We humans love the sound of a purring cat. It suggests to us that our cat is relaxed and it makes us feel relaxed, too. Why do cats “buzz” like this and does it actually mean that they’re content?
Kittens can purr when they’re just a few days old and it’s a way for them to communicate with their mums. We’ve heard that mums also purr as a kind of lullaby for their little ones, which is so adorable.

Our pet cats purr when they’re pleased to see us and to encourage us to keep stroking them. They also make a kind of “squeak purr” when they’re hungry. One of the truly lovely things is that purring is thought to be involuntary, like a vocal smile, so if your cat purrs on your lap, they are genuinely delighted to be with you.

You may have heard that cats purr when they feel poorly or in pain. This is also true and a sick cat will purr to self-soothe. It’s thought that the frequency of the vibration actually acts as a pain relief: proof again that cats are amazing.