How do cats purr?

Introduction

Purring is a distinctive vocalization produced by cats and some other felids. It is often associated with contentment, but it can also occur in other contexts such as when the animal is injured or frightened. Understanding the mechanisms and purposes of purring involves examining both the physiological processes and the behavioral contexts in which it occurs.

Key Insights

Mechanism of Purring:
- Purring is primarily driven by a centrally controlled modulation of respiratory flow through the larynx, without significant involvement of the diaphragm or other muscles beyond their role in respiration .
- The intermittent activation of intrinsic laryngeal muscles, causing glottal closure and the development of trans-glottal pressure, generates the purring sound. This process involves a regular pattern of EMG bursts occurring 20-30 times per second.
Frequency and Characteristics:
- Domestic cats purr at a frequency of approximately 26 Hz, with slight variations between inspiration and expiration phases.
- Purring frequencies in felids range between 25 and 150 Hz, which correspond to vibrational frequencies used in medical treatments for bone growth, pain relief, and wound healing.
Behavioral Contexts:
- Cats purr not only when they are content but also when they are injured or frightened, suggesting that purring may have a self-soothing or healing function.
- Purring can be used by cats to solicit food from humans, with a specific "solicitation purr" that includes a high-frequency component reminiscent of a cry, making it sound more urgent and less pleasant to humans.
Neural Control:
- There is evidence of a specific region in the cat's brain that, when stimulated, can induce purring, indicating a neural basis for this behavior.
- The neural oscillation characteristic of purring persists even when afferent pathways for respiratory mechanoreceptors are interrupted, suggesting a central nervous system origin for the high-frequency oscillatory mechanism.
Clinical Implications:
- Purring can interfere with veterinary auscultation, making it difficult to detect heart and respiratory abnormalities. Effective methods to stop purring during examinations include placing the cat near a running tap or using an ethanol-based aerosol .

Conclusion

Purring in cats is a complex behavior controlled by central neural mechanisms and characterized by specific laryngeal muscle activations. It occurs at frequencies that may have healing properties and serves various functions, from expressing contentment to soliciting care from humans. Understanding these mechanisms and contexts can help in both clinical settings and in enhancing human-animal interactions.

Try another search

is crocodile a dinosaur

What are the early signs of autism in young children?

What is the potential of emerging energy technologies in achieving global sustainability goals and reducing dependence on fossil fuels?

What are the implications of antibiotic use and resistance for individual and public health?

rfid food ration system

Does age diversity improve employee productivity?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

How cats purr

Domestic cats purr at a frequency of 263 Hz, driven by centrally driven laryngeal modulation of respiratory flow, with no change in frequency with age.

Purring in cats during auscultation: how common is it, and can we stop it?

Placing a purring cat near a running tap and proximity to an ethanol-based aerosol effectively stops purring, allowing easier auscultation during examination.

The cry embedded within the purr

Domestic cats use purrs to solicit food from humans, exploiting sensory biases and a high-frequency voiced component to make their pleas more urgent and less pleasant.

Selected highlights from other veterinary journals

Turning on a tap nearby or spraying an ethanol-based aerosol onto the examination table near the cat effectively stops most cats from purring, enabling effective examinations.

The felid purr: A healing mechanism?

The felid purr may be a healing mechanism, promoting bone growth, fracture healing, and pain relief in various felid species.

Neural and mechanical mechanisms of feline purring.

Purring in cats is primarily driven by intermittent activation of intrinsic laryngeal muscles, accompanied by alternating activation of diaphragmatic and laryngeal muscles, promoting inspiratory flow and limiting negative swings in tracheal pressure.

A purring center in the cat's brain

A specific region in the cat's brain, stimulated with a needle electrode, causes purring when stimulated, warranting a special report.

Purring and similar vocalizations in mammals

The term purr should be restricted to vocalizations homologous with felid purring, as 'true' purring is established only in the families Viverridae and Felidae of the Carnivora, with similar structures occurring in other families and orders.

Only When It Feels Good: Specific Cat Vocalizations Other Than Meowing

Cats produce specific vocalizations other than meowing in positive situations, such as being offered a favorite snack, suggesting they can be used to determine their emotional state.

The Study of Acoustic Phonetics on Frequency Cat Snoring Between Different Ages

Older domestic cats produce higher frequencies of purr sound than young cats, indicating that sound can become louder as cats age.

Try another search