One of the most heartwarming characteristics of our cats is hands down their purr. Whenever our cat purrs, it puts a smile on our faces and gives us a calming sensation. Cats are used in therapy for this exact reason, as their purr is undeniably therapeutic. In fact, it is said that a cat’s purr can help lower blood pressure and help speed up recovery of an injury. But why do some cats not purr? And is it normal for them not to purr?
How do cats purr?
Before asking why some cats do not purr, we should learn what exactly causes a cat to purr. Although the purring phenomenon is still being studied to this day, it is believed that the purring sound happens when a cat’s vocal cords vibrate. For a domestic cat, the vibrations can happen from 25 to 150 vibrations per second! The therapeutic sound is heard as the cat inhales and exhales while the vocal cords vibrate.
Fun little big cat purr fact for you: A cat which can roar cannot purr, and vice versa. So, there are some big cats in the wild that purr, too, such as cheetahs, bobcats, ocelots, and cougars!
Why do cats purr?
Cats may purr for many reasons. Purring is a form of body language cats use to communicate with other cats and their owners. The reason we may witness most is when they are all snuggled up on the bed making biscuits—AKA kneading. Here, they are comfortable and happy. When they want to be fed dinner, they often purr and rub on our legs. A mother cat will purr to communicate with her kittens to find her for food before they can open their eyes. Female cats will often purr while they are in labor as a way to calm themselves, too. A nervous cat in a strange environment may start purring to help calm themselves as purring releases endorphins. For the same reason, a sick or hurt cat may also start purring.
Why do some cats not purr?
There are a couple of reasons why some cats may not purr. Perhaps their vocal cords are too tense or their respiratory system just does not allow it to happen physically. It can be perfectly normal for a cat not to purr. Feral cats do not purr and teach their kittens not to purr in order not to attract attention to themselves in case there are predators around. Other cats may just have other ways of communicating. It is also possible that a cat’s purr is so soft and quiet, we don’t recognize the sound. Sometimes, it takes until a cat reaches maturity, when they are physically developed, to start purring.
If you have a cat that you have never heard purr, don’t worry. It can be totally normal for a cat to be purr-deficient. To check, place your hand or ear up to your cat’s chest the next time they are in a super feel-good mood making biscuits on your bed. If you never hear or feel the purr, don’t worry about it too much, it is not a medical emergency. Perhaps there are other ways that your cat lets the world know that they are feeling happy or nervous. Does your cat purr? When is their favorite time to let the world hear their therapeutic song?
If you learning anything new and interesting about our feline friends, don’t forget to share this article with other cat lovers that you know so that they can learn something, too.
Have you ever wondered why some cats are so vocal? Find out the reason why some cats are so talkative here on cattitudedaily.com.
