Why do cats purr?

Mướp the cat lay curled up beside Cú Bông, purring steadily. Cú Bông rested a wing on her back and felt her whole body hum gently.

Cú Bông decided that a purring cat must be a happy one. It seemed to make sense: the cat looked perfectly relaxed.

The next day, Mướp hurt her paw and lay quietly in a corner. Strangely, she was still purring.

A cat's purr starts in its voice box, in the throat. As air passes through the voice box, the vocal folds help make the purr. Scientists are still working out exactly how.

A mother cat often purrs softly while lying with her kittens. Scientists think the mother's purr may help her kittens feel calm.

Tap each picture to see how the cat might be feeling. Cats may purr in very different situations.

You might not know

Cheetahs and cougars can purr too.
A cat's purr is a very low sound for such a small animal.
Scientists still don't know exactly how cats purr.

Cats often purr when they feel content, but they can purr when ill or hurt too. The purr starts in the voice box, in the cat's throat.

The chapter's sources

Everything this chapter tells you rests on at least two trustworthy sources, retold in the book's own words.

Why cats purr is a surprisingly long-standing mystery. Now we're one step closer to solving it. — Live Science
Why Margarita Can Purr, but Can't Roar — National Geographic
Why do cats..? — International Cat Care
Do cats purr when humans aren't around? — The Conversation