Caring For Your Cat

Have you ever wondered why a cat purrs and how?  It
really seems to be a mystery as to why that little rumble
you hear coming from your cat occurs at any given time. 
I thought that a cat would purr out of contentment or
happiness.

I have heard my own cats’ purr start whenever I begin to
stroke or pet them while comforting or loving them.  They
also start to roar up a storm after jumping up into my lap
and curling up to sleep.  I thought that the only time they
would purr was when they were cuddled up sleeping on my
lap or from my soothing touch.  At least until I walked by
Tiggy lying on the bed by herself fast asleep, I could hear
her little rumble.

I became curious after finding that it wasn’t just when my
cats were around me that they would purr.  So with my
curiosity peaked, I started to search for information to
answer my question – Why do my cats’ purr?  I came across
some different sources of information and all appeared to
have a common answer.  There is not a definite answer to
why a cat purrs.

Little research has been done on this aspect of the cat. 
There may be more done in the future to answer the
questions to those of us who are curious about a cat’s purr.

It is believed that a cat does purr when it is happy and
content.  I must agree with this, as I have witnessed my
cats’ purring when they are content.  At least it appears
that they are content as they are curled up on my lap
singing up a storm.

There are also some who believe that a cat also purrs when
they are in pain, suffering, or even stressed.  I have not
experienced the purring when my cats’ have been stressed
or suffering.  Even with the loss of one of my cat’s, Cuddles,
when she was sick I did not notice her purring out of stress
or suffering.  Her purring still occurred just as it did before,
while sitting on my lap when I stroked or massaged her.  I
am not saying that this theory is not true; I am just stating
that I have no actual experience of my cats’ purring when
stressed or suffering.

Another burning question that I had wondered about was
how do they purr?  How can a rumbling sound make their
whole body vibrate and get you to feel safe and relaxed.  I
find my cats’ purr to be very comforting and wanted to know
how they did it.

A cat’s purr is believed to be produced by vibrating the
voice box or larynx.  This vibrating can occur at a frequency
between 25 and 150 Hertz.  This is also a frequency that is
believed to promote healing and bone growth.  Each cat will
have their own tone of vibration.  Some cats have a loud purr
while others are barely audible, the only way you know they
are purring is by touching them and feel the vibration of
their body.

The mechanism in which the cat purrs can actually explain
a lot when referring to healing.  Cats are known to have
“9 lives”, which can be explained with the frequency of the
purr enabling the cat to heal itself.  Most cat owners will
also confirm that they experience less stress in their daily
lives or are able to relax after a very stressful day just by
sitting with their cat and stroking their silky fur and listening
to the melodic tone of the purr. 

I do believe that the purr promotes overall good health and
well-being for both the cat and the owner or anyone who
has daily contact with a loving cat.  My cats have been a pure
joy and definitely help to keep my relaxed at the end of a
stressful day. 

The next time you are next to your cat or any cat and you
hear that little rumble, reach down and feel the vibration. 
Also, know that there is more to that little rumble than the
noise that you hear pouring from your cat.  It is a powerful
tool for your cat to keep it happy and healthy.