A cat's purring may indicate its good mood, but sometimes it signals the animal's distress. How to distinguish these sounds was explained by veterinarian Edward Wolf.
“The mechanism of purring in cats is not fully understood. The main reason a cat purrs is that it expresses pleasure and a good mood,” said Edward Wolf.
He added that through purring, a mother cat communicates with her kittens. “Purring is also a form of communication for cats. Kittens start to purr almost from birth, and their mother also purrs, signaling that everything is okay, that she is nearby and watching them,” the veterinarian explained.
However, sometimes cats may purr in stressful situations (for example, when they are in pain). “During purring, endorphins are produced in the cat. These sounds help the cat calm down a bit and comfort itself,” noted the expert.
The veterinarian recommends closely observing the moments when a cat purrs. If it makes these sounds while being petted, it is part of its communication with humans. In other cases, it may be a signal that the animal needs veterinary assistance.
Edward Wolf also explained for whom cats meow. It turns out that meowing is not a typical way of communication among these animals. “According to recent studies, cats meow mainly for humans. They have developed a specific signaling system to communicate with us. Some owners can even interpret their cats' meows based on their needs,” added the veterinarian.
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