Why and How Cats Purr
Did you know that cats are not the only creatures that purr? Mongooses, hyenas, racoons, civets*, and even Guinea pigs have been known to purr. Another interesting fact is that while mountain lions and bobcats can purr, they cannot roar. And creatures that can roar (like lions and tigers) cannot purr. The reason for this is that most big cat’s laranxes are not stiff enough to purr and cats which do purr have the opposite problem. While most people think that cats only purr when they are happy or content, that might not always be the case. Sometimes cats purr when they are in distress such as going to the vet or recovering from a wound or illness. Also, Queens with kittens tend to purr more than usual. All cats tend to purr more when in contact with humans. So pet your cat and especially kittens in order that they can be happy and sociable. Plus you get to hear them purr.
(*A lithe-bodied, mostly nocturnal mammal native to tropical Asia and Africa,)
Vet In Training 