In our recent survey 92% of cat owners told us that they view their cat purring as a sign that they are happy or in a positive state of mind. Cats vocalise to communicate with others and express their internal states.

Whilst its true that cats do purr when they are content or happy – there are also other situations when purring might take place. It’s important, for ensuring a good quality of life for our cats to be able to recognize the different meanings for each type of purr.

What is a purr?

Not all of the cat family can purr. This wonderful sound is only found in domestic cats and some wild cats. Purring involves specific anatomical and physiological mechanisms. The sound originates from the rapid contraction and relaxation of the muscles within a cat's larynx (voice box), which causes the vocal cords to separate creating a wonderful sound that is both rhythmic and consistent.

What we now know is that cats purr not only when they're happy and content but also when they're frightened, in pain, or stressed. This varied purpose suggests that purring serves to help them cope with various emotions.

Why do cats purr?

For the most part cats purr as a way to communicate their emotional state whether positive of negative.

What benefits does purring have?

There are a number of other benefits to purring which help in whatever situation that prompted it, including:

Self-calming: because it is sometimes performed by cats experiencing stressful situations, purring is thought to help lower stress and induce a calmer state of mind for the cat.
Social bonding: purring encourages maintenance of positive relationships. For example, The mother cat (queen) purrs during labour, which is thought to try to relieve discomfort and she will purr after her kittens are born enabling the kittens to follow the vibrations she makes towards the teats. Kittens begin purring when they're just a few days old, and this seems to help maintain the connection with the mother cat (queen) that is needed for kitten survival. Cats also purr to maintain significant human relationships too.
Specific meaning conveyed through the different sounds of the purr: the frequency of a cat’s purr can vary, and some cats learn to purr when they’re hungry or want human attention.
Healing properties: Researchers believe that a neural oscillator in the cat's brain sends signals to the laryngeal muscles, causing them to twitch at a rate of 25 to 150 vibrations per second (Hz). This is the range associated with many healing processes. This may be why purring is thought to promote tissue regeneration, and bone growth/fracture healing. Some studies also suggest that exposure to these vibrations can help reduce pain and inflammation, potentially speeding up recovery from injuries (see Muggenthaler, 2001). Other research suggests that people who own cats also have a 40% lower risk of heart attacks than non-cat owners, and blood pressure has been shown to be lowered in owners after interacting with their purring cats. This may be due to the reported calming effect that purring has on owners of cats (Ravenscroft et al., 2021).

““Having the cat sitting next to me purring is always quite calming” ”

— (from Ravenscroft et al., 2021)

How can you recognise the different reasons for Purring?

Paying attention to the situation or context and the cat's body language when its purring can help you interpret the meaning behind their purrs more accurately!

There are various underlying motivations associated with purring in cats. Examples include:

The purr of contentment: this is a deep, steady purr that usually occurs when a cat is relaxed and comfortable and can be seen when they’re being stroked and when resting in a preferred area.
Solicitation purring: a learned behaviour that has been reinforced by the cat owner, is a higher-pitched more urgent sounding purr (often mixed with loud meows) usually associated with begging behaviour, whilst soliciting their human’s attention, or asking for food.

The purr associated with anxiety or distress: if a cat is purring while exhibiting signs of distress (like hiding), the purr might sound more erratic or higher in pitch. It is thought that this is the cat’s attempt at trying to reduce their stress and soothe themselves.
A pain-related purr: a cat in pain may purr quietly and intermittently. The purr might be softer and less rhythmic and sound subdued.

Purrs have different meanings depending on the context and motivation of the cat. Distinguishing between the different sounds (pitch, intensity and frequency) helps owners to understand the underlying emotion being experienced by the cat (Figure from McComb et al., 2009)

So the next time you hear your cat purring, have a look at the context he/she is in (hiding, sitting looking straight at you, resting on your knee) and consider the rest of their body language (tail movement, posture, facial expression) to ensure that you have a full appreciation of whether this is the sound of a happy, sad, stressed, painful or attention-seeking cat, so that you can provide them with what they need from you to ensure good welfare.

EXPERT Article written by:

Professor Nat Waran,

Director of A Good Life for Animals Centre

References:

Bradshaw JW. (2016) Sociality in cats: a comparative review. J Vet Behav. 11:113-124.

Bradshaw J, Casey RA, Brown SL. (2012) The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat. CAB International, Wallingford.

da Silva Garcia, F. A. B., & Martins, D. T. L. F. (2016). Does cat attachment have an effect on human health? A comparison between owners and volunteers. Pet Behaviour Science, 1-12.

McComb, Karen et al. (2009) The cry embedded within the purr. Current Biology, Volume 19, Issue 13.

Peters G. (2002) Purring and similar vocalizations in mammals. Mammal Rev. 32:245-271

Ravenscroft, S. J., Barcelos, A. M., & Mills, D. S. (2021). Cat-human related activities associated with human well-being. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin 2021.

Elizabeth von Muggenthaler (2001) The felid purr: A healing mechanism? J. Acoust. Soc. Am.  110 (5_Supplement): 2666.

Every year around 5 November, animals across New Zealand are put at unnecessary risk due to the harmful effects of fireworks. Here we discuss the negative impact of fireworks on animals, people and the environment.

Fireworks are primarily used for recreation and human entertainment, despite the overwhelming evidence that they negatively impact domestic animals, wildlife and the environment.

Studies, both in New Zealand¹ and internationally² have documented the fear behaviours companion animals exhibit in response to fireworks. The sudden, unpredictable bursts of light and noise cause distress and anxiety in pets³.

Pet owners frequently report issues such as animals escaping, vocalising, trembling, urinating or defecating, and displaying destructive behaviours during fireworks displays. The negative impact on wildlife is also becoming more widely recognised, with effects that can extend far beyond what we see in our homes and neighbourhoods.

According to surveys, up to half the pet dog population react fearfully to fireworks⁵,  with over 15% of fearful dogs requiring several days or longer to recover from a firework event. Sadly some dogs (3%) show changes in their behaviour for weeks or months afterwards.

For our valued pets, fireworks are associated with a range of issues including:

Increased stress and anxiety: The loud noises and bright flashes can cause significant stress for pets and wildlife. Animals may react by hiding, fleeing, or displaying signs of panic.

Increased fear and disorientation: In response to fear, animals may respond by freezing, hiding or fleeing, depending on where they are in relation to the fireworks. Many animals that are not contained, such as horses, outdoor access cats, rabbits in outdoor hutches and birds in outdoor aviaries as well as wildlife, can become disoriented by the sounds and lights, they may panic and try to escape potentially leading to collisions with structures or other animals.

Increased potential for injuries: Animals may injure themselves while trying to escape the noise or become dangerous to handle or cause injury to humans due to their fear responses. In some cases, the strength of the fear response may lead to death. In a New Zealand survey, 26% of horse owners reported increased running in response to fireworks, often associated with fence-breaking and injury⁵.

Quality of life disruption: Fireworks negatively affect an animal’s quality of life in the short and sometimes longer term, and for wildlife fireworks may disrupt their breeding and feeding patterns, particularly in birds during nesting seasons.

So what can pet owners do to help their animals get through this time?

Short-term tactics

If fireworks events are imminent, then there are some actions you can take to prepare and provide for your pets safety during the period when fireworks are available for private sale and use.

Check your animal’s identification details are up to date: Whether this is their microchip details on our New Zealand Companion Animal Register, their ID tag or collar – ensure there is a way to identify your companion animal if they go missing.

Create a safe space: Set up a comfort area in your home where your dog/cat can feel safe during fireworks. Making a cosy den using a blanket, putting the animal’s favourite toys and making use of an item of your clothing to create familiar scents will help to keep the animal feeling secure.

Stay with your animal: Make sure that you are with your pet, and you keep your own emotions steady so they are not sensing anything from you and you’re able to help keep them feeling calm and safe.

If you can, sound-proof an area of the house: Close windows and doors and use white noise machines, classical music or even air fans to help mask the sound.

Other ways to reduce anxiety: There are other options to explore which may or may not work for your animal. For example, canine thundershirts (snug-fitting garments) can provide a sense of security for some anxious dogs, although you will need to test this before you use them during the firework period. Pheromonatherapy may also be useful – this refers to synthetic pheromones to influence the behavior and emotional state of animals, particularly pets. It is assumed to have an intrinsic effect on the emotional processing of animals. Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) plug-in diffusers available through vets, and placed around the house, resulted a reported improvement in dogs’ clinical signs during firework exposure⁶. There is also a feline version available that appears to be useful for reducing stress in cats.

Move your animal temporarily if appropriate: Horse owners are usually better advised, if they can, to remove their horses to another property where they know fireworks cannot be heard, however if this is not possible there is some guidance on this site about how to prepare your horse.

Consult your vet regarding medication: If you are extremely worried about how you pet’s will cope, and your animal’s fear and anxiety is severe, consult your vet who may recommend short term medication to help your pet manage during fireworks events.

Longer-term strategies

For those pet owners who know that they are likely to experience local private firework displays in advance. These involve systematically desensitising pets to the sorts of stimuli associated with fireworks. Studies have shown that owners who spend the time preparing their dogs (and cats) when they are at a young age – will see the benefits for their animals who are less reactive to triggers such as the loud bangs associated with guns, cars back firing and loud fireworks.

However for those who’s animals have already acquired a fear response there is a need to try to modify their emotional response through a combination of behaviour modification, environmental management, and sometimes medication from the veterinarian. Effective strategies to be used to prepare and/or manage your animal’s emotional response include:

Desensitising through gradual exposure: Start by playing recordings of fireworks at a low volume when the animal is in a calm state, gradually increasing it as your dog becomes more comfortable, but never pushing the animal out of his comfort zone.

Use of positive reinforcement: Pairing the gradual introduction (low volume) of the fireworks sounds with treats, toys, or playtime to create positive associations.

You can also reach out to an accredited professional to provide advice and support for you and your animal during this time. You can see a list of those people accredited by Companion Animals New Zealand here.

Fireworks are fraught with risks for animals, causing distress, fear, and even physical harm. It’s crucial to recognise these dangers and take proactive steps to prepare ahead of time, helping to ensure your animal's well-being and safety, and allowing them to get through fireworks season with less stress and fear. Your pet depends on you to protect them—let's make sure they feel safe when the fireworks begin.

References

Dale A.R., Walker J.K., Farnworth M.J., Morrissey S.V., Waran N.K. A survey of owners' perceptions of fear of fireworks in a sample of dogs and cats in New Zealand. N. Z. Vet. J. 2010;58:286–291. 
Overall K.L., Dunham A.E., Frank D. Frequency of nonspecific clinical signs in dogs with separation anxiety, thunderstorm phobia, and noise phobia, alone or in combination. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2001;219:467–473. 
Gates, MC, Zito, S, Walker, JK, and Dale, AR (2019). Owner perceptions and management of the adverse behavioural effects of fireworks on companion animals: an update. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 67, 323–328.
Riemer, S., 2019. Not a one-way road—Severity, progression and prevention of firework fears in dogs. PLoS One, 14(9), p.e0218150.
Gronqvist, G, Rogers, C, and Gee, E (2016). The management of horses during fireworks in New Zealand. Animals 6, 20.
Sheppard, G. and Mills, D.S., 2003. Evaluation of dog‐appeasing pheromone as a potential treatment for dogs fearful of fireworks. Veterinary Record, 152(14), pp.432-436.