A cat we had one summer - a stray someone threw out of the car at the corner of our street (city folks would bring half-grown cats to our neighborhood often to dump them - "It's the country, they'll survive just fine, right?" NOT!!!!!) never learned to meow properly. He was maybe 4-5 months old and starving when he showed up, Dad "accidentally" left a dish of chicken scraps on the porch, and that was that. But his only animal companion was our St. Bernard, so we thought he'd never learn to meow, maybe bark! Even when he first came, though, his purring skill was well-developed, and oft-exercised!

By the way, when, after months, he finally did attempt a meow, it took us a couple days to figure out what that wierd sound he was making was - we finally realized he was doing a close approximation af the squeak the cellar door made! Better than barking, I guess!

Maybe that's another reason pets owners live longer - a purring cat on the lap is good for body AND soul! Maybe now they'll have cats in all old-age homes, to help the patients, especially with osteoporosis, heal bone faster!