WhyzardCats purr when they are happy and feeling safe, like when you’re petting them! But sometimes they also purr when they need comfort, like when they’re hurt or giving birth to their kittens. It's a special way they talk and feel better.
Heads upThe answer simplifies the complex physiological mechanism of purring, which involves the larynx and diaphragm. It also omits the specific frequency range of purrs that suggest therapeutic effects for healing, which is too advanced for this telling.
For youCats purr via rapid vibrations of their laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscles, usually associated with contentment or comfort. However, purring also occurs in stressful situations, leading to theories that it's a self-soothing mechanism, possibly due to vibrations promoting healing and pain relief. It's unique amongst felids in its continuous nature through both inhalation and exhalation.
