Why Do Kittens Purr When They Play

The auditory frequency of the purr.

Why do kittens purr when they play. Essentially when kittens get too rough with each other they learn about the art of fighting restraint. They keep the momma cat and her baby cats connected. Cats may also purr when they are experiencing pain or stress. Most people are familiar with the contented purr signaling that the cat is feeling pleasant and safe.

For example if a kitty was weaned prematurely or perhaps was reared. Cats purr when they re content but they also purr as a way to comfort themselves when they re sick or injured. Purring may have developed as a mechanism to keep a cat s bones and muscles in peak condition. A mom s purr guides her kittens to her with soft vibrations.

Purring also helps a kitten bond with. In addition the purrs release sensitive endorphins so experts think that cats use these vibrations to calm down. In turn experts believe that kittens purr to show that they are fine and help them to join cat mom. Kittens can purr when they re only a few days old.

Finally cats purr to solicit food from their owners. Purring continues into adulthood under a variety of circumstances. In fact according to the veterinary experts at doctors foster and smith at the beginning of a cat s life purring serves as a crucial communicator between a mother cat and her litter of kittens. Because kittens are born blind and deaf they need the vibrations from purring to communicate with their mother and littermates.

This is helpful during the long periods of inactivity in their style of hunting which is to wait for prey to come by and then ambush it. Kittens start purring in return when they re about 2 days old showing their contentment for the food. A kitten s purring while nursing may serve to alert the mother that the kitten is near and also to encourage the let down response from her milk glands. It s probably a way to let their mothers know where they are or that they re ok.

Mother cats purr to lead their kittens which are blind and deaf when they re born to them for food and warmth. Even though the kittens are deaf they still feel the purring. A purr indicates to the mother cat that all is well this is especially common during the nursing process when kittens can t nurse and meow at the same time creating the need for a purr an action that can affirm contentedness without requiring the kitten to stop nursing. Why do cats purr.

Even if kitten play sometimes can get a little too rough in the eyes of spectators the interaction still is very crucial for nurturing the growth of well rounded and socially adjusted cats. In turn vets believe kittens purr to show they re ok and help them bond with mama. Purring is one of the most common cat noises. In the wild.

Cats purr during both inhalation and exhalation so the sound is nearly continuous. The low frequency of a cat s purr causes a series of vibrations.