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Cats Purring Research Paper

Decent Essays

Why do cats purr? This is a common question that most cat-owners speculate on. Purring is a very relaxing sound, usually associated with relaxation and content. Cats also demonstrate other strange behaviors, such as kneading. How cats purr and knead can be very easily answered. However, what’s even more interesting is what these behaviors are rooted in. To find this out, scientists and researchers must look at behaviors that are learned in kittenhood. For those that don’t know, purring is a vibration sound that cats make, usually when they are contented and happy. However, something that a lot of people don’t know is that cats also purr when they are sick or injured (International Cat Care). The theory on this is that the vibration and frequency of the …show more content…

Purring, while mostly displayed when content, was also displayed in kitten hood to their mother to show that they were ok (Why and how do cats purr?). Kneading first happens when kittens knead on their mother to simulate the flow of milk (Why do cats…?). It can also be used to mark objects/humans with their scent, as scent glands are present on the bottom of their paws (Why do cats knead?). Some kittens continue kneading into adulthood, and some don’t (Why do cats knead?). It isn’t a bad thing, just a learned behavior, as are all the others. There is so much more we can learn about cats and their behaviors. What we do know is that a lot of seemingly weird things they do comes from learned behaviors from kitten hood. Purring is a sign of content, but also a comforting mechanism when ill or injured. Kneading was used to start the flow of milk in their mothers, but when they’re older they don’t have their mother’s milk to drink, so they might continue on a blanket, pillow or a human leg. All cat owners are familiar with this behavior, and every cat is

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