my cat seems to have a hard time purring, it's not a steady purr like my other cats where you can tell they're breathing, but the purr continues. he seems to only be able to purr when exhaling (i think, maybe inhaling), so it almost sounds like he's faking it. also, it's VERY quiet & a little raspy. does he just have a different purr or could he have something wrong with him?
2007-03-05 08:03:25 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
also, he's been to the vet a lot (which he hates!!) and they've done complete blood work on him (for other reasons). they've said he's very healthy (just a tad overweight). but they have to anesthetize him everytime cuz he's so aggressive, and i'm certain they've NEVER heard him purr.
2007-03-05 08:05:10 · update #1
This is definely something I would not worry about. My first cat that i had when I was 6 years old purred for about the first 2 months we had him and then I never heard him purr again, and that was one happy cat. I didn't even know that cats were supposed to purr after they left kittenhood.
Now I have two cats. Emily is the kind of cat that you just touch, even by mistake and she starts purring like crazy. Even the thought you might pet her gets her purring. On the other hand we have Pyewacket, the cat that quacks. yes, this cat rarely meows, but she does have the quacking down to a science. However, I have never heard Pyewacket purr. I know she is a happy "idiot",well,she is a cat who quacks and walks around with her tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth (a family trait, these are pure breed cats) and most of her last meal still on her chin. Anyway, you can just tell she is happy with life, but never ever a purr. Ok, so she can't jump either. think I got a runt-- she's only 6 pounds??? anyway, I wouldn't worry, they still don't know for sure what causes purring, what it really means, and it isn't a problem if a cat doesn't purr. You can tell without the purr if a cat is happy.
2007-03-05 17:30:52 · answer #1 · answered by lochmessy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All cats purr differently and they can't control it. They do it when they are relaxed. My Bengal has a very quiet purr and you feel it rather than hear it, but she's just fine. Both my Siamese have loud rumbles for purrs. It sounds like your cat loves you and trusts you. Take the purrs you get and let your cat know he is loved in return.
2007-03-05 14:55:43 · answer #2 · answered by Chanda 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've had cats over the years who's purrs ranged in everything from a constant 100 horsepower outboard motor sound, to complete silence, and everything in between,
One siamese, I swear, was going to choke to death everytime he purred loudly.
I would say, based on your description alone, that nothing is wrong. That's just the way your cat *is*.
.
2007-03-05 08:09:31 · answer #3 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Cats have different purrs. My kitten can make the walls vibrate with her purrs, but my older cat used to have very quiet purrs that you could only hear if you had your head pressed against her tummy. I wouldn't worry about it, unless you notice him having trouble breathing.
Edit: Also, it's not true that cats only purr when they're happy. They also purr to comfort themselves (when stressed or sick). So maybe he's a bit stressed out right now and is purring to calm himself down.
2007-03-05 08:06:22 · answer #4 · answered by mikah_smiles 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
A cat's purr is just like their meows. No two seem to be alike. We have a Maine Coon who actually purrs so loud and hard she makes herself cough! Just look at her and off she goes! We have a little grey and white Angora with a soft to medium purr and a tortoise-shell with a great purr but she acts like a dog... follows you around and wags her tail constantly. There is absolutely no "average cat" just generalities!
2007-03-05 08:19:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think your cat is just fine! I've had cats that could purr so loud you could her them in another room, and others who just sounded like they were breathing hard! It all depends on the cat. I guess it's like people, some sound like Pavarotti and others sound like Michael Jackson. All depends on the pipes. Just love him the way he is!
2007-03-05 08:10:06 · answer #6 · answered by amazin'g 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like he just has a different sort of purr. I've had cats make all sorts of different purrs. I laughed at the part about him faking it.
2007-03-05 08:11:06 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have one cat that sounds like a mac truck when she purrs, and another that you can barely hear. I wouldnt worry about it - especially if the vet has said he's healthy.
2007-03-05 08:24:46 · answer #8 · answered by lma0814 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure.But, if it has trouble breathing they're could be a furrball stuck in his throat.Since I'm not sure,you should take your cat to the vet.
2007-03-05 09:08:51 · answer #9 · answered by Jonathan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the rest - that is just the way he purrs! I also have had many cats and one you can hear in the next room, the other you have to feel his throat, another sounds almost like growling. They will start and stop on a dime!
2007-03-05 08:17:22 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋