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image Everybody has heard a cat purring. Have you ever wondered why and how they did it?
 

All cats purr.
They have the ability to purr from one week of age, usually when they are sucking on the mothers teat. As a kitten gets older, it is able to purr more loudly.

Most people believe that a cat purrs when it’s content or happy. Whilst this is usually the case, a cat that is injured or frightened may also purr. We are not sure why this is so.
   
image How does a cat purr?
  It is most commonly thought that the purring sound a cat makes is produced by the vibrations of it’s vocal cords. The vocal cords are found at the back of the cat’s mouth, near the entrance to the wind pipe.

Nerve impulses stimulate the vocal cords to open and close as often as 20-30 times per second!! This results in the characteristic purring sound. New research suggests that the sound may be produced by the diaphragm (Muscle dividing chest from the abdomen).

Purring can be a benefit to the cat if he is sick. Cats nose breathe except when purring. If a cat has the “snuffles” (Cat Flu) then making the cat purr can induce mouth breathing and ease the breathing so the cat often brightens up.