Fusa

A cat can purr even when it is sick or even while it is dying. It's not just a sign of pleasure, as almost all of us think. The real surprise is that purring is a much more complex and mysterious sound than we imagine, and cats probably also use it to heal themselves, not just to communicate with us. We are used to thinking that the rhythmic purring we hear under our hand means “I'm happy with you.” In reality, science tells us that the matter is much less straightforward: purring can occur in newborn kittens, who use it to reassure their mother, but also in cats that are frightened, ill, or nearing the end of their lives. And the origin of this sound still remains a bit of a mystery today: there is no dedicated organ; it is simply a complex interplay between the vocal cords, larynx, and muscles, with each feline having its own unique style. Take the cheetah, for example: it also purrs, but at a lower frequency than our domestic cat, which can produce between 25 and 150 vibrations per second – essentially, a biological motor under its skin. And there’s more: according to a study published in Scientific American, those frequencies aren’t just a way for cats to talk to us or to each other; they may also serve to strengthen bones and promote healing after a fracture. Essentially, cats may have developed purring as a kind of built-in mini-physiotherapy. I was struck by the fact that even seriously ill or frightened cats purr: it is as if the sound serves both to communicate a state of mind and to help the body repair itself. And it’s not just a matter of biology: in every language, the verb for purring is onomatopoeic, from purr in English to ronronner in French to ごろごろ in Japanese, proving that this sound has captured the human imagination everywhere. But there is one perspective that is almost always overlooked: we tend to interpret animal behavior according to our own emotional framework, whereas purring could be the perfect example of a language that is never just what we think it is. The next time you hear a cat purring, remember that it might not just be happy—it could also be healing itself. If this story resonates with you, on Lara Notes you can press I'm In — it's not a like; it's your way of saying: This idea is now mine. And if, in a few days, you tell someone that purring also serves a healing purpose, on Lara Notes you can tag the person you were with using Shared Offline—so that conversation stays alive. All of this comes from Wikipedia and saves you 1 minute of reading.