Why Do Cats Purr?

Have you ever been in bed, and your little furry cat crawls up on your chest and starts purring? And you get mad because you have to wake up early, but also at the same time you are," Aww this is so cute, my cat actually wants to spend time with me." Don't be fooled. Cats can purr for many reasons. They do not only purr when they are happy but also when they are in pain, giving birth, and even dying.

So, what is a purr? A purr is a sound, most commonly associated with the smaller members of the feline family, which happens when the feline vibrates muscles in their larynx and diaphragm. In addition with purring, cats make a lot of noises which is the widely known meow. The meow can mean a whole variety of things and all depends on the volume and tone of the meow. However, purrs are different. Purrs not only communicate that they are happy, it also is a from a self medication. In the late 1950's, Dr. Clinton Rubin and his colleagues discovered that low-level frequencies helps build bone density. These frequencies are between 50-150 hertz which, also coincidentally, is the same frequencies that an average purr is.

So, purring is not only for the cat to say he is happy but it is also a way for the cat to heal himself and stay healthy. Let's face it, cats are kind of lazy, and purring may just be a way for them to burn calories with them not actually having to get up and move.

Sources: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-cats-purr