How a Cat Actually Purrs

That gentle rumble means more than you might think. Here is what your cat is really telling you.

For a long time, nobody was quite sure how cats purr. Today, scientists have a good idea.

The muscles in a cat's voice box twitch very quickly, opening and closing the space between the vocal cords many times a second.

As air moves past, it creates that steady, vibrating rumble.

Unlike a meow, a purr happens on both the in-breath and the out-breath. That is why it can sound like one long, unbroken hum.

Keep reading: there are 4 more chapters

Next: Purring Isn't Only About Happiness

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