz, fall within the range of a typical cat's purr. While research continues, it is entirely possible that a purring cat offers genuine health benefits to an unwell or injured owner.

Purring also plays an important bonding role, both between mother and kittens and between a cat and its owner; there are few things more rewarding than a returned purr from a favourite cat.

The takeaway is simple: never pass up the chance to snuggle up with a cat, offer a few strokes, and enjoy the sound of a kitten's purring.

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