My favorite Margaret Atwood tale is Oryx and Crake. One memorable scene is when we meet the “crakers,” creatures bio-engineered to be improved versions of the human race. Among other features, they have the ability to self-heal through purring.
How and why cats purr is still under investigation, but here’s what we know:
- Cat purring is a vocalization
- Cats purr when they’re content (being fed, being snuggled, etc.)
- Cats purr when they’re under stress (at the vet, when recovering from injury, etc.)
- Cats purr during both inhalation and exhalation
- Felines purr with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz (and domestic cat purrs produce fundamental frequencies at exactly 25-50 Hertz)
- Cats’ purrs are unique and varied
- Cats likely purr for reasons of communication, appeasement, and healing
Scientific research and anecdotal evidence show that purring is vital for cats’ health and healing. Research also suggests that hearing and feeling cat purrs has positive effects on humans and other animals. It seems to act as a form of sound therapy.
Cat purrs promote human health and wellness by:
- Decreasing our stress levels
- Lowering our blood pressure
- Lowering our risk of heart disease and stroke
- Promoting bone growth and fracture healing
- Promoting muscle and tendon healing
- Reducing pain, swelling, and risk of infection
The sound vibrations made by cat purrs are healing and promote health and wellness. Of course, there are many more benefits of spending time with cats that have nothing to do with purring (here’s an article, and here’s an article).
Benefit from the sound and feeling of cat purring by:
- Spending time playing and snuggling with your feline friends.
- Spending time playing and snuggling with the feline friends of your human friends.
- Volunteering at a pet shelter to be a Cat Cuddler (it’s a real thing).
- If you’re in Pittsburgh, these are two great pet shelters: Animal Friends and Humane Animal Rescue. There are others in and outside of Pittsburgh, of course.
- Humming (this isn’t as cuddly as cat purring, but it may have the same effects according to some music therapists).
For more info on this topic check out all of the in-article links above.
What do you think about cat purring? Is it a form of sound therapy? How does it affect you? Let us know what you think in the comments or by contacting us. Find more MicroMusicMind posts here. Be well!
of music & mind 