At bedtime, I used to love holding my cat Zoe pressed against my chest, listening to her purr contentedly as I nuzzled my face into the soft fur of her neck. Truthfully, it’s hard to hold onto a bad day when that’s how you’re ending it. We know that pets provide many health benefits for their humans, including reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. While we may be feeling mellow listening to the cat purr, what is she feeling?
Any cat lover will tell you that cats purr as a sign of contentment. Newborn kittens are able to purr by the second day of life and often so do while nursing. Relaxed felines purr while eating, drinking, and while giving or receiving affection. However, cats also purr when they are in distress or pain. A mother cat may purr while delivering her kittens while other cats purr as they lie sick or dying. Purring can also communicate submissiveness or non-aggressive intentions from one cat to another.
Scientists theorize that purring is caused by a release of endorphins into the brain, explaining why cats purr while in pain. There are several theories regarding how the body produces a purr, none of them definitive. The frequency range of a purr is between 25 to 150 Hz. This frequency range is beneficial to healing so a cat may purr to aid in healing herself. Researchers also believe that a sick or frightened feline might purr to psychologically comfort herself.
Our domesticated house cats are not the only purring creatures. They share that attribute with mountain lions and bobcats. Like the house cat, these cats cannot roar. Cats such as lions and tigers that can roar lack the ability to purr due to structural differences surrounding the larynx. Surprisingly, purring is not exclusive to cats. A number of other creatures purr as well, including rabbits, raccoons, bear cubs, hyenas, and bats!
While we still have much to learn about how and why cats purr, according to current science, this is some of what Zoe’s purring most likely did for me: reduced blood pressure, triglycerides and risk of heart attack and stroke, to name just a few things. People with cats may also live longer (and certainly happier) lives. Most important of all, Zoe was a loyal and loving friend. The emotional and physical health benefits of that cannot be measured.
One of my colleagues in the field at Pet Allies Network, Sandi Cain, reminded me today that it is “kitten season.” There are more babes and adults than homes. Statistics indicate that 60 percent of American households have at least one pet and cats have edged out dogs as the pet of choice. However, many thousands of cats die every year for no reason other than lack of homes. You and I can make a difference. Please spay and neuter your pets.
Wishing all of my readers more purr-filled endings to stressful days.
by Elizabeth Sundstrom
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