Why it happens
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Contentment and safety
Lying on your lap, being stroked or curled up in a warm bed, a cat purrs evenly and softly. The body is relaxed and the eyes half closed: this is the clearest kind of purr.
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A bond between kitten and mother
Kittens start purring when only a few days old, while nursing, and the mother purrs back. It lets them communicate without loud meowing, so purring stays a sound of closeness for life.
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Asking for something
By an empty bowl or when waking you in the morning, a cat may purr differently: louder, with a high, whiny edge. People find that purr hard to ignore, and the cat knows it.
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Calming down when scared
A cat may purr at the vet's, in its carrier or after a big fright. That purr helps the cat settle itself and does not mean that all is well.
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Pain and illness
Cats that are ill, injured or giving birth purr too. It is thought to be a way of soothing themselves, so a purring cat can still be in pain.
What helps
- Read the whole body A purr on its own tells you little. A relaxed body, easy ears and slow blinks mean the cat feels fine; a hunched posture, flattened ears and wide pupils mean something is wrong.
- Let the cat decide Stroke the cat for as long as it wants. When it turns away, the tip of the tail starts to flick or the skin on its back twitches, take a break so the purring does not turn into a bite.
- A quiet place to rest A warm bed or blanket in a quiet spot, away from where people walk past, lets the cat relax whenever it chooses. Many cats do their purring right there.
- Learn its usual sound Every cat purrs in its own way: one barely audibly, another loudly like an engine. Knowing the usual sound helps you notice when it changes, or when there is a whistle or rattle as it breathes.
- Calmer trips to the vet A cat purring in its carrier may well be scared. Get it used to the carrier at home: leave it open, put a familiar blanket inside and now and then leave treats in it.
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When it is a question for a vet
See a vet if the cat purrs but also hides, stops eating, sits hunched in one spot, breathes with its mouth open or with effort, or growls or bites when you touch a particular part of its body. A whistling or rattling sound when breathing is not purring, and it is also a reason for a visit.