Ask Mike: Why do cats purr?
Hey Guys,
She’s since gone on to that great scratching post in the sky, but for several years I was the proud and sometimes exasperated owner of a long-haired cat named Grimes. Great cat, Grimes. Unlike 97% of the felines I’ve met, she was exceptionally friendly and liked nothing more than sitting in my lap and purring while I read, or more likely, watched lame reality TV.
One of my favorite things about ol’ Grimey was her motor. I’ve never heard a cat purr so loudly. I looked around Yahoo! Answers and discovered there are a lot of questions from folks eager to know what, exactly, a purr sound is. So, I sharpened my claws and went in search of answers.
The Library of Congress explains that while nobody knows for sure why (or how) cats purr, “most scientists agree that the larynx (voice box), laryngeal muscles, and a neural oscillator are involved.” According to the LOC, kittens start purring when they are just a few days old. Some veterinarians believe that purring lets the kitten’s mom know that the newborn is OK.
Most folks believe that a cat only purrs when it is happy or content. Not so says PetPlace.com. Cats also purr when they are stressed or in pain. “Animal behaviorists believe that when cats purr under stressful circumstances, they are reassuring or comforting themselves, much as humans may sing to themselves or hum when they are nervous.”
There are a surprising number of studies and research papers on purring. Scientific American writes that “over the course of evolution, purring has probably offered some selective advantage to cats.” Additionally, researchers have found that cats purr with a frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz. “Sound frequencies in this range can improve bone density and promote healing.”
So, there you have it. Most experts believe cats purr more for self healing and to relieve stress than out of joy. But I still have a related question I’d like to pose to the community: Why in the world do dogs turn around three times before sitting down? If you have an answer (or even a good theory) please leave a comment and link below.
Thanks for reading,
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mike ur awesome oh yeah!!…they have a thingy that we humans dont have thats vipbrates like ur playing a saxaphone or like a trumpet yeah trumpet…….. ty sooo much see u mikey!!
i heard that cats purr when they are trying to manipulate someone into doing something
so maybe when they want food or to be pet they purr
I think dogs turn around three times before they lie down becasue they just want to mak it softer or something
people fluff theyre pillows right? maybe it’s a dogs way of fluffing his bed =)
Cus day feelin da love doe
I’ve always thought cats purred becuase they were content. (: Atleast I think that’s why my cat purrs.
And teh reason why dogs turn around in circles before they lay down is instinct. They do this becasue they are making a ‘nest,’ or flattening the bed area to make it more comfortable.
As far as dogs turning before they lie down, I used to think they did it because they didn’t want to lie on and insects or things of that sort.
i think dogs turn around 3 times to check their surroundings and make sure there’s nothing in their bed and they’re not laying on something painful, my dog doesn’t turn around 3 times though she only does once lol
meeee-yow!
I don’t know why I even bother to reply give attention to such a question.
DUH! The same reason that lions roar, hogs grunt, dogs bark, babies cry and people talk. And yes why people ask dumb questions. The Higher power made them that way.
Dog spinning before they lay down (Not just once, some dogs don’t do it at all, some can do it more than 5 times!) is an instinct to check their surroundings, and usually other members of their pack, and also, because dogs would usually sleep in long grass, to flatten the grass down so they can lay down easier.
In the wild, dogs would walk in circles to push leaves into the middle of their circle to act as a “bed”
I believe that dogs turn around before lying down as a natural way of checking if there are any predators around to attack them just waiting for them to let their guard down.
Wild or domesticated, this is believed to be an instinct of all dogs.
I heard this one waaaaay back from watching Beakman’s World
wow, that was really cool!!!!
I have always wondered about that myself!
Sorry about Grimes [moment of silence]
However, that little blog was very interesting and very informative!!!! Way to go mikeeey!
lol, keep up the good work. much props, Nikki
Cats will purr only when they feel safe. Even they are angry.
cats purr as a mechanism to show that they are non-threatening. if you met a kitty who knows you not and you blink your eyes at it. it will cuddle up to you.
Dogs turn around three times looking for that comfortable spot or position!
Helo…
What are your?
Thanks…
i have psychic powers with my cats.
they purr when they are pleased. it has two functions, one to express themselves to others, and otherwise it’s a self-satisfying move they seem to get lost in (their mind shuts off to a point, and they enjoy it).
Dogs evolved in a habitat comprised of large amounts of tall grass. The circling behavior flattens down an area to lie comfortably in.
HEY! I have your answer!!!!!!
Okay, as far as dogs going in circles before they go to sleep: the real reason…
Way back when dogs were ‘wild’ and were wolves, there were lots of predators above them in the food chain that could hurt/kill them. So when they went to sleep they needed to be safe, so….
They walked in circles and circles until they found a place were their nose would be upwind (the wind blowing toward their nose, oh, and dogs do smell when they are asleep if you didn’t know) so that they could smell if anything or anyone was ‘coming’.
It was turned into a ‘habit’ / instinct and so now our pet dogs do it too!
Sorry, I’m really bad at explaining things! :S
When a cat is injured (or sick) they purr to quicken up the healing process, which is why cats recover from injuries and sicknesses long before a dog does. Cats are magical creatures I think! They are awesome, and so… mysterious. I love them lol, and they are very manipulative by the way!
dogs are always checking their backs, then sitting down.
That’s my theory. :p
She’s a Happy Kitty
She Loves You
Purring is an appeasement signal for cats just as smiling is an appeasement signal for simians. People smile when happy, when in fear, when meeting new people and when encountering situations that are a little out of control, cats purr for the same reasons.
I love cats and their purring always reassures me that everything will be alright.
<3
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/press_office/bulletin/17jul09/article8.shtml
Cats purr to make them you give them what they want.
Dogs, well, they probably do so to make sure there is enough space or for comfort. I don’t know much about dogs
Dogs turn 3 times because they’re paranoid & dim witted, they do it to make certain that their surroundings are safe before settling down.
You should know this – being a cat owner. They are making sure that there are no cats sneaking up on them. Cats as is their nature love to stalk an unwary dog & pounce on them, because cats know that dogs are stupid & gullible. Cats are full of mischeif.
My former roommate’s dog was ever the victim of my cat, who loved to stalk the poor deffensless dog. Both the cat and dog were friends, seeming as the dumb poochie would let my cat sharpen his claws on him as the dog would look at us whimpering (looking pathetic) as my cat would be pawing the dog.
When a cat pur-r-r-r’s, as you’ve done your homework on the issue. Has its health reasons. But when it Trills while its pur-r-r-ring, is when its expressing its blissful happiness! The Trilling is exactly how a cat expresses how happy it feels and loves you. The Louder the Trilling, the more it loves you.
Its weird the cat’s trilling noise is so similar to the trilling sound used for tribbles in Star Trek The Original Series.
You would think that those furry soft balls of fluff were designed after cats, if they didn’t have 4 legs, a head and long fluffy tail (was the designer of the Tribble a cat owner?).
cheers!!
dogs turning around 3 times is a holdover from the days in the wild.
Wild dogs bed down in tall grass, and that’s how they trample down the grass to make the nest or bed area.
I have lived around cats for literally ALL of my 49+ years on this planet, and I have been around cats in stress and in pain many, many, many times. I have NEVER heard a cat purr while stressed or in pain, except when they are being comforted during that pain or stress by me or another person. I do not believe that cats purr in response to stress or pain – that’s a bunch of hooey. Cats purr because they are happy and/or being given some TLC. It’s their way of saying “thank you”.
cats pur when they r happy and dogs tunr around 1-3 times b4 laying down to make sure nothing is around to attack them or they dont lay on anything harmful and its instinct pardon my poor spelling lol^^
Some pets were created with very special qualities that just charm our hearts and warms our souls deepening our appreciation for our creator.
It would seem that for most of us, we do find that one very special pet, like your kitty, who will remain in our memories for the rest of our lives, giving us just as much pleasure as we remember them with such fondness.
I always wondered on the purring thing too, but as for the dogs, the fox also does it, it is because the tail is part of there spinal cord and they turn around to find a comfy spot to lay down at, and they find it by turning
Cat’s Purr Becausee They Dont Barkk
Dogs Bark,
Cats Purrr
And Meoww:)
Any Helpp?
Dogs are territorial animals..think that might have something to do with it?
The purr becuz they like things…. but the funny thing is, the cat thats purring dosent even know why thay purr!!!!!!! and soo far scientists never found any item or organ in their body that makes them purr….. it could be its brain
I have 2 cats currently. My daughter does also.They all have been heard purring when held, petted, have their back scratched/rubbed. I have to conclude they do this when they are happy.These cats all seek and like human contact daily. I read cats are the only animal to purr, they do this when content. Just like they hiss if unhappy or if they feel threatened. It’s their way to communicate. While my cats look like they are smiling some times they really can’t so they purr instead.
A dog wags their tail when happy at times while cats wag their tail in the tip then. The entire tail means they are upset or focused on something like their prey (insects, birds,etc). One really has to watch animal body language to see what they are feeling.
Edit: My youngest cat (he’s 2 now) has purred when he went to the vet so I agree they can do this when stressed. It is how loud they get in that to determine if stressed out or in pain they may be telling you.
The same cat I mention here is one that purrs so loud though I got him when I walked in the pet store and heard him from at the door, he was in the back area. He is not so loud now so he must have been stressed being there in a cage, the volume is what is the giveaway I feel. My other cat likes to be near me especially when I sleep, she is so quiet I can’t tell she purrs except when she is very close by. Closing their eyes when they purr also is a very content sign.
I remember reading when I was younger that cats only purr in the presence of another, never alone.
No idea how accurate that is, just the little tidbit of information always stayed with me…
well im not really sure why cats purr, mine does not! D:
contentment.
love it`s a healing rythem, set your ear clsoe to the cat.
Dogs sometimes turn around a few times before laying down in order to flatten the “grass” for their bed!
Cats purr as a calming method, it he;ps relieve stress and the quick repetitive motions put then into a prolonged calm state or a stress-relieving calm state. That’s why when someone manages to frighten a cat, you’d hear it purr, that doesn’t mean it’s having a jolly ol’ time, it means it’s trying to calm itself down out of the state of fear and into a reasonable one.
Thanks.
I’m gonna bookmark this page; almost all of my friends have aked this question, and I had to recite the same answer seven times. X-(
Thanks~
I always thought Cats purr when there happy!
What makes the red man red??
When did he first say “How?”
I believe dog’s turn around in circles because they’re looking for a good spot to lay down.
dogs turn around to make a mind barrier, so that they don’t have nightmares… LOL
i heard that in a movie a while ago…
Sorry you lost your Grimey. My cats purr for different reasons from contentment to fear and pain. From their early motor boat sounds to later soft rumblings, I wouldn’t change it. The only thing I would change is the sometimes painful kneading while in my lap. Those claws are sharp!
When your cat climbs into your lap, tucks in his paws under himself, and begins to purr, all is right in his world. This is one of the things we love about our cats; that feeling of contentment they share with us. When cats become soft purring bundles of warm reassuring fur, we feel calmer and more peaceful ourselves. We may not always hear the purring – a soft vibrating rumble – but we can feel it. But why do cats purr? And what produces this characteristic sound?
According to veterinarian Bruce Fogle, author of The Cat’s Mind, the original function of purring was to enable a kitten to communicate with his mother that things are well. A kitten is able to purr by the second day of life, and although he can’t meow and nurse at the same time, he can purr and nurse. And the mother cat often purrs back, probably to reassure the kitty.
Mike,
Thanks for the informative article. I’d always wondered about purring. As far as the circling dog thing goes, I don’t have any ‘good’ theories, but my dogs all did that too. I’ve read some of the other comments, and I think the best one is the primal instinct theory. My dogs were far from ‘dim witted’, but I always chalked their circling behavior up to COCD (Canine Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
I think dogs do it for a combination of things already mentioned. 1) for safety, and 2) for comfort.
I remember my cockapoo, who was a very intelligent dog, would paw at the covers on the bed (usually within minutes of me making it) and make them into a soft(er) place for him to lay, then circle it three times before laying down.
ha,ha,ha that has got to be the FUNNIEST question ive heard all day
I think the reason they purr…is cause it shows u how much they care for u and love u
My Labradors don’t turn round three times, sometimes they just seem to fall over, I think they are too use to the good life, they sort of just flop down where ever they want when they get tired.
Cats purr because they’re weird and somehow related to insects, like cicadas.
my dog dosnt turn around three times… neither do i fluff my pillow… ehh maybe my dog is weird
Cats purr to let you know they are there. It is a quiet way for the kittens to let the mother know where they are.
Dogs turn to make a bed. They do it snow, dirt or sand. The only time they don’t do it is in rocks and that is because the always choose a hollow that has only one way in.
The most common theory is that it is a natural instinct to tamp down grass (or snow in the northern climates) to make a “nest” of sorts. Alaskan Malamutes (sled dogs) do this in the snow before they lie down for the night and it, along with their dense fur, forms an insulating cocoon for them that protects them from the cold wind .
How do you add smiley faces here?
my cat purred because he got what he wanted, his organic milk and the food he accually liked and would eat. People sing when their happy and thats what purring is, a type of sound to denote their happiness. Its cute and those of us who like taking care of our domestic animals can derive a certain satisfaction from knowing we’re taking good care of them.
1. It is a natural instinct for dogs, and other animals similar, like wolves, to circle the area and pat down the grass before they lie down. Patting down the grass makes it more comfortable.
2. I found on article in the New York Times (OPED section) saying dogs, again by instinct, make a little depression in dirt, or particularly snow, to get under the surface for protection from high winds in winter. So, again because of this behavior being an instinct, they would mimick this behavior in doors, in their own home.
Cats purr because if they rrup’ed it would be stupid.
I think the cats purr when they are angry. Usually they are always angry as if they dont like to be with human beings .But i guess they become friendly after a couple of meets with known humans
Sir, I read [Desmond Morris] they are making sure it is a safe place to sleep.
I believe dogs do that because they are flattening whatever they are about to lay on, as not to get poked in the tummy/butt/back by it. As for blankets or pillows, its about flattening it out so they wont have to keep re-adjusting. Only then can they lay in peace for 3 hours…. Until the cat wakes them up with a slap to the snout.
The history of the purr : Mother cat’s purr to let the kittens know they are near. Kittens are born blind but not deaf. The mother uses this signal to the babies to let them know she is ready to feed them. In the wild mother cat will get up and leave the sleeping kittens to go feed herself. The kittens instinctively lay still to avoid being seen by predators in the wild until they hear the purr signal of mom. Even though their eyes have not opened yet they recognize the purr and awaken and start searching and rooting for a tit. Mom lays down and begins to feed them. This signal to the young is never forgotten.It is used later in life as the kittens get older as a signal that they are with some one that makes them feel safe. It is a sign of contentment.
They pur when they are happy,
and also when they are affraid – as a way of saying “I mean no harm, so why hurt me.”
thats fascinating information.
its my understanding that dogs turn around to flatten their bed space, so that it is more comfortable.
now an even more curious animal habit. my dog, used to butt his head against the back rest of the couch, before lying down in the corner by the armrest.
I think cats are the best of animals!!
One of the earlier posters said something about cats purring when they are sick. If that’s true, both of mine must be sick a lot because they both purr a lot. I think they purr to express they are content. My little black and white kitty likes to make a nest, sometimes while sitting on my lap. That hurts a little because she has claws. My vet said that she is “grooming” me when she does that.
I have heard that dogs turn in circles before lying down is an instinct. When they were wild and needed to push the grass down enough to make a spot to lie down on.
Dogs are just making up their beds, in case somebody rumpled it since the last time they were there.
I heard that the theory behind dogs turning around a few times before laying down is that dogs evolved in areas of tall grass. Turning around as they do supposedly helps to flatten the grass down in a comfortable to lay on way. It’s sort of like making a mini-crop circle.
I heard that dogs turn around three times because in the wild, they do that – in a grass field or something, they walk around on the place they’re about to lay down on to flatten the grass. It’s just an instinct (:
Cats purr and also practice kneading behavior with their front paws as a self-soothing behavior.
Dogs turn around because in the wild their ancesters would make a bed for themselves in the grass.
my dog just plops down most of the time, no 3spinnig involved…
Cats purr because it releases endorphins that help relax the animal. There is a percussive bone that is located near the brain that makes the purring sound. That is why the purr to relax and also when they are stressed out- to help regulate the brain.
I remember years ago taking a cat to the vet and the when the vet tried to listen to her heart, she started purring. Not just any purring, but extremely LOUD purring! The vet couldn’t even hear her heartbeat! He finally had to give up and said… if she can purr that loudly, her heart must be fine.
BECAUSE THEY ARE HUNGRY
And cats have 2 pairs of vocal cords. The ones they use to meow are not the ones they use to purr.
Dogs turn around a few times before they lay down out of an evolutionary habit of matting down the grass or foliage they layed down in as wild animals.
Good to know. I often wondered why cats did this, and how the noise was made. Thanks for taking the time to find out!
every one is right about dogs turning around. they do it for many reasons. to cheak their suroundings for preditors, to make sure the rest of the pack is alright and that the pack leader is also settling in, to find a place so they can get a good wiff of the wind while sleeping, to flatten grass to make a bed or “nest” so its more comfortable but aslo, in the “nest” part, if it was winter they would often turn around several times to pack down the snow, theyd have to do it many many times so that the snow was packed far enough down that when they finaly settled in to sleep the snow would form around them like small walls to help circulate their heat and keep them warm while they slept thus reducing the risk of them freezing to death in the winter. kind of like building an igloo, even though its made of snow its actualy very cozy
I loved reading about your cat, Grimes. Thank you for sharing, Mike.
DOH! Because one good turn deserves another. I thought everyone knew that!
it purr when its happy or sad, its fur will stand if its scared or wants to scare something
They purr becuse of how the air passes over their vocal cords.
uhm cats perr cuz they doo gzzez
Fasinating
I’ve read at different places over the years that dogs turn before they lie for having evolved from days in tall grasses, to fashion a flat place.
Cats tried barking,
but couldn’t handle the foreign language.
ummmm wat is this ooo and no pics plz. and add me to your contacts.
So that means cats are stressed or in pain when you pet them and they purr? or they are trying to make themselves even more comfortable when you pet them.
When I take my cats to the vet they like me to sing to them, it seems to comfort them. Sorry if that seems off topic. It’s just you said they purr for the same reasons people sing when they are stressed; to comfort themselves. It made me think of that.
I already knew all of this. Also the majority of cats I’ve known are very friendly to humans and cautious at first of people they don’t know. I know very few distant unfriendly cats.
I know more cats that dislike other new cats. They also seem to have a harder time letting cats they don’t know well into their lives, especially if the other cat is an adult. I know cats who are cautious of humans to warm up much quicker to humans than cats who are cautious of other cats to warm up to those cats.
Cats purr because it is a form of communication, like a dog’s bark. The purr means that the cat is content, like when meerkats guard their territory, when the coat is clear, they make noises, the cat purrs when he/she knows its safe and content. A purr is a way to speak.
Dogs circle because in the den a wolf needs to make sure there are no thorns about or other animals, it’s also a way to make sure that that area is safe and solid.
I hope to become an animal behaviourist or vet tech one day.
love yahoo answers
idk man but my cat does the same thing!!! :0
Yahoo Answers.
Hah.
I believe the kitty or cat pur when they a happy,i have serveral kitty or cat all difference ages and they all pur almost all the time,at least when i am close enough to hear them.about puppy turning around 3 times before laying down.My Puppy don’t alway turn around before laying down.But when she does it is to flating out ther blanket orwhat every she laying on.When is get i my bed with me she just laids down.lol