What makes kittens purr

Haddon agrees. The purr from a happy cat may also be of benefit to human health Credit: Alamy. Most of us feed the cat before ourselves, which shows how effective their communication is. With this deeper knowledge, the bond between cat and owner can only grow. If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc. Ask a Stupid Question Animal. Share using Email. By Stephen Dowling 25th July But if that neural oscillator is triggered, is it just when a cat is happy?

But only sometimes. But this is just one of several different ways in which the purr is used. Cats often purr when humans stroke them, leading to an association between purring and pleasure. A study found that cats can conceal a cry within their purr that triggers a nurturing instinct in their owners, similar to the cries of a human baby. According to New Scientist readers, cats will also adapt noises like their meow to elicit a response from their owners.

Healing — Experts believe that purring helps cats get better faster. The low frequency purrs cause vibrations within the body that can heal bones and wounds, build and repair tendons, ease breathing and decrease pain and swelling.

This could explain why cats are able to endure high falls and have fewer complications after surgeries than dogs. The purr is a feline lullaby that soothes the singer as well as the listener's soul.

But that's not always the case: Some cats also purr when they're hungry, injured, or frightened. And most surprisingly, purring frequencies have been shown to stimulate bone regeneration—yes, bone regeneration. Cats purr by using their larynx and diaphragm muscles, both as they inhale and as they exhale, although just how the central nervous system generates and controls those contractions isn't yet understood.

Early 19th century taxonomists thought cats could either purr or roar, and split the family Felidae along these lines—"purrers' subfamily Felinae and 'roarers' subfamily Pantherinae. Today, though, taxonomists believe most cats can purr, with a few probable though not certain pantherine exceptions: lion, leopard, jaguar, tiger, snow leopard and clouded leopard.

Cheetahs and cougars? Yeah, they purr. So, why do it? If it's a form of communication, it's meant for those near and dear, since cats purr at a frequency and volume too low to travel far. Purring and many other low-frequency vocalizations in mammals often are associated with positive social situations : nursing, grooming, relaxing, being friendly.