Ed Boks, Executive Director
There are so many questions our children ask concerning the mysteries of our universe. Why is the sky blue? Why do birds sing? Why do cats purr?
While we often fail to provide satisfying answers to these difficult questions, we instinctively know that so long as the sky is blue, birds sing, and cats purr – all is right with the world.
We love the feeling of contentment we share when our cat climbs onto our lap and begins to purr. When cats purr we feel calmer and more peaceful – even if we don’t hear the purring, we feel its reassuring vibration.
Purring communicates a sense of well-being. That’s why kittens purr the second day of life. Purring assures mama that her offspring are in good health. Kittens cannot meow and nurse simultaneously, but they can purr and nurse. When mama hears her kittens purr, she reciprocates, reinforcing the sense of comfort and safety.
Purring involves the activation of nerves within the larynx which causes the vocal cords to vibrate as the diaphragm pushes air in and out creating the musical hum.
Purring originates within the central nervous system and is voluntary, meaning cats purr because they want to.
Purring is a function of feline communication produced while the mouth is closed. Domestic and wild cats (pumas and mountain lions) unable to roar are able to purr.
As cats age, their purr usually indicates contentment or pleasure. However, frightened or and severely ill cats also purr, as do females giving birth. Cats close to death often purr, suggesting cats may experience anxiety or euphoria, states found in terminally ill people – further suggesting cats may share man’s awareness of death.
When cats purr under stressful circumstances, they reassure and comfort themselves, like humans who sing or hum to ward off fear. Frightened cats purr to communicate submissiveness and non-aggressive intentions. Older cats sometimes purr when approaching other cats, signaling they want to be friendly.
Purring relieves pain and enhances pleasure – not only for the purring cat but for any of us lucky enough to hear it. We may not know all the reasons why cats purr, but we do know they only share their purring with the ones they love.
Ed Boks is Executive Director of the Spokane Humane Society. He can be contacted at ed@spokanehumanesociety.org or (509) 467-5235 Ext. 213. His work is published in the Inlander, LA Times, Newsweek, and Real Clear Policy.
