What’s In a Purr? 29 Facts About Purring that May Surprise You
That gentle rumble coming from your lap-warming kitty is one of nature’s most fascinating and wonderful sounds.
From world records to healing powers, here are 29 facts about purring that might make you look at your purring pal in a whole new way.

Image: Drawing of the Norse Goddess, Freya, and her two giant, chariot-pulling cats.
Record-Breaking Rumbles
1. The world’s loudest purring domestic cat is a British kitty named Merlin, whose purr reaches 67.8 decibels. The record was set in 2015.
This impressive volume is equivalent to a running dishwasher or classroom full of children. Most cats purr at around 25-50 decibels, making Merlin quite the standout.
2. Scientists have recorded cats purring at frequencies up to 167.25 Hz.
This frequency matches the musical note E3 on a piano, showing just how varied cat purring can be.
3. Some cats can purr continuously for hours.
During extended petting sessions or car rides, certain cats maintain their purr without interruption, demonstrating remarkable stamina.
4. The lowest recorded purring frequency is 20.94 Hz – so low humans can barely hear it.
This ultra-low frequency falls just at the edge of human hearing range, suggesting cats might be communicating in ways we can’t always detect.
5. Purring requires almost no energy expenditure.
It’s one of the most efficient animal vocalizations known to science – requiring less energy than a dog wagging its tail or a bird chirping.
Science Surprises
6. Cats purr during both pleasure AND pain.
This discovery led scientists to realize purring may serve as a natural stress-relief and healing mechanism, not just an expression of happiness.
7. Some cats can purr and meow simultaneously.
This remarkable ability shows the complexity of feline vocal abilities, as they can produce two distinct sounds through different mechanisms at once.
The purr-meow is a beautiful song!
8. A mother cat’s purr acts as a homing beacon for kittens.
Before kittens open their eyes, they navigate to their mother’s milk by following the vibrations of her purr.
Health & Healing Powers
9. The frequency of a cat’s purr matches therapeutic devices used in hospitals.
Medical devices that promote bone healing and reduce inflammation operate at 25-50 Hz – overlapping entirely with the frequency range of a cat’s purr (from 25-150 Hz).
10. Mama cats often purr as they give birth, thought to be a natural pain management technique.
This remarkable behavior suggests purring serves as nature’s epidural, helping cats cope with the pain and stress of delivery.
11. Injured cats heal faster than dogs, and scientists think purring is the reason.
The specific frequencies in purring have been shown to accelerate healing, reduce swelling, and help maintain bone density.
12. Purring might help prevent bone loss in space.
NASA scientists are studying cat purring frequencies to develop better treatments for bone loss in astronauts during long space missions. If you sent me to space, I would definitely insist on bringing my cats.
13. Even cats with serious mouth or throat injuries can still purr.
The purring mechanism is so efficient and well-protected that it continues working even when other vocalizations become impossible.
Historical & Cultural Tales
14. Ancient Egyptians believed purring cats could communicate with the goddess Bastet.
Cats were so revered in ancient Egypt that killing one – even accidentally – could be punishable by death.
15. Norse mythology claims the goddess Freya’s chariot was pulled by giant purring cats.
Yep, a fact about myths! Freya’s mythological cats were said to be as large as horses but maintained the ability to purr, unlike modern big cats.
(See a drawing of Freya and her cats above.)
16. Different cultures worldwide consider a purring cat in the house to be a sign of good fortune.
From Japanese lucky cats (Maneki-neko) to European folklore, purring cats have been associated with bringing prosperity and good luck.
I definitely consider my purring cats good luck 🙂
Advanced Science
17. Kittens start purring when they’re just a few days old, even before their eyes open.
This early development of purring suggests it serves crucial survival and bonding functions from the very beginning of life.
I’ll never forget the first time Phoebe purred while being held as a tiny kitten.
18. A cat’s purr maintains precise frequency even under anesthesia.
This remarkable consistency shows that purring is controlled by an automatic neural oscillator in the brain, similar to breathing.
19. Some blind cats purr more loudly than sighted cats.
Scientists believe these cats may use the vibrations of their purr to better sense their environment, similar to echolocation.
Communication Secrets
20. Cats have a special “feed me” purr containing a high-pitched sound similar to a crying baby.
This manipulative purr, also known as a solicitation purr, evolved specifically to get human attention, as it contains frequencies that humans find difficult to ignore.
It certainly works on me!
21. Indoor cats often develop different purring patterns than outdoor cats.
Living exclusively with humans appears to influence how cats use their purr for communication, leading to more complex “vocabularies.”
22. Some cats create different purring “tunes” for different family members.
Just as cats develop unique meows for different people, they may also customize their purring patterns based on which human they’re interacting with.
23. Cats often purr in their final hours of life.
This poignant behavior suggests purring serves as both a pain management tool and a self-comforting mechanism during times of extreme stress.
24. A cat’s purr is controlled by a neural oscillator in their brain.
Similar to how our hearts beat automatically, cats have a specialized brain mechanism dedicated solely to producing and maintaining their purr.
Quirky Cat Facts
25. Some cats start purring at exactly the same time every day.
Like a furry alarm clock, certain cats develop such regular purring patterns that their owners can tell time by them. This is usually associated with a developed routine.
26. Each cat’s purr may be as unique as a human fingerprint.
Scientists can identify individual cats by analyzing the specific frequency patterns and variations in their purrs.
Obviously this isn’t practical because you can’t command a cat to purr and it takes special equipment to measure the sound.
27. Cheetahs are the largest cats that can purr.
Unlike other big cats that can only roar, cheetahs maintain the ability to purr and often do so while socializing in groups.
28. Cats either purr or roar – none can do both.
The anatomical adaptations that allow for roaring make it impossible for those same cats to purr, and vice versa.
I sorta wish lions and tigers could purr, don’t you? It would also be pretty cool if my cat, Gandalf, could roar.

29. Cats can consciously control their purr volume.
Studies have shown that cats often purr louder when they want something, demonstrating remarkable control over this vocalization.
The Last Purr
Still think purring is just a sign of a happy cat? These fascinating facts show there’s much more to this mysterious sound than meets the ear.
Next time your cat starts rumbling, remember – you’re witnessing one of nature’s most remarkable and versatile abilities!