When stroking a cat is very likely that you notice that the frequency of the purr of the little furry starts to increase, for some this is a way for felines to show love and affection, while others have the belief that, this purr can transmit several respiratory diseases. Maybe you will be shocked to imagine what the second group of people think, or who knows maybe you are part of it?Regardless of the reason that led them to open this article, there is one certainty, everyone wants to know: After all, why do cats purr?
Most people believe that cats purr when they are happy with a situation, when they receive affection or to communicate with their kittens, however, cats also purr more often in times of pressure, when going to the vet or when recovering from injuries. So, it is known that not all cats purr seem to be with the current circumstances.And thatenigma led researchers to investigate how and why cats purr.
How do cats purr?
Domestic cats and some wild cats like cougars and mountain lions (in general, any large cat that can't roar) and even raccoons are capable of purring.
There are many hypotheses as to how felines produce the small vibrations, however, the most accepted is that cats produce the purring noise by using the vocal folds or laryngeal muscles to alternately dilate and contract the glottis, which would cause vibrations in the air during inhalation and exhalation.
And why do cats purr?
Researchers have found that certain types of purrs serve to communicate. In 2009, a high-pitched cry, which closely resembles that of a human baby, was discovered embedded in the purrs of cats seeking food. They were using the purr to signal that they needed something.
There is also the context of natural selection. Natural selection tells us that a particular behavior or trait will persist from generation to generation only if it is beneficial to an animal's survival. Purring is created by the vibration of the cat's larynx and diaphragm and therefore requires an expenditure of energy. If a kitten is sick, they would not use precious energy to purr, theunless there was a benefit.
One theory is that purring has healing properties. Researchers have found that vibrations in the frequency range between 25 and 50 hertz promote bone strength, stimulate fracture healing, provide pain relief, and help tendons and muscles heal.
A group of bioacoustic researchers recently studied purring in 47 cats, wild and domestic. They studied the frequency, pitch, intensity and duration of purring in relation to the cat's behavior. They found that the domestic cat purrs in the 25 and 50 Hz range, which is the exact range associated with healing properties, such as increased bone density!
Ultimately, felines can offer you much more than companionship and the delicious opportunity to pet them.
SOURCE / Scientific American
