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.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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.
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His name is KINGston and he thinks he is he King of the house!!!
How could anyone not LOVE cats, they are so awesome!
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.
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.
She is a Very Good Cat !
Ok, I'm done now. : )
Oops, I forgot something. Cat's also purr when they are in pain.
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.: )