What makes cats purring sound

Purring is a way for a cat to soothe itself, just like a human child will suck their thumb to feel better. Healing — Experts believe that purring helps cats get better faster.

The low frequency purrs cause vibrations within the body that can heal bones and wounds, build and repair tendons, ease breathing and decrease pain and swelling. This could explain why cats are able to endure high falls and have fewer complications after surgeries than dogs.

But this is just one of several different ways in which the purr is used. Cats often purr when humans stroke them, leading to an association between purring and pleasure. A study found that cats can conceal a cry within their purr that triggers a nurturing instinct in their owners, similar to the cries of a human baby. According to New Scientist readers, cats will also adapt noises like their meow to elicit a response from their owners.

Humans can laugh out of joy, a desire to be polite, when surprised, in discomfort or in derision—and only context will tell an onlooker which is going on. It would be easier to tell what function the low-frequency rumbles play if we could "de-purr" a cat.

But, Buffington notes, what are you going to do, cut off its air supply? You'd lose a cat and learn nothing. If you want to know why your particular favorite feline is purring, Buffington suggests paying attention to what prompted the purring and what it leads to. Did you just arrive home to be greeted by your cat purring and rubbing against your leg? He might be happy to see you. Is your cat pestering you around dinnertime, purring insistently? It may be hungry. Cats seem to purr with greater urgency when hungry.

Cats will often purr on their own - it's believed it promotes bones and tissue growth Credit: Alamy. Cats begin purring when they are a few days old, which helps their mothers locate them for feeding time. The more science has delved into the purr, the more it seems to have uncovered. This is where we address seemingly simple questions… that have very interesting scientific answers. Let us know via Twitter or Facebook.

We humans are naturally sensitive to the baby cry, so we respond also to the cry within the purr. There are lots of things like that we know so little about. One hypothesis is that the purr is a powerful healing action. The frequency of those vibrations — which range from 20Hz up to Hz — is thought to promote bone growth , as bones harden in response to the pressure.

Other frequencies may do something similar to tissue.