It is generally believed that purring cats is a sign of their good mood. However, this is not the only reason why do cats purr.
Range of purring cats
Usually, the sound level of cats purring is about 25 dB. However, in 2015, a domestic cat named Merlin living in the UK achieved a record of 67.8 dB, making it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the loudest cat. His purring can block the sound of the TV, as well as the operation of the washing machine and dishwasher. What causes cats to purr?
Usually purring cats is associated with their good mood. What makes them happy? Eating food and resting on their owner’s lap while they are petted or scratched by the ear are the main factors of pleasure. However, pleasure is not the only reason for purring.
Purring cats can have different shades. For example, adult cats may purr to remind their owners about dinner time.
Kittens start making sounds 2-3 days after birth, using them as a means of communication. This allows the mother cat to find her kittens and know when they need to be fed.
In 2009, scientists from the University of Sussex suggested that purring cats can have different meanings. The research, conducted by Dr. Karen McComb, was initiated by her own cat named Pepo. He woke up his mistress with persistent purring. It stopped only after the bowl was filled with food.
Dr. McComb gathered a group of volunteers. He asked them to record the sounds that domestic cats make in different conditions. After analyzing the collected data, some facts were established. Cats that need their owners’ attention add high frequencies to their purring. They differ significantly from the sounds produced when petting. This sound is reminiscent of the cry of a newborn baby, to which it is impossible not to react.
Other causes of purring cats
There are also other reasons for cats to purr. Some cats purr loudly as they cautiously explore a new environment. Purring can also occur when the cat is preparing to give birth, feels sick or afraid. There are sounds that an animal makes after stress or when it is near a sick person. In such cases, purring is not a manifestation of moral support. American scientist Elizabeth von Muggenthaler noted that not only domestic cats purr. Lions, cheetahs, jaguars and other members of the cat family can also purr. She studied the purring of cats of 44 species and found that the sounds they make range from 20 to 140 Hz. Vibrations in this range have a therapeutic effect.
Frequency in the range
- 25-50 Hz promotes healing of bone fractures,
- 100 Hz stimulates tissue regeneration.
Presumably, cats purr after experiencing stress for exactly this purpose: for self-healing and tissue rejuvenation. Thus, Elisabeth von Muggenthaler concluded that purring promotes self-healing in cats. This gives them a significant advantage in the struggle for survival. It is worth noting that washing is also a healing process.
Bone strengthening with the help of vibration is necessary for cats not only for the treatment of injuries. Because they sleep from 16 to 18 hours a day. Excessive immobility can be harmful to their health.
Communication with cats
It is known that communication with cats helps to reduce psychological burden and stress. Scientists from the University of Minnesota have proven that their therapeutic effect is much more serious. Cats purr and help their owners recover. A group of doctors conducted a study over ten years. They monitored the health of 4,435 Americans aged 30 to 75. 2,435 of them had cats, while 2,000 people had no pets.
As a result of the study, scientists found that the risk of death from a heart attack is 30% lower in people who have a cat compared to those who live alone. Therefore, it is not by chance that purring therapy is gaining popularity all over the world.
Scientists from the University of California, Davis, suggested using purring at a frequency of 25 Hz. This frequency accelerates the restoration of musculoskeletal activity. Especially for astronauts who spend a long time in zero gravity.
Scientists have found out why cats purr, but how exactly do they do it?
Cats do not have a special organ for purring.
American professor Kurt Stager believes that the reason lies in the muscles of the larynx. Thinly connected hyoid bones are located between the base of the skull and the root of the tongue. When the muscles surrounding the vocal cords contract, they vibrate, creating the purring sound. This mechanism is activated by electrical impulses that occur in the cerebral cortex. They are transmitted to the muscles located next to the vocal cords and cause them to contract.
It is also useful to learn why cats like to wash themselves.