What is it that actually makes the purring sound in a cat?

Question

I was told that scientist have not been able to determine what actually makes the purr or how it's done.

Answer 1

One study determined that purring involves activation of nerves within the voice box. These nerve signals cause vibration of the vocal cords while the diaphragm serves as a piston pump, pushing air in and out of the vibrating cords, thus creating a musical hum. Veterinarian Neils C. Pederson, author of Feline Husbandry, believes that purring is initiated from within the central nervous system and is a voluntary act. In other words, cats purr only when they want to.²

The other theory is that the sound comes more from vibrating blood vessels than in the voicebox itself. ³

Answer 2

Nobody really knows why or how a cat purrs.
Cats will purr when they are happy, but according to my Vet a sick or dying cat will also purr.
They do that because in the wild they couldn't let other animals know that they were sick, if they did they would become the prey instead of the preditor...this instinct is still in our house cats.
Also when a cat is sick or dying it will purr to comfort itself.

So cats don't purr ONLY when they're happy.

Answer 3

All guinea pis make that purring sound at some time or yet another. They generally attempt this even as they're chuffed a twin of cats. this isn't a nasty element nor an excellent element. This purely means that your guinea pig is amazingly assertive to the international round him and sneezing is a valid which he recognizes

Answer 4

what dum buthole told u dat

feel the throat the next time your cat purrs

purring is an involantary motion involving the same thingy that makes growling possible

Answer 5

when cats are happy they feel something and then their throught rumbles. the sound comes out and you hear it. its very enjoying! hope this helps!

Answer 6

I too would like to know

Answer 7

Without being facetious, I say; contentment!

Answer 8

No one really knows.