2007-01-17 08:01:02 · 8 answers · asked by John Matthews 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
No one really knows, but....
Originally, it was thought that the purr was simply an expression of an emotional or physical state of contentment, safety, and well being. It is true that happy cats will purr, and that when cats mutually groom or cooperate on a task they will frequently purr. While it was a pleasant theory, the clearly demonstrated fact that cats will purr when they are not happy suggested that there was more to it than that.
The vibrational frequency of the purr of a purring cat ranges from 25-130 Hertz. This happens to be a frequency which promotes healing of bones and eases muscle pain, suggesting that perhaps cats are actually healing themselves with the purring mechanism. This suggestion has been borne out by studies which show that cats tend to have faster healing bone fractures than other animals, and suffer less from osteoarthritis and other bone disease.
Cats will often purr when they are tired, which could be considered a waste of energy unless the purr is serving a physiological function. Cats may be massaging themselves from within after a long day, easing muscle soreness, inflammation, shortness of breath, and exhaustion.
2007-01-17 08:05:34 · answer #1 · answered by designz51 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wiring travels from the brain to the muscles in the voice box, and this wiring is able vibrate the muscles so that they act as a valve for air flowing past the voice box. The muscles work both during inhalation and exhalation, which creates the impression that cats can purr continuously. The air passes through the valve, which opens and closes rapidly to create the purring sound.
2007-01-17 08:07:55 · answer #2 · answered by JCSquardo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cats have special wiring! The wiring travels from the brain to the muscles in the voice box, and this wiring is able to vibrate the muscles so that they act as a valve for air flowing past the voice box. The muscles work both during inhalation and exhalation, which creates the impression that cats can purr continuously. The air passes through the valve, which opens and closes rapidly to create the purring sound.
2007-01-17 08:06:38 · answer #3 · answered by allyalexmch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Researchers have desperate that cats purr simply by intensity of a feeling. In different words, if a cat is particularly content cloth, he will purr. If he's particularly unwell, he will purr. the two helpful and adverse thoughts could reason a cat to purr. Cats have been often happening to purr on an identical time as dying.
2016-12-12 13:45:31 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats do not purr only when happy. They will also purr when very sick or even afraid. It's a signal to others that everything is ok. They might use that in situations when they are weakened or at risk to fool people or animals into thinking that nothing is wrong.
As far as the mechanics of purring, that hasn't been figured out yet.
2007-01-17 08:11:55 · answer #5 · answered by memaw 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Scientists have demonstrated that cats produce the purr through intermittent signaling of the laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscles. Cats purr during both inhalation and exhalation with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz.
2007-01-17 08:11:22 · answer #6 · answered by Amy J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats purr when they are happy and when they are in pain. The kitten book I have says no one knows for sure why kittens purr and people have studied it
2007-01-17 08:13:37 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any extreme emotion will cause purring
2007-01-17 08:34:28 · answer #8 · answered by flutterby5738 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋