I have a top three ‘joy producing kitty things’. Purring is number one, cat paws (in general) are number two, and watching cats clean behind their ears is number three. Don’t ask me why I have a top three, I can’t say I’ve ever referred to it before, but it might just help me meet the requirements for becoming a crazy (caring) cat lady when I retire.
Cats seem to purr for a variety of reasons – when happy, content, eating, giving birth, or injured. There is a theory that purring is a healing mechanism for repairing damage to, or continuing maintenance of, bones, tendons, and muscles. Another theory is that the cat is trying to say that it is not a threat to you.
Purring itself seems to be a pretty complicated thing, considering how easily it seems to happen. The sound you hear is actually air turbulence caused by rapid vibrations in the muscles of the larynx and the diaphragm working in harmony. The vibrations in each of the muscles happen one after another. The alternating vibrations happen about 30 times every second. And when you can feel the purr, well, you’re just feeling muscles vibrate. Pretty cool.
Next time Train graces me with a purr or two, I’m going to pay close attention to what is going on in her little body.
savvycat x
