Facts for kids: Why do cats purr?

Why do cats purr?

Do I own Dexter or does he own me?

Most people believe cats purr because they are happy, but there is a lot more to it than that. Cats sometimes purr when they are sick or stressed, or want to signal to other cats they are friendly. There is also the theory that purring is how a kitten communicates with its mother while the kitten is feeding. Ever seen a kitten feed and meow at the same time?

Research at the University of Sussex in England suggests cats adapt their purrs to trigger a nurturing response in people as a means of getting what they want, usually food and attention. This is interesting, given that humans and cats are believed to have been hanging out together for around 10,000 years.

The sound of purring is created when the brain sends signals to the laryngeal muscles, which then twitch somewhere between 25 to 150 per second. This twitch results in the vocal cords separating when the cat inhales and exhales, and thus the sound of the purr is produced.

Short answer: Generally, a purring cat is a happy cat but the behaviour may mean something more, depending on the situation the cat finds itself in. Interestingly, studies have suggested a purring cat may reduce its owners stress levels and blood pressure.

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