Did you know that all cats purr? Even lions and other wild cats!
There is nothing like it! We have all heard it and it is music to our ears!
How Do they Make that Sound?
Many researchers have found that purring begins in the brain. According to scientists, purring is a rhythmic, repetitive neural oscillator which sends messages to the laryngeal muscles, causing them to twitch at the rate of 25-150 vibrations per second. This causes a sudden separation of the vocal cords, during inhalation and exhalation.
The Purpose of Purring
When you hear a cat purr it means all is right with his world, correct? Well, not necessarily.
Purring can certainly mean that the cat is happy and content. But, it can also signal a cat is in distress, nervous or frightened or even when feeling threatened. When a cat in injured or in pain, you may notice that he is purring as well. Purr therapy has been documented by behaviorists. When one cat is in distress, another cat may go lie next to her to soothe her and make her feel more comfortable. As with much animal-to-human communication or animal-to-animal communication, there are still things we do not know.
But, one thing is for sure, the sound of my cat purring next to me while we are sleeping is the best sound in the world!