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Published in the Ithaca Journal on Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Everything you wanted to know about purring
Spotlight on Pet Behavior
By MICHELLE BAMBERGER
Special to the Journal
Question: Why do cats purr and how do they make the purring sound?Answer: Great questions! No one knows for sure why cats purr, but purring appears to be a form of communication used by cats in many different contexts. Cats first purr while nursing as kittens of a few days old. Many cats will purr when they are content, but also when they are seeking attention and when they are anxious or frustrated. In these cases, you may see other behaviors in addition to purring, such as jumping up on your lap, kneading, and biting.
The biggest mystery seems to be why cats purr when they are not happy, such as being examined at the vet’s office and when ill, injured or dying. Researchers studying bioacoustics believe that cats may purr to relieve pain and to heal themselves. Recent studies have shown that cats purr at rates between 20 and 200 hertz, and that these low frequency hums may aid in pain relief. Studies done in other species, including humans, seem to indicate that bones may grow and strengthen within these frequencies.
As to how cats make the purring sound, the most recent research suggests that purring is produced in the larynx and diaphragm, by vibration of the muscles in these areas.
Michelle Bamberger is a veterinarian and owner of Vet Behavior Consults (www.vetbehaviorconsults.com), a practice based in Ithaca and devoted exclusively to solving behavioral problems in small, large and exotic animals. Send questions for her column to mjb57@cornell.edu, mail them Care of Jessica Keltz to The Ithaca Journal, 123 West State St., Ithaca, NY, 14850, or fax them to 277-6845.