Why Do Cats Purr?
📝 Summary
When a cat feels comfortable and safe, it trusts you - or you have done something it likes, such as petting it, feeding it, or cleaning the litter - and it purrs to show happiness and ease. Here are more situations in which cats purr, shared by our pet experts.
1 When Cats Purr
I. Times cats purr
Cats purr when happy – tasty food, playing with the owner, being petted by a loved one, and so on.
II. Why a cat’s purr can be so loud
1. When a cat sleeps by your side or is very close to you, you often hear a steady snoring sound. Most think it is sleep snoring, but it is actually the false vocal cords vibrating. The false cords sit at the back of the cat’s throat; stroke the neck and you can feel the vibration when it purrs.
2. The purr is the throat resonating as the false cords vibrate. A purring cat is not actually asleep – it does not snore while playing, stressed, or truly sleeping.
3. Only when content, or relaxed in the owner’s arms, does a cat give a light, cheerful purr. Adult cats and Persians do this more; kittens rarely purr.
4. Persians snore because of their short nasal passages, and they are also prone to respiratory and eye disease for the same reason.
5. Also, if a kitten or adult cat purrs nonstop in any situation, it may have a respiratory infection and needs a vet check.
Tip: A loud, constant purr in a flat-faced breed is often normal, but sudden nonstop purring with other signs needs a check.
Want to learn more about pet health?
Explore our pet health channel for more science-based care guides
Read More Articles →