• Question: Why do cats purr

    Asked by Greginator to Craig, Laura, Saffron on 25 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Laura Wales

      Laura Wales answered on 25 Jun 2015:

      Most people think it because the cat is content and happy. A kitten might purr to communicate to its mum that it’s okay. A cat might purr to communicated to a person that it’s hungry. Cats may also purr when it’s injured or in pain. So, basically they purr to communicate something – it’s said that depending on what they are trying to tell you (they are happy, or they are injured) the purr sounds different.

      The laryngeal muscles are responsible for the opening and closing of the glottis (the space between the vocal chords), which results in a separation of the vocal chords, making the purr sound.

    • Photo: Craig Doig

      Craig Doig answered on 26 Jun 2015:

      well Greginator
      Unfortunately I’m a dog person and always have been so I think cats purr whilst they are plotting evil schemes to kill their owners.

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