Among the owners and lovers of kittens, it is a common belief that the purr of the cat has therapeutic effects . It is said that it works like a mantra, calming and calming the spirit. What does science say about it? Can it heal us or not?
The most widespread explanation is that the noise of the cat’s purr originates in the thorax of the animal, within the wall of the vena cava, as it passes through the liver and the diaphragm, points out the American veterinarian WR McCuistion. When the flow of blood passes through the diaphragmatic hiatus, an opening that connects the esophagus and the stomach, it is compressed and causes turbulent oscillations when it enters the thorax of the animal . This results in perfectly audible vibrations that we know as purring.
The pussycat purrs with a sound frequency of between 25 and 40 hertz, exactly the same waveform used by technology applied in the rehabilitation of bone fractures. According to several studies conducted by the University of North Carolina, the vibrations emitted by cats help them increase the density of their bones, facilitate healing and have anti-inflammatory properties . The forced question now is: could humans benefit from this healing power? At the moment, there is no scientific evidence in this regard since it is not known if this vibration is capable of passing through tissues.
What cat owners do agree on is that when their pets purr, they feel calmer and more relaxed. That said, each kitten is different and there are those who do not purr, in the same way that there are more affectionate felines than others and many who emit this runrún not only when they are happy but also when they are sick, to relieve their pain . By the way, cats are not the only ones capable of purring, big cats such as lions, tigers or leopards are also capable of emitting this sound, as well as smaller cats: lynxes, servals, caracals, ocelots, cheetahs and pumas.
We tell you more situations in which a cat can purr, it will surprise you.
The purr of mother cat
Mother cat can purr while in labor and after . He does it to communicate with the puppies and calm them after the ordeal. Then, the purr will serve to guide the kittens to her, to suckle, since the puppies are born blind. A curiosity is that kittens can start meowing a week after they are born and will use this sound to convey their mood to the cat: that they are well or not, that they are afraid, that they are comfortable sucking …
When the cat’s purr means pleasure or pain
The most common reason a cat purrs is when it is comfortable. You may have heard it in your furry while eating or when you caress it .
However, the purr of the cat can be a wake-up call because it is unwell and even a way to avoid confrontations or defuse a tense situation . Two classic examples of the latter motives would be friendly purring at the threat of another cat and after receiving a scolding from their human.
What does each cat purr mean according to its pitch and frequency?
It has already been clear to us that a cat can purr for different reasons. Now we are going to learn to distinguish purrs by their pitch and frequency. To interpret these sounds we will have to take into account the tone of our animal’s purr since they are not all the same, as is the case with human voices.
– When a cat is super happy and pleased, its purr will be irregular.
– If the purr of the cat is regular and vigorous, it is a sign that the animal wants something: it can be food, water or to be caressed.
– A cat will purr loudly seeking our attention because it is unwell or in pain.
– The purr of the cat can be uniform and lilting. In this case, what the animal is transmitting to us is its desire to put an end to a situation that, for some reason, is uncomfortable for it.
Do you already know the reasons why your cat purrs? Hasn’t it surprised you to learn that he can purr when he’s sick or feeling bad? These cats are a box of surprises!
