Happy or Hungry? Deciphering Cat Purrs

A cat's purr normally says, "I'm happy." But a new study suggests some purrs send cat owners a much different message: "Feed me!"

Researchers found that purrs of hungry cats included a higher-pitched sound, somewhat like a cry or meow. They played recordings of these purrs from 10 cats to 50 human volunteers. Even people who'd never owned a cat found them to be more urgent and less pleasant than contented purrs from the same animals.

These food-seeking purrs may exploit the way humans naturally respond to a baby's cry, the researchers suggest. Not all cats use this strategy, but some apparently learn to turn it on when they see it's effective in getting a human to feed them, Karen McComb of the University of Sussex in England said in a statement.

She and co-authors present their work in Tuesday's issue of the journal Current Biology.

[Debs626]

I have 3 cats and only one is very vocal when he wants food and attention, he has the loudest meow I have ever heard from a cat.
His name is KINGston and he thinks he is he King of the house!!!
How could anyone not LOVE cats, they are so awesome!

[rf35]

Dogs have masters, cats have staff.

I have had a few cats in my time. There was only one that did this. He was a rescued stray Japanese bobtail. I'm not sure where he learned it, but thankfully he never managed to teach it to the other two cats in the household at the time. Might have been a language issue since the others were American.

[slriceherbst]

I agree with the purring to get attention for food, for it's usually at 4 am and my cat will purr louder and louder until he wakes me up. If, however, I try to ignore him, he will nip gently until I finally give in. When he wants to go outside, he will reach up and tap the doorknob. I would have to say my cat has me well trained.

[thecatsmeow5]

I'm sorry. I don't believe this story. A cat purrs when he/she is contented. You will definitely know when they're hungry and they won't be purring.

[noirviolette]

I agree with you.I have 4 cats now and have had cats all my life and none of mine purr when their hungry.If I let their bowl get low they just stand around it,look at it,and then look at me real pitiful.And if I bring the bag of food in and don't fill it right away they hollar at me and then one of them will tear into the bag.

[erasmus111]

by mjm117 July 13, 2009 12:46 PM PDT
wondering if I should get involved in this topic...I bet Erasmus would say no...


You bet right! : ) Go away!

Hmmmm, for someone that doesn't like cats, you seem to always show up whenever there is a story. I'm thinkin' that you actually DO like them.

[PaKo7]

Mine doesn't bother with purring -- just goes straight to the fridge and helps himself. I have to keep the beer locked in a cooler in the garage.

[Benton09]

Mine goes to the kitchen and raises his left paw while standing up next to a kitchen bar stool. Kind of like on the Friskies Cat Food Bag. Raising his left paw is relief, he's a demo-cat and not a republi-cat.

[Oregon_State_OSU]

I have a cat named Piper. He does not have to Meow for her food. She just goes into the Kitchen and get near her dish or looks at her dish and if you ignore her she will give you legs a few head butts and that is saying Feed Me or Freshen up my Water.

She is a Very Good Cat !

[erasmus111]

When my cat is hungry, she sits in front of me and waves her paw at me. Like a dog does when he wants to "shake a paw", only higher. She is sooooo cute!

[erasmus111]

She also "talks" to me. Cats can make 16 different sounds. I think she uses them all.

Ok, I'm done now. : )

[erasmus111]

"Happy or Hungry? Deciphering Cat Purrs"

Oops, I forgot something. Cat's also purr when they are in pain.

[erasmus111]

by ibsteve2u July 13, 2009 10:57 AM PDT
And can opener is a lot easier to speak than cat.


Hmmm, I'm not so sure. I have a hell of a time with the can opener, but I can understand my cat PURRRRFECTLY.: )