Why That Soothing Feline Purr Makes Us Feel So Good
The sound of a cat’s purr is unmistakable – a gentle rumbling that seems to say “everything is alright.” When your cat looks up at you with those big eyes and purrs away, it’s hard not to feel comforted and content. Something about that rhythmic vibration seems to ease our stress, lift our mood, and promote a sense of well-being. But is this merely a placebo effect, or is there actual science behind the healing magic of a cat’s purr? In this article, we’ll explore the research on how and why our cats’ rumbles make us feel so good.
We’ll look at the various theories that attempt to explain the calming nature of purring. Does it serve some deeper purpose beyond conveying happiness? Could the sound waves and frequencies in purring have therapeutic physical and psychological effects? We’ll also hear from the skeptics who are less convinced of the science. By the end, you’ll understand why your cat’s soothing purr seems to melt your troubles away.
The Science of Purring
Purring is produced through rapid vibration of the vocal folds and larynx inside a cat’s throat as air moves in and out during breathing. This happens during inhalation and exhalation, which creates the continuous rumbling sound we recognize as a purr. There are pads of cartilage tissue within domestic cats’ vocal cords that facilitate this vibration. Big cats like lions and tigers lack these pads and cannot purr continuously like their domestic cousins (“Why and how do cats purr?” Library of Congress).
While we often associate purring with a content cat, it can serve many purposes beyond expressing happiness. Mother cats will purr to soothe their kittens, and kittens will “purr beg” for food from their mothers by mixing purrs with vocalizations. Cats may also purr when distressed to self-soothe, or when in pain due to injury or illness. The reasons behind a cat’s purr can be complex, but the mechanics of how the sound is produced remains the same (“How do cats purr?” Science).
Purring as Communication
Cats have evolved to purr as a means of non-verbal communication, using unique vocalizations to express contentment as well as solicit attention and care. Kittens begin purring just days after birth, using the rhythmic vibrations to signal the mother cat that they are healthy and to encourage feeding and grooming (The Atlantic). This “solicitation purring” helps kittens bond with their mother and ensure their survival. As cats mature, they continue using purring to communicate positive emotions like joy and trust. When greeting trusted humans or receiving affectionate petting, a cat’s purr signals friendliness and promotes social bonding.
Cats may also purr during feeding time as a sign of happiness and contentment. As natural hunters, cats are highly food-motivated, and purring during meals demonstrates satisfaction to their owners (24Petwatch). The rumbling vibrations indicate everything is going well, rewarding the caregiver and encouraging further care and feeding.
The Calming Effect
Research suggests that a cat’s purr may have a calming effect on humans. One study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that listening to recordings of cat purrs helped lower people’s blood pressure and heart rate. The calming vibrations are in the range of 25-50 Hertz, which overlaps with the frequency that has been shown to reduce stress in humans.
Purring may also trigger the release of endorphins, “feel good” hormones that relieve pain and stress. A study in 2009 found that cats purr at frequencies that promote bone density and healing. Researchers measured increased bone density in cats after purring sessions, indicating the potential therapeutic value.
While more research is needed, these findings suggest that a cat’s purr goes beyond communication and provides humans measurable physiological and psychological benefits through its calming frequencies.
Purring as Therapy
Cats are increasingly being used in therapy settings and as emotional support animals due to the calming effects of their purr. Studies have shown that the frequencies in a cat’s purr can have positive effects on conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more.
For example, one study found that cats’ purrs contain frequencies that fall between 25 and 50 Hertz. These frequencies can help strengthen bones and promote healing (Source). The rhythmic vibrations are thought to help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety in humans.
Cats are often used in nursing homes, hospice facilities, and hospitals because interaction with a purring cat has been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate in patients under stress. The sound and vibration of a cat’s purr has a naturally calming effect that can aid in therapy.
In PTSD therapy, cats can provide a soothing presence and unconditional affection to help manage trauma symptoms. Their purrs generate good vibrations at frequencies that correlate to healing rates in the muscles, bones, and even cancer tumors (Source). More research is still needed, but current evidence points to real therapeutic benefits from a cat’s purr.
Human-Cat Bond
The bond between humans and cats is believed to be related to the release of the hormone oxytocin. When humans pet, stroke, cuddle, or interact positively with cats, oxytocin levels increase in both the human and the cat.1 This hormone is associated with feelings of affection, calmness, and connection. Simply being in the presence of or interacting with a cat can result in lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and overall improved mood in humans.
Having a close bond with a cat can also reduce feelings of loneliness in humans. Cats provide companionship and affection without judgment. The unconditional friendship offered by cats can fulfill the innate human need for social connection and touch. Cat owners report lower levels of loneliness and depression than non-cat owners.2 A cat’s soothing purr and soft fur allow people to experience the comforts of touch even when human interaction is lacking.
In essence, the human-cat bond arises from natural biochemical and psychological mechanisms. When humans and cats interact positively, it activates neural pathways related to oxytocin, touch, and social connection. This makes both species “feel good” and reinforces their affinity for one another.
Possible Explanations
One possible explanation for why cat purring makes humans feel better is due to the mirror neuron effect. Mirror neurons allow us to map another’s behavior onto our own nervous system, so when we hear a cat purring, our mirror neurons may fire to create a corresponding sense of contentment, relaxation, and calm in our own minds and bodies.
Another hypothesis is that we have a learned positive association between cat purring and being comforted. Since kittenhood we associate a cat’s purr with being safe, cared for, and content, so as adults we continue feeling soothed and reassured upon hearing a cat purr. This conditioning creates a Pavlovian response of relaxation when we hear the soothing vibrations.
There is also research into subliminal auditory frequency effects of cat purring. The 25-150Hz frequencies may physically help reduce stress hormones and lower blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels in humans attuned to those frequencies. So on a subconscious level, the sound waves of purring may exert quantifiable calming effects.
Skeptics’ Views
While some early research suggests that the frequency of a cat’s purr may provide therapeutic benefits, many skeptics argue that more rigorous scientific studies are needed before making definitive claims. Some key skeptical viewpoints include:
More research needed to support claims – While a few small studies show correlations between purring frequencies and improved healing, larger scale research controlling for other factors is still needed. As one Reddit user noted, “however the actual experimental work demonstrating this effect is still somewhat sparse” (Source).
Individual differences in response – It’s possible that not all cats purr at the ideal healing frequencies. Additionally, people may respond differently depending on factors like age, health status, and sensitivity to sound frequencies. So purring may not have universal benefits.
Risk of overstating benefits – Some skeptics warn that potential benefits of purring have been exaggerated without definitive scientific proof. More research is needed to support claims that purring can “heal injuries” or provide medically significant improvements.
Conclusion
In summary, purring is a complex form of communication that likely provides therapeutic benefits for cats and humans. Key points discussed include:
- Purring signals contentment, comfort, and trust in cats.
- The low frequency vibrations may promote bone strength and wound healing.
- For humans, purrs can lower stress, heart rate, and blood pressure.
- The purr’s soothing qualities may strengthen social bonding between cats and their caregivers.
While additional research is still needed, it’s clear that our feline companions can positively impact our mental and physical wellbeing. The unique relationship between cats and humans continues to fascinate researchers and cat lovers alike.
In the end, spending time with our purring cats simply makes us feel good. The joy we experience from that human-feline bond is a beautiful thing.
References
Tabor, Roger. (1983). The Wildlife of the Domestic Cat. London: Michael Joseph Ltd. Print.
Ellis, Sarah. (2009). The Trainable Cat: How to Make Life Happier for You Both. North Point Press. Print.
Brown, Susan. (2016). Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. Souvenir Press. Print.
Panksepp, J., & Burgdorf, J. (2001). 50kHz chirping (laughter?) in response to conditioned and unconditioned tickle-induced reward in rats: effects of social housing and genetic variables. Behavioural brain research, 115(1), 25-38.
Soennichsen, Susan. (2005). Blessed are the pets: the spiritual blessings of animal companionship. Sorin Books. Print.