How and Why Your Cat Purrs and Meows

How and why your cat purrs
(and why cats and kittens meow)

We love to hear our cats purr. Some have a loud, roaring purr engine. Others are more subtle. And some don’t seem to purr at all! Have you ever wondered just how your cat purrs and why they do?

How do cats purr?

Perhaps surprising, but there is no special apparatus in a cat’s body to enable them to purr…

According to science, “purring results from the intermittent activation of intrinsic laryngeal muscles as manifest by a very regular, stereotyped pattern of EMG bursts occurring 20–30 times per second.”

What does this mean? Well, purring involves the movement of the larynx (voice box) muscles, at between 20 to 30 times per second, combined with diaphragm (the muscle at the base of the chest cavity) movement. As the cat breathes, air touches the vibrating muscles, producing a purr.

Every cat has a unique purr. Some are high-pitched and others emit a low rumble. Some purrs are so faint you have to be extremely close to your cat to hear it while others have an extraordinary loud engine humming.

Why do cats purr?

Cats purr when they are content. Your cat loves you. Curled up beside you, while you stroke them, it is not surprising that they are happy. Like a dog’s wagging tail or a human smile, however, purring is not always a sign of happiness. Instead, we can think of it as an emotional arousal.

Cats may also purr in times of pain or distress. Indeed, purring has been observed as cats are giving birth and even when they are dying. Purring may be a mechanism that helps cats rest and repair.

Purring may be a feline self-comforting behaviour. It is first expressed when kittens are only a few days old, perhaps signalling their presence to the mother cat or to encourage her to feed them. This ability continues into their adult lives.