Cats have been around for a very long time, and it’s no secret why they are so beloved. They’re cute, cuddly, funny, and always up to something. But why do cats purr loudly? The answer has eluded scientists for centuries! In this blog post, we will discuss why cats purr loudly with the hope of finally figuring out why these furry creatures make such an adorable sound that we all love to hear!
What does it mean when your cat purrs?
A purr is a sound made by an animal when they are content. A cat purr can come in a variety of intents, but the best-known one is heard in times of contentment and joy 🙂 But there are many other reasons.
Reasons why a cat will purr include:
But all the reasons for the purr are not meant to overcomplicate and confuse us. If your cat is nestled in your lap, purring loudly, with a look of contentment on their face, then, of course, they are happy!
Contentment and happiness is still the most common reason for the purr and hence why it is so strongly associated with happiness in our culture.
It is an interesting fact that there is no special ‘purr’ mechanism in a cat’s body. The sound is made, in plain words, by vibrating muscles and air bouncing off them to make noise.
A cat purrs by contracting its laryngeal muscles rapidly (voice box). The muscles of the cat’s diaphragm also vibrate very fast. As the cat breathes in, the air hits the vibrating muscles of the voice box and the diaphragm.
This process creates a low-frequency vibration that resonates in their chest cavity as the purr that we hear.
Your cat is no longer a kitten!
This may seem obvious, but it can be overlooked because it is such a simple thing. When your cat was a kitten, its body was much smaller. Their vocal apparatus wasn’t fully developed and their chest cavity was small, resulting in a quieter and higher-pitched ‘purr.’
Now your cat is full-grown and the purr is more of a mighty roar 😉
You have a big cat
My cat is definitely on the big side. When he purrs loudly, the whole room can hear. People usually say, “Listen to that purr!” Larger breeds make a larger roar.
Vocal breed
Your cat may be talkative. If he/she has ‘talkative’ genes in his breed, then this can give the illusion that they are purring louder than normal.
Quieter Breed
Some cat breeds have quieter purrs than others. If you are bringing home a new breed of cat, it may just be that you have not experienced that breed of cat’s loud purr before!
Your cat is happier than usual
Your cat could just be really happy! Like we can raise our voices to express emotion, so can cats adjust the volume of their purr.
Your cat has a health condition
No need to panic over this one. If your cat is purring loudly but looks happy and comfortable, there is no cause for alarm!
If your cat is purring loudly and it is due to something negative, the purr will be accompanied by other signs of a problem.
For example:
You know your cat, and if you think something is off, and are wondering why there is a purr or a loud purr, your cat could be self-soothing because it is stressed or unwell.
Take your cat to the vet and/or call your vet for help to get your furry friend the help that they need! If in doubt, check that loud purr out!
Science World uncovers some really neat things about your cat’s purr:
-“frequency of between 25 and 150 Hertz and maintains a consistent pattern during inhalation and exhalation” – that purr is like a crazy little machine that can’t be stopped!
-as we have already discussed, they purr also during times of distress or tension. For example, they may purr if you have put them in a cat carrier for the first time and are going on vacation together.
-cats have a purr that is targeted at us to get us to feed them! It creates feelings of urgency in us like a cry does from a baby.
-Cats can talk with their kittens using a purr, which is quiet, to keep them all safe from predators when trying to communicate a message to them- like its feeding time.
This helps their kittens out, who have their eyes shut and don’t hear until they are 10 days old.
Cats are adorable, but they’re pretty mysterious too. We’ve answered the question of why cats purr loudly and it’s not just because they like to be petted on the head! A loud purring means that your cat is content–it also could mean that there’s a predator nearby or another animal in their territory. Purrs can have different meanings depending on how loud they get, so pay attention if you want to know more about what your kitty has going on inside his furry little mind. If you need help to decode other behaviors of felines, call our team at Animal Behavior Associates today for an expert consultation!
Random Cat Video Of The Day: Is Your Cat Left-pawed, Right-pawed, or Ambi-pawed?
Sources
Cat-related videos to watch on YouTube for more information about this topic & entertainment:
Very well put together. the purr has always been my favorite thing about cats. so much contentment. I never knew that a loud purr combined with other conditions could be a sign of health issues as you have stated. What are the most common health issues that all of the signs can point toward?
Thank you, Jason! I haven’t been able to find specific illnesses that their purring usually indicates. I believe it is more of a general thing that they do when they are in pain to bring healing and to soothe themselves. I also love all of the contentment cats have! They are very relaxing to be around after a stressful day 🙂
Hi, thank you for sharing this article. when it comes to animals, I am completely eager and in love with any article. I really love animals and as an animal lover, I do have also a site dedicated to them. Although I have had in the past a siamese cat I didn’t have any idea that her purring signified so so many things. I know just a little bit bcs I have had like 5-7 years. Thank you again for this wonderful explanation, now I know, you really enlightening me.
Your welcome 🙂 glad to help!
