Ask A Scientist© Veterinary Topics Archive

  
name         NICOLE
status      other
grade        other
location     OK

Question -   I HAVE 2 CATS FROM THE SAME LITTER,
ONE OF THEN PURRS THE OTHER DOESNT. MY QUESTION IS: MY CAT IS ALMOST 3
YRS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD HER PURR. I DONT THINK SHE CAN. EVEN WHEN SHE
IS IN A LOVEABLE MOOD SHE NEVER PURRS. IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH HER?
OR DO SOME CATS JUST NOT EVER PURR?
-----------------
Dear Nicole
i am not a zoologist but i am a cat lover and
a good observer, so that is how i will try to answer
your question.
Purring is a beautiful behaviour characteristic
of many felines not only domestic kitties.
It has been described as a low, continous hum and it
is usually interpreted as a expression of pleasure and
love.Some specialists say purring is also showed in
situation of extreme pain or stress. Some cats purr
always, others never do it. When it not purrs this has
no conotation with any abnormality of the animal. 
Some scientists say that purring is teached by the
mothers calling their litter to breast feed them.Your
pets are against that explanation since they belong to
the same litter. I am sure somebody else has a more
scientific explanation.
Thanks for asking NEWTON!
Mabel
(Dr. Mabel Rodrigues)
=====================================================