We know how much our pets like their creature comforts, so we offer a wide selection of cat beds to keep animals cosy throughout the year. We even offer toasty radiator beds for winter, and heat pads for those cats who just want a nice warm spot to curl up on!

Why do cats purr?

There are so many wonderful things about being a cat owner, and that includes getting to know your pet as an individual. From their typical behaviours to their unique personalities, many cat owners find themselves trying to understand their pet’s needs based on the telltale signs they recognise.

While sometimes it’s easy to know how your cat is feeling, there are some common misconceptions about common cat sounds and behaviours which it’ll be useful to know about as you care for your feline companion.

In this guide, we’ll look at purring, the iconic cat sound that most cat owners will be familiar with.

What is purring?

The low, rumbling sound of a cat’s purr can mean a couple of things. But, first thing’s first, what is purring?

Cats have muscles which move their vocal cords when they receive the right brain signals. This produces the purring the sound. Because brain signals cause purring, it’s thought that the sound is more of an involuntary twitch than an intentional vocal communication, like a meow.

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Why do cats purr?

Purring is a way for cats to express their feelings to their owner, but it might surprise you to learn that purring cats aren’t always happy. There’s still a lot of debate around why our feline companions purr, though research has shown that the sound can be used as a defense mechanism as well as a display of peace and pleasure.

Cat’s purrs are relaxing, there’s no doubt about it, so it shouldn’t be surprising that our pets use their purr to keep calm in situations which they find intrusive or stressful. It’s not uncommon to find cats purring when you pick them up, in the vets, or if they’re being stroked in a way which they find uncomfortable. Because of this, it’ll be important that you don’t always assume that your purring cat is happy.

Understanding your cat’s purr

To avoid jumping to conclusions about your cat’s motivation to purr, look at the situation. If your pet is lounging or rubbing and seems relaxed, it’s safe to assume their purr comes from contentedness.

If, however, you’ve picked your cat up and they’re struggling to get down, you’re keeping them somewhere they don’t seem to like, or in any way invading their personal space, your cat’s purr might be coming from a place of anxiety. In this case, you should give your pet some space and make sure their surroundings are suitable, with safe places always available away from the rest of the household.

You can also use cat calming and anxiety solutions to help your pet relax. These can include plug-in diffusers and pheromone sprays or anxiety calming shirts to help your cat feel secure.