# Kitter Purr Boxes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267 "2004-11-23T13:32:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jester21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@jester21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jester21)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/1 "2004-11-23T13:32:58Z")
Is purring a voluntary or Un-Voluntary responce to petting? (or wutever else can make a kitter purr) … so like if a cat is REALLY irritated and/or in a cranky mood… would it still purr if petted? ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/2 "2004-11-23T13:42:48Z")
It does seem to be voluntary, but it’s not completely pleasure-associated, since some cats purr when they’re injured. In my experience, if you pet a cranky cat, it’s likely to take a swat at you or run away–it’s not going to stick around for purr testing. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/3 "2004-11-23T14:41:54Z")
Kitter? You spelled it that way twice. Is that a word that’s used in Michigan? I’m assuming from your location that you’re a native English speaker, though I could be wrong. Anyhow, I’m just curious, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/4 "2004-11-23T17:50:05Z")
Purring is (mostly, at least) voluntary. Cats don’t need any stimulus to cause them to purr. Petting or no, if they feel like purring, they’ll purr. (If the purring is any sort of inconvenience to you, like say if they’re curled up right next to your head and the motorboat routine is keeping you awake, they’ll purr even louder.) Cats also frequently don’t purr in the presence of stimuli such as petting, even when they’re in a good mood. If they’re in a bad mood, they’re liable to hiss and spit and carry on like fools when you pet them, and they ain’t purring when they do it. If they’re in a _really_ bad mood, you’re going to have a hard time getting hold of them to see how they respond to petting. That being said, I have occasionally seen cats purr and act pissy at the same time. They seem…conflicted, like they just can’t decide if they’re lovey or cranky, so they just split the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/5 "2004-11-23T18:01:36Z")
STOPPING purring may not be completely voluntary. My cat used to purr up a storm (as a kitten her purr could be heard at the end of the next room), however after a while her “voice” would start to get hoarse and she’d look a little uncomfortable still purring, although it eventually petered out. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/6 "2004-11-23T21:26:31Z")
Do cats purr in their throat or …? How exactly do they make this sound? Our cat is a purrin’ machine … especially when he’s eating … that’s why I’m wondering how he can purr and swallow at the same time. I hope this isn’t too much of a hijack - but do big cats (lions, tigers, cougars, etc) purr? Thanks, S. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/7 "2004-11-23T21:41:58Z")
At one time I heard that only domesticated (in the non-feral sense, not in the “all cats are domesticated” sense) cats purr. Anyone know if this is true? ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/8 "2004-11-23T21:46:23Z")
> [@Valgard](#): > > STOPPING purring may not be completely voluntary. And it can be difficult to achieve. When I auscult a cat’s chest it is necessary to stop the cat from purring. Running water is one trick that works in about 80% of all cats. Another trick involves placing a rubber band on the cats head, snug, ear to ear. This works in some cats. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/9 "2004-11-23T21:51:56Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > At one time I heard that only domesticated (in the non-feral sense, not in the “all cats are domesticated” sense) cats purr. Anyone know if this is true? Do feral cats purr? That is a hard one to answer. Cats that are truly feral typically cannot be approached in order to assess if they are purring. Once you _can_ approach them they are either no longer feral, or are under anesthesia. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/10 "2004-11-23T22:48:50Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > At one time I heard that only domesticated (in the non-feral sense, not in the “all cats are domesticated” sense) cats purr. Anyone know if this is true? No. Panthers and cougars purr. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/11 "2004-11-23T23:24:03Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > At one time I heard that only domesticated (in the non-feral sense, not in the “all cats are domesticated” sense) cats purr. Anyone know if this is true? I read that [big cats can only purr while breathing out, but house cats can purr while breathing in or out.](http://www.szgdocent.org/cats/a-cat2.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Level3Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Level3Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Level3Navigator)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/12 "2004-11-23T23:47:32Z")
> [@Stainz](#): > > I hope this isn’t too much of a hijack - but do big cats (lions, tigers, cougars, etc) purr? Once, while I was spending some time in South Africa, I was able to pet a cheetah… Beautiful animals! And, yes, it did purr, but it was a very “deep” purr. Don’t know about the other big cats, but for a cheetah the answer is yes. Just on a side note, the gentleman who had the “cheetah farm” was working hard to preserve the cheetah. Only a week after my visit, he had to shut down the visiting due to a cheetah mauling a child. Normally a gentle creature (when fed), some fool of a parent wantetd a photo opportunity and had their child stand next to one. The child slipped and grabbed the cheetah which caused the cheetah to strike out and claw the child. I was grateful to have the opportunity to visit when I did, and also glad that they had just been fed! Freaked my parents out when I sent home a photo, though… ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/13 "2004-11-23T23:49:12Z")
> [@jester21](#): > > Is purring a voluntary or Un-Voluntary responce to petting? (or wutever else can make a kitter purr) … so like if a cat is REALLY irritated and/or in a cranky mood… would it still purr if petted? The one little tidbit I can offer to this is that, in my experience, cats purr while in labor. At least, my old cat purred the loudest I ever heard her purr when she was working hard on pushing her three little kittens out. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/14 "2004-11-24T00:24:38Z")
I’ve heard the theory that it’s a sign of submission. So it could happen when happy, but also when in pain, as if submitting to the cause of the pain might make it stop somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/15 "2004-11-24T00:37:01Z")
> [@Stainz](#): > > Do cats purr in their throat or …? How exactly do they make this sound? [There are a couple of theories, but nobody really knows.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_007.html) I haven’t seen anything more recent that suggests that anyone has figured it out. > [@Stainz](#): > > Our cat is a purrin’ machine … especially when he’s eating … that’s why I’m wondering how he can purr and swallow at the same time. Our Katya purrs while she’s eating, too. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/16 "2004-11-24T03:02:11Z")
My cats purr when they’re content \*and \* when they’re frightened. ---
**Author:** ![blackhobyah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blackhobyah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackhobyah)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/17 "2004-11-24T03:33:58Z")
Kittens purr when feeding, and cats will purr at each other, for example during mutual grooming , so it’s more than probably that feral cats purr. I’ve heard one of my cats purring when she was in pain, and although it is a purr, it’s actually different from a purr of contentment, deeper and harsher in tone. My understanding that Cougars (Pumas, Mountain lions, Panthers = Cougars) will purr as well, and this is because they are classified as “Felis” rather than “Panthera” and thus have many of the same characertistics of smaller cats, including domestic cats. There is a Cougar purr here: [http://www.cattales.org/puma.html](http://www.cattales.org/puma.html) and a Cheetah purr here: [http://www.junglewalk.com/sound/Mammal-sounds.asp](http://www.junglewalk.com/sound/Mammal-sounds.asp) Tigers make a sound called “prusten” or “chuffing” which is a kind of tiger version of purring. > [@](#): > > The ‘chuff’ or ‘prusten’ is considered to be a friendly and non-threatening alternative to purring. This low-intensity sound is produced by holding the mouth closed and snorting through the nostrils. In the wild, prusten is used when two tigers meet on neutral territory, while captive tigers sometimes start to use it with keepers. [http://community.aaps.k12.mi.us/bcweb1/page3.html](http://community.aaps.k12.mi.us/bcweb1/page3.html) There is a link to the sound of prusten on this page: [http://www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/communication2.html](http://www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/communication2.html) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/18 "2004-11-24T03:46:14Z")
Remember **Puss in Boots** in _Shreck 2_? > [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > Kitter? > > You spelled it that way twice. Is that a word that’s used in Michigan? I’m assuming from your location that you’re a native English speaker, though I could be wrong. Anyhow, I’m just curious, thanks. C’mon, **jester21** , I noticed that too. The “r” is quite a long way from the “n” on anyone’s keyboard. So, is it a local thing, a family thing, or what. It could even be cute, depending. 😉 I’m having to be _very_ careful with my own typing here. I’m not telling about my (sniff) departed kitty until you answer. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/19 "2004-11-24T04:28:51Z")
Female cats are known to purr intensely when giving birth to a litter. I’ve actually witnessed such a case. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267/20 "2004-11-24T06:32:30Z")
Before our cat got locked downstairs for the night, she used to push my door open at about 6:30 in the morning and stand on my back purring loudly. She’d keep this up until it looked like I was going to get up, then jump off and wait to show me the way to her dish (in case I was too asleep to remember I guess.) OTOH, if she’s curled up in her favourite chair mostly asleep, I can stroke her a little, she’ll purr a bit, but if she’s going back to sleep she’ll heave a big sigh and then stop purring. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitter-purr-boxes/276267.md?page=2)