Why do cats purr?

[I_love_cats]

Hello

I am very curious as to why cats purr, there are soo many different reason why cats purr. I read that they can purr when they are anxious, happy, physical or mentle distress, injured or sick, scared, in pain or attenuate suffering. I would like to know the real reason why they purr, i can't see a cat purring if they are sick or in pain. My Toby is always purring, never stops. Is that normal for a cat to purr all the time. Does anyone cats purr all the time. Please let me, thanks!!

[Nomilynn]

My cats have been known to purr when they are scared. I don't think it's a bad thing that he purrs all the time.. as long as he doesn't seen distressed or anything

[krazyaboutkatz]

My cat Storm purrs all the time too. I think it's because he's very content and happy. He was abandoned by his former owner and now he's in a forever loving home. Pepper purrs when he wants love and when I scratch his head. Sunny will also start purring when I scratch his back, tummy, or head. He'll also purr when I talk to him. My cats seem to purr when they are happy.

[neko1]

I do believe that cats purr for all of those reasons. My cats at home purr when they are happy and content.
But cats also purr when they are distressed. I work for a vet and have seen many cats purr when they are unhappy. We actually just had a cat come in whose owners slammed his tail into a door (he had to have the tip amputated). When we first saw him all he did was purr even though he was in pain.
No one really knows exactly why cats purr- that's one secret they will never tell us!

[TheAntiPam]

And, just to confuse things, I have a kitty that does not purr, no matter what.

Actually, I suspect that he does vibrate, but doesn't make any sound when he purrs. I have only noticed the vibrations a couple times, and NEVER heard any noise.

I'd like to think that he is a happy and healthy kitty - just vewy vewy qwiet!

[AmberLee]

AntiPam! Hee, hee, hee! Love your description. Which fur-baby is this?

[Randi]

I feel pretty sure that cats purr when they're happy and content, but they also purr when they're sick! According to Desmond Morris, they purr to tell their surroundings that they're NOT DANGEROUS - at the moment!

[I_love_cats]

My Sabrina only purrs when she wants too which is not too often. Even when I brushed she doesn't purr but my Joey purrs everytime I brushed him or rubbed his tummy and when he wants something and sometimes he really purr loud just like a motor and Toby, he is always purring, never stops.

[wayne0214]

I am thinking that a cat purrs for emotional comforting reasons. Whether they are physically OK or in pain or sickness. As all of us know, cats can be very high strung.

For an example of how high strung a cat can be, just last night, while watching Animal Planet, they had a 1/2 hour special on the birthing of kittens. ( They also showed 2 Abyssinian kittens. Eat your heart out Wayne!) Tiger, my lynx-point Siamese, suddenly raced off her foot-stool where she was asleep, and darted across the room in fear because of seeing the kittens on the TV! . She only came back after encroaching the TV images to make sure they were only images. I suspect that she opened her eyes after being asleep and saw all the Abys and became fearful, then darted off.

[neko1]

That was a great show (because of the abys!!!!!) I wish I could resuce abys and somalies and take care of them!! I keep telling my fiance that one aby isn't enough but with 4 cats already I'm can't have any more. The male aby kitten was so cute I wanted to take him
OOOHHH I love Abyssinians!!!!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Why do cats purr? Because they can.

[wayne0214]

neko-1, it sounds as though we would be in competition for an Aby. They have apparently captured your heart as they have mine,

...............wayne