The purr of domestic mèo is unique, although other felids like bobcats, cheetahs, and pumas also purr. mèo con learn to purr within their first few days of life, even before they open their eyes, and a mother often purrs while delivering her babies. mèo also purr when they are hurting, scared, hoặc close to dying.
We most often associate purring with contentment, but it could be thêm generally associated as a signal for different things. A mother and her em bé purr to communicate their location, since mèo con are born blind. Two mèo grooming each other may purr to communicate feelings of contentment.
A cat also purrs when nervous, sort of a way of comforting themselves, much like we would sing hoặc hum to ourselves when anxious. These communication signals even translate to humans – the mutual contentment between cat and owner while petting a cat in their lap, for instance.
As far as how a cat purrs, scientists can only speculate, but most agree that the laryngeal muscles and the larynx act on a neural impulse, hoặc oscillator, from the brain. There is even speculation that purring has to do with the release of endorphins in cats.
A cat's purr is interesting in that it continues throughout the full respiratory cycle. A cat continues to purr while they are breathing in and out. Unlike a “meow,” which is thêm akin to speaking, a purr seems to have a continuing rhythm all its own, until a cat decides to turn it off.
If a cat has a diseased larynx, they will produce a different sound and may have trouble swallowing and breathing properly, causing them to gag. They also sometimes develop nerve damage that paralyzes the larynx hoặc a tumor hoặc polyp that restricts the airway. In these cases, a veterinary appointment is necessary to do an endoscopy of the area. Surgery may be necessary to open the airways and improve breathing.
Regardless of the reasons why mèo purr, it is helpful to know that the act of purring covers a wide range of emotions in cats. This helps us to appreciate this unique form of expression as thêm than a pleasing sound that lowers our blood pressure and soothes our ears.
