Wondering why do cats purr? Purring is likely to have provided some selection advantage to cats throughout the course of evolutionary history.
Most felid species emit a vocalization that is similar to a “purr.” Purring is particularly obvious in domestic cats when the cat is breastfeeding her kittens or when a human provides social interaction to the cat through touching, stroking, or feeding.
Despite the widespread belief that cats’ purring indicates happiness or serves to communicate with their young, it is possible to identify the reasons for a cat’s purring during more difficult times in its life.
Petting cats when they are under stress, like during a trip to the vet or while recovering from an accident, is common.
As a result, not all purring cats appear to be happy or comfortable with their current situation. This conundrum has prompted academics to examine the mechanism through which cats purr, which is still up for debate.
Why do Cats Purr? Possibly for Bone and Muscle Recovery
Scientists have found that the purr is produced in cats by the laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscles signaling intermittently.
Cats purr during both the intake and the exhale phases, with an unchanging pattern and frequency ranging between 25 and 150 Hertz.
According to the findings of several researchers, sound frequencies in this range can strengthen bone density and aid in the promotion of healing.
Cat purrs have been associated with enhanced bone and muscle recovery, which may be beneficial to some humans.
The loss of bone density and muscular atrophy that astronauts experience while in zero gravity for lengthy periods of time is a severe problem.
It is unlikely that their musculoskeletal systems will be subjected to the regular pressures of physical activity, such as standing or sitting for long periods of time, which takes strength for posture control.
As a result of cats’ adaptation to preserve energy via prolonged periods of rest and sleep, it is likely that purring is a low-energy mechanism that activates muscles and bones without consuming a great deal of energy.
It has been suggested that cats have “nine lives” as a result of their durability, and a common veterinary folklore says that cats are capable of reassembling their bones when placed in the same room as all of their pieces.
Purring may serve as a foundation for this feline mythology, according to certain sources.
Because the domestication and breeding of exotic cats occurred fairly recently in comparison to other pets and domesticated species, cats do not have as many muscle and bone deformities as their counterpart, the domestic dog, which has undergone a greater amount of selective breeding.
Perhaps the purring of cats helps to reduce the symptoms of dysplasia or osteoporosis, which are more widespread in their canid counterparts than in cats.
The claim that cats purr because they are happy is appealing, but it is more likely that cat purring is a way of communication and a key source of self-healing for the animals.