Why do cats purr?

[Hopkirk]

It sounds lovely, so I'm not complaining (except in the middle of the night)

[ummmm]

Awww....my cat always comes to me if I'm sad..

http://www.cat-behavi...why-do-cats-purr.html

[AB Editor]

A better link than Umm's http://www.theanswerb...and-why-do-cats-purr/

[Hopkirk]

Thanks to you both.

[wolf63]

My little tom cat is asthmatic and has to go to the vet to get his chest checked.

However by the time we get to the Vet he is stressed out and purring for Scotland. It seems to get worse when the vet takes his stethoscope out.

His nose changes colour from really light (salmon) pink to almost a red colour when he is stressed too.

[Hopkirk]

Our cat dribbles the most revolting stringy saliva when he gets stressed.

I think I would rather he purred and got a red nose.

[Invictas]

There is also now a theory (from the US,aren't they always!) that when a cat is happy,or injured (yes, they purr when injured or distressed too) that the main blood vessels near the lungs expand and almost come into contact with the windpipe.So what you are actually hearing is the sound of the blood rushing through the arteries!
Well,it's not MY theory,complain to the US Scientists if you don't like ot believe it! LOL

[wildwood]

Had the privilege of stroking a half grown hand reared cheetah many years ago. They also purr and try to put their scent on you with the cheek glands. Will never forget the moment. Unreal !

[MarkRae]

There I was with my back to the wall
Then comes this monster mouse, he's ten feet tall
With teeth and claws to match, it only took one blow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt8eqS7tWVY

[Buenchico]

From Scientific American:
http://www.scientific...m?id=why-do-cats-purr

From me:
The cat sleeping alongside me on my bed purrs to tell me it's so contented that it would be totally unreasonable of me to expect it to move, so that I can avoid cramp in my legs.

The cat on my desk purrs to get me to accept that I should ignore the fact that it's just walked over my keyboard and deleted the important document I was typing.

The cat by the feeding bowl purrs to let me know how much it likes the expensive food I've just given it (even though the same cat will turn its nose up at the same food a few days later).

And the aforementioned cat purrs to make me forget that it's not even mine, because it's meant to live two doors down the road!

Chris

[JonnyBoy12]

Because they have left their motors running, perhaps?

[nightmare]

As Eddie Izzard pointed out, purring cats are actually secretly drilling for oil.

[rowanwitch]

Because they can......
and we can't

[mike11111]

Cats purr simply because they have not yet mastered the art of barking.

[str]

My cat purrs as soon as I touch her lovely soft tummy just so that she makes sure I know she loves me more than catnip.

[boxtops]

I had kittens once who purred so chestily that I asked the vet if there was something bronchial the matter with them....
No 1 son missed us so much last week that he spent most of last night with his muzzle stuffed in my neck, for a 6 kilo cat that is no mean feat.