Why do Cats Purr?

Why do cats purr? It is one of the most frequently asked questions that pet owners have about their feline friends. Many people believe that cats purr when they are happy, but according to animal experts it actually goes deeper than that. Some of the other reasons that cats purr may surprise even the most avid cat fancier:

To Calm their Kittens: Experts say that mother cats purr to reassure their young kittens.  Kittens are born almost blind and deaf so the world must be a very scary place indeed. So Mom’s purr serves two purposes for her kittens – a sign that she is near and happy to be with them and also as a sort of homing beacon for kitties that stray a little too far.

To Calm Themselves – A cat that is very sick, even dying will often purr to itself. According to vets this is the cat’s way to try to reassure and bolster itself, as they seem to be able to use the act of purring to perhaps trigger memories of happier times.

To Calm their Humans – Many cat owners can relate stories about their feline pets coming to them when they are upset and seemingly trying to comfort them by purring, as if they were kittens, not humans.

Another commonly asked question is “How do cats purr?” The purr actually comes from two folds of membrane, often called “false vocal cords” that are located in the larynx behind a cat’s real vocal cords. Scientists believe the purring sound is created by blood in a large vein in the feline chest that vibrates and the sound is magnified by the air in the windpipe.