Why Cats Purr: Healing, Comfort, Stress Relief & Attention

1. Introduction Cats aren’t just purring because they’re happy. According to National Geographic, purring can signal a range of emotions and needs, from comfort to distress, and even an attempt to seek attention. Purring is a complex, multi-purpose behavior. 2. How Cats Create the Purr Your cat’s familiar rumble comes from rapid movement of their laryngeal muscles and vocal folds during both inhalation and exhalation. Airflow through the glottis vibrates these tissues in a neural rhythm, possibly controlled by a “purr‑oscillator” in the brain. Half‑big cats and some viverrids (like genets) can produce similar sounds, but not all big cats, such as lions or tigers, purr in this manner due to differences in throat anatomy. 3. Why Cats Purr 🔹 a) Contentment & Bonding Most commonly, cats purr when relaxed, like while being petted, cuddling, or kneading. From their earliest days, kittens purr to communicate with their mother, creating a sense of security and bonding. 🔹 b) He...