| Author |
Message |
    
Rowan
bear cub
Username: Rowan
Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 3:08 pm: |     |
Never been a cat person but spent a month+ with my sister and her cat decided that I was his favourite person
What really intrigues me is why and how members of the cat family purr and what use purring was before cats had humans to wind round their little 'paws' |
Annie
storyteller
Username: Annie
Post Number: 678
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 5:33 pm: | |
Can't help with the mechanics of purring, but most of the behaviors cats exhibit toward their humans originate with the behaviors kittens exhibit towards their mothers. IIRC, the kitten's purring relaxes the mother cat, and possibly even affects her milk flow. 
semi-professional floccinaucinihilipilificatrix |
Anndee
storyteller
Username: Anndee
Post Number: 92
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 5:34 pm: | |
I once read that purring was like a Mantra for cats. It calms them and those around them. A cat will purr when it's hurt or in distress, as well as when it's happy.
We once had a cat with a very loud purr. He never stopped purring! Friends would comment, "You left your cat running!"
Interestingly, scientists are just now figuring out how cats purr. |
Cavebear
storyteller
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 821
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 7:07 pm: | |
The "how" question seems confusing enough. One source mentions false vocal cords above the regular ones, another refers to vibrating of the blood vessels, yet another places purring directly in the regular local cords.
As for the "why", suggestions include bone density improvement, mother cat helping the kittens locate her for suckling, kittens to encourage the mother to feed them, to calm themselves when adult, and to encourage some attention to continue.
I did see a documentary that provided evidence of tigers purring.
I thought I was wrong once, but it turned out I was mistaken about that. |
Rowan
bear cub
Username: Rowan
Post Number: 11
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 5:38 pm: | |
Well I thought this was a simple question - didn't realise that the detailed mechanics of purring had not been worked out! - from my experience I would have said it comes from the throat - Max would drape across my shoulders with his head and neck laid down my neck and I could feel the vibrations in his neck
Cavebear - "As for the "why", suggestions include bone density improvement" - the mind boggles - could this be a way of preventing osteoporosity - picture me on back covered from head to foot in purring cats  |
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