Peterborough West Animal Hospital – Why Cats Purr

Have you ever wondered how or why your cats purrrrrr? Most of us think that when a cat purrs it is happy but a cat also purrs when they are scared, sick and some cats even purr when they are dying. There’s so much more to purring then meets the ear!

So how and why do cats purr? This is something scientists and veterinarians have been trying to figure out for years. No one knows exactly why cats purr, this is partly because the cat has no unique anatomical feature that is clearly responsible for the sound. BUT there are several theories.

How cats do it:

Why cats do it:

MAYBE all of these theories are TRUE!  We may never know!

Did you know that lions, leopards, tigers, and jaguars can’t purr but raccoons, guinea pigs, hyenas, and mongooses can? Cats that purr, such as mountain lions and bobcats, can’t roar. And cats that roar, such as lions and tigers, can’t purr. The structures surrounding their voice box (larynx) aren’t stiff enough to produce a purr.

The Veterinarians and the entire team at Peterborough West Animal Hospital want you to know that petting a cat can help release anxiety and arterial pressure that can diminish the risk of heart attack and stroke!

Have you pet your cat today?