13 ideas to keep your cat cool during the heat waves

The purr mecanism isn’t well known yet : we know purrs is a low frequency vibration (20 to 150 Hz) originated in the cat’s larynx, and that it can work both in inspirations and expirations, making the purr constant. We thought that activated vocal muscles were creating the purr. However a study published in 2023 shows purr can also happen passively, without neural input indicating that the activated vocal muscle are probably just an enhancement of the purr. So yeah. We send probs to explore as far as outside our solar system, build AI computing insane amounts of datas, but even though we live with cats for more than 9 000 years but we still don't fully know how they purr ;)

BUt HOW??!

We don’t know how, but we have good theories on why. It is believed that purr is used in intraspecific (=between cats) communication, specially in kitten and mother relationship. Kittens learn to recognize their mothers’s purr and it plays a role in the emotional development and stability of the kittens. Kittens starts purring at 2 days old and we think the purr is a way to reassure reciprocally both kittens and the mother of their presence. There is no scientific consensus whether the purr is used to communicate between adult cats, though.

Communication Purr

Yes, cats purr when they are happy and content. But purr can also express pain, stress and fear : your vet can vouch that a lot of cats purr while dying or put to sleep. Purring is a self-soothing behaviour : probably linked to safe juvenile memories, it helps to reduce the stress. So how do you know if a cat is purring out of contentment or stress? Well, as usual, the whole body behaviour and context will tell you: if your cat body is relaxed, slowly blinking or closed eyes, and shows no signs of stress, then this probably is a happy purr. If your cat's body is tense, eyes wide open, pupils dilated, tail flinching, flatten or facing backward ears, then it is probably a distress purr. If you were petting, you'd better stop.

Self-soothing purr

Good news, purring also have benefits on humans -who thought cats are selfish ? Purrs have a soothing effect on us too, it helps lower the blood pressure and with mental health.

Next time your partner asks you to do something while your cat is purring on your lap, just say : « Yeaaah I'm sorry, I can’t stand up : I am in a middle of a purr therapy ».

Purr therapy :

Most felines -except for some species in the Pantherinea genra who roar-, can create a vibration called a purr. Purrs are often interpreted by human as a sign of hapiness but purring is way more complicated than that and has several different purposes. Let’s deep into them.

Low frequencies vibrations are prooven to reduce blood pressure, lessen stress and even facilitate bones and other tissues regeneration. As the purr's frequencies are similar and the whole body of the cat vibrates while purring, it isn’t far fetched to believe that purring has some self-healing benifits. Purring may help cats produce ocytocine and endorphine, and recover from injuries, isn’t it a badass superpower ? This ain’t magical though : contrary to the urban legends, cats do not always heal faster than dogs, nor have nine lives. They do have a longer lifespan though, but other factors such as better genetic diversity, high tolerance to pain or healthy grooming habbits might be also involved.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fKkIJCoCR8&ab_channel=ThePurringJournal

https://effervesciences.info/index.php/2021/02/10/transformez-votre-portable-en-ronronnette/


C. T., Herbst., & al. (2023). Domestic cat larynges can produce purring frequencies without neural input. Current Biology, 33:4727-4732.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.014

David, Reby., Andrey, Anikin. (2023). 1. Vocal communication: The enigmatic production of low-frequency purrs in cats. Current Biology, doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.033

(2022). Corrigendum to ‘Recognising and assessing feline emotions during the consultation: history, body language and behaviour’. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 24:e678-e678. doi: 10.1177/1098612X221142200

K. McComb., & al. (2009). 7. The cry embedded within the purr. Current Biology, doi: 10.1016/J.CUB.2009.05.033

Elizabeth von Muggenthaler; The felid purr: A healing mechanism?. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 November 2001; 110 (5_Supplement): 2666. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4777098

R.C. de Lucenia & al. (2023) Role of the cat-human bond in supporting the tutors' mental health Brazilian Journal of Animal and Environmental Research DOI:10.34188/bjaerv6n2-055

The sollicitation purr:

Self-healing power:

Cats have exceptionnal adaptation skills and it seems their can adapt their communication to the audience. For example, adults cats’ meow are only directed to humans, cats do not meow to communicate to each other : they can however use other vocalisations. Well, it works with the purr too : cats asking their human for food use a slightly modified purr. Called ‘sollicitation purr’, it is more high pitched, and is at a similar frequences than kitten's or babys' cry (520 Hz). The purr is discribed as less pleasant and more urgent than the usual purr by humans and is probably increasing the chances/speed of feeding. Adult cats in nature get their own food, since we treat them like babies by depending on us for food, they just respond as babies. Even people not used to cats can ear the difference and scientists speak of a « cry embeded in the purr ».

Lunarbaboon

Tigers, lions, pantheras (etc.) can roar, but they can't purr.
I guess nobody is perfect.

jessiedoodles

Let's finish on a useless knowledge to shine (or not) at parties, you're welcome.
Fun fact: did you know that cats never purr while sleeping? They may occasionaly meow, but they never purr.
Now, you do.