~Robert Byrne
Like everyone, I have always assumed my cats purr because they are so happy with the affection I shower upon them. A purring cat is a happy cat ... right?
One of our cats got hit by a car the other night. He was gone for about 24 hours and then came home, bruised and sore and subdued. All things seemed well, he did not howl or cringe when lifted or petted, he was certainly hungry.
He even purred when we petted him. So of course we drew the conclusion that he was glad to be home, that he was well pleased that we love him so, and that he was not terribly injured.
It turns out that cats may purr as a healing mechanism!
"Scientists have demonstrated that cats produce the purr through intermittent signaling of the laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscles. Cats purr during both inhalation and exhalation with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz. Various investigators have shown that sound frequencies in this range can improve bone density and promote healing." Scientific America
Note: The frequency of cats purring may be beneficial to people as well.
Something else I learned: Some, but not all, big cats purr.
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