"The animals have no voice but ours..."

To Purr or Not to Purr?

May 16, 2008
Jennifer Vanderau
 

I have to let my geek out to play for a minute.

I’ve been doing research on cat purring and what I found was just too fascinating not to pass on.

OK, for the cat lovers out there, you know what I’m talking about – that rumbling sound that comes from your baby when he’s happy or snuggling in your lap. Purrs are different – both in frequency and volume. With some cats, the only way to tell if they’re purring is by touching their neck to feel the vibration, while others you could hear purring from three states away.

Initial belief is that purring is a way for kittens to communicate with mama that all is well and indeed, they can do it sometimes even before they can properly meow. Because a cat doesn’t have to open his mouth to purr, the babies can purr while they’re still nursing and often, mama will purr right back.

Even some of the big guys, like mountain lions, can purr.

In fact, purring has been equated with the humming sound of humans when they’re meditating. It’s a calming, reassuring noise that produces a state of tranquility.

Although, believe it or not, that theory doesn’t always wash. While it’s been widely thought purring was a sign of contentment, it’s been discovered that some cats also purr when they’re angry or upset. In fact, one study believes that purring comes from a release of endorphins in the brain and that can happen during any kind of stimulus – good or bad, which could explain why some cats purr even when they’re hurt or agitated.

But here’s the real kicker (hang on for a minute, I actually looked this stuff up), it’s apparently also been discovered that purring is in the range of sound that can improve bone density and promote healing, according to Scientific American.

This breakthrough has been used to theorize that perhaps this is why cats don’t seem to suffer from the bone issues canines do, such as hip dysplasia.

In addition, all cat lovers know that their felines sleep a whole lot during the day – it’s a trait passed down from their ancestors when energy had to be stored to run, fight or hunt at a moment’s notice. Purring may actually help stimulate the muscles and bones without using a lot of energy and perhaps can even be done while the cats are at rest and sleeping.

You can’t tell me that stuff’s not fascinating. I mean, since I was a kid, I always thought purring kitty = happy cat. Now not only do I find that’s not necessarily so, but purring may actually help physical healing. It’s so wild.

Man, I do adore the fact that information is so readily at our fingertips.

Now, as for the sound of the purr, there are two different schools of thought for how that happens. First, the cat gets the signal from the brain to start the purring (either from a good or bad stimulus). Then one of two things happen. Either the muscles surrounding the voicebox vibrate as air is pushed out by the diaphragm, thus resulting in the sound we here, or the blood vessels surrounding the voicebox actually vibrate and produce the sound we hear.

Either way, it’s a combination of vibrations and air that make the soothing sound of a purr.

I’ll tell you, wherever it comes from and for whatever reason, nothing makes me happier than being greeted at night by a purring kitty. In fact, it’s been found that cat owners – especially seniors – seem to have reduced blood pressure due to the presence of their feline roommate.

So while I’ve come to the end of my research mode, my inner geek says for whatever reason, let the purring begin! 

*****

For past columns, check our the Column Archive on our website.

CVAS, Inc.
2325 Country Road Chambersburg, PA 17202
(P) 717- 263-5791 · (F) 717- 263-2042  cvasadmin@innernet.net