A cat’s purr is soothing to one’s soul. What can be more comforting than to hear your feline’s motor in idle? Let’s explore how the purr benefits us and them!
The Many Faces of the Purr
A cat’s purr is akin to a smile – a nervous smile, an anxious smile, or a simple happy smile. But just don’t assume a cat is always happy because it’s purring – that simply is not the case!
Of course when your cat hops up onto your lap, purrs, and stretches out for a well deserved body rub then you know you have one happy feline – but those purrs vary with circumstances. A visit to the veterinarian, for instance, can start a purr signifying fright or nervousness!
Purr Origins
In a cat’s brain a repetitive neural oscillator transmits messages to the larynx and diaphragm muscles. This causes those muscles to twitch at a rate of 25-150 vibrations per second. When this occurs the vocal cords separate when the cat inhales and exhales and, thus, produces a purr.
Roars & Purrs
Interestingly enough, not all cats can purr. Those that can’t purr are usually the large cats and they, instead, ROAR! Purring would be difficult for the large cats because their larynxes aren’t stiff enough to allow the structures surrounding the larynx to allow purrs. The roarers include lions, jaguars, tigers, snow leopards, and clouded leopards. The Purr-ers include cheetahs, cougars, domestic cats, and their relatives such as mongooses and civets. Did you know that even raccoons, hyenas, and guinea pigs can purr?
Protecting the Pride
The large cats (lions, tigers, etc.) have to move around a lot in order to catch prey so they roar to protect their prides and their territory. The smaller, purring cats are usually loners and have no need to compete for prey. For communication they use scent and mark their territory.
Purr-Cry
Domestic cats have the ability to hide a plaintive cry (or moan) within their purr that has the ability to irritate humans while appealing to their “motherly” instincts. This “purr-cry” is similar to a baby’s cry with a range of 300 to 600 hertz. And why would a cat cry like this in the first place? Just ask the researchers who say “How do cats get you to feed them sooner?” The answer is cats rely on the inherent tendencies in humans to nurture and protect their young!
The Healing Purr
Even more than communication, cats use purrs to heal themselves. Studies suggest that frequencies between 24-140 vibrations per minute are therapeutic for pain relief, bone growth, and wound healing. If you think this sounds crazy just take a look at high impact exercise which promotes bone health along the same lines by responding to pressure to make them stronger. Interestingly enough a variety of cat purrs have been recorded including domestic cats, cheetahs, pumas, and ocelots. All of those animal purrs fit into the range of bone regeneration. The research continues with evidence suggesting these purring vibrations also contribute to muscle and tendon repair, pain and swelling reduction, and eased breathing. Let us all not forget the old veterinary school adage which states “If you put a cat and a sack of broken bones in the same room the bones will heal.”
Purr-fect Health
A ten year study at the University of Minnesota Stroke Center suggests a cat’s purr can be healthy and beneficial to cat owners. Researchers found that cat owners were 40 percent less likely to have heart attacks than non-cat owners. Could the cat’s purr be contributing to lowering blood pressure and relieving stress? It could be true because this auditory stimulus is often attributed to calmness and peacefulness – something everyone needs these days in this hectic and volatile world!
By Tom Matteo
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References:
Mother Nature Network
Doctors Foster and Smith
Wired
About the Author
Tom Matteo has been a freelance writer since 1992. He has written hardware and software reviews for computers and gaming systems, and now writes about animal behavior and care. Tom resides in Bethlehem, PA with his wife, Tina, and their beloved cockapoo, Angel.