|
Home / Pets and Animals
A Purring Cat Is More Than Just A Happy Cat
By:Ian Spellfield
Everybody knows how good it makes us feel to be around a cat that is purring. But have you ever really thought about what causes this phenomenon?
When you were a child, you were probably told that cats purr when they are happy. Therefore, we learned to associate the purr with pleasure, and we assumed that every time our feline friends were purring, it was because we were doing something to make them happy.
Some new information provided by respected veterinarians, Doctors Foster and Smith, provide some more nuanced information about purring cats. If you want to learn more about what REALLY gets your cat's motor running, read on!
Most pet owners interpret a purring, squinting cat as an obvious indication that their pet is both happy and healthy. They think that the purr always expresses contentment, showing that the cat is comfortable and feels secure.
This is not totally false, but it is also not the whole story.
Many cats do purr when they're happy. Recent research by pet behaviorists has suggested that purring originally developed as a communication mechanism between mothers and kittens. The kitten could purr to his mother, thereby signaling that "everything is alright." This occurs most frequently when kittens are nursing, because kittens can't meow and nurse simultaneously. Purring and nursing at the same time, however, can be done. When the mother hears the purr, she may reciprocate, thereby reassuring the kitten by this communication mechanism.
This explains why your cat may purr when you pet him: he instinctively gives the "everything is alright" message so that both of you know all is well.
But what are the other possibilities?
Sometimes, older cats use purring as a form of communicating when they approach other felines. This helps them show that they are not an enemy and that they want to come closer, maybe to play.
Perhaps most surprisingly, purring is also a way that cats communicate when they are scared or in distress. Have you noticed that cats in the veterinarian's office often purr? So do cats who are injured or otherwise ill. This might be a way that cats try to calm themselves down and reassure themselves.
Purring is only one way that cats communicate their moods, desires, and needs non-verbally. They may also use their eyes, squinting or blinking slowly. Other "typical" cat behavior, like stretching, facial rubbing, or spraying can also be forms of communication. If you really want to establish a connection with your cat, try purring back. You'll both know that you're listening!
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: cat urine, urine off reviews, urine removal, pets, pet care
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Ian Spellfield, an occasionally frustrated pet owner, tests and reviews cat urine removal products at his blog Urine Off Reviews.
|
|
| Top Pets and Animals Articles |
- 1). Winter Dog Agility Training By : Brad Carlson
Yes, its cold outside, but don't stop your dog's agility training. Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home.
Get creative with your training locations. Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage? Then you have a place to train! Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it.
|
- 2). How to Choose Goldfish By : Nate Jamieson
How you choose your goldfish, depends largely on two things: the type of fish you really like to see, and the kind of container you intend to keep
|
|
|
- 4). Pet Safety By : Lee Dobbins
Your home might be "kid-proof" but how does it measure up when it comes to safety for your pet? Do you know all the hazards your pet is exposed to? Ho
|
- 5). The Long, Low Basset Hound By : Charles Kassotis
The Basset Hound’s most noticeable features include the long ears, drooping forehead and short legs. These dogs are excellent at smelling, partly due to their noses but also because of their ears. It was originally bred as a hunter, but has risen in popularity as a family pet and canine pal, as the epitome of the loyal friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Pets and Animals Articles |
|
|
- 2). Your Cat Goes Missing By : Kadence Buchanan
According to the most recent Synovate pet survey (Sept. 2005), conducted in nine markets across the globe, the UK and the US were shown to be the two absolute leaders in pet ownership.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 8). How To Simplfiy House Cleaning With Pets By : Melody Thacker
Keeping your house clean with a pet or two in the family can be a challenge. Taking a bit of time to train your pet, some advanced planning and preventative measures will make keeping your house clean with pets much easier and less time consuming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
