Why Do Cats Purr When They Are in Pain?

The secret to a cat’s calming behavior is in their purr. Endorphins are naturally produced by their bodies and act as analgesics, minimizing the sense of pain. The more endorphins your cat has, the greater its pain-relieving power. Moreover, it reduces stress and blood pressure. So, when your cat purrs, it actually helps you to alleviate their pain.

Purring helps cats cope with illness

According to a recent study, purring is an evolutionary adaptation that helps cats deal with pain and illness. Cats’ purrs are produced at a specific frequency of 25 Hz, the same as those produced by humans in the process of wound healing. This makes the sound a very helpful tool for coping with pain, as it provides built-in physical therapy. Researchers believe that purring also reduces stress in cats, which is another important benefit of cat care.

It relieves pain

Many people have heard about the healing benefits of cat purring, but how is it possible that a purring cat can actually alleviate pain? Researchers think that cats’ purring might be similar to the vibrational frequencies produced by the human voice. It may have some physical effect on the body, such as alleviating dysplasia, osteoporotic condition, and even pain caused by certain diseases. Cats purr for several reasons, including to communicate and to self-heal.

It lowers stress

Cats purr to communicate with humans. Most cat species have a similar sound – the purr. Most of us associate cats with purring as an expression of pleasure. But it’s believed cats also use the purr as a self-healing mechanism. For example, cats purr to solicit food from their owners, to be stroked, and to nurse kittens. The sound also has therapeutic purposes. It lowers stress when cats purr when they’re in pain.

It lowers blood pressure

Cats are known to have a powerful healing action. They are thought to promote bone growth and harden the bones when they feel pressure. They may also lower blood pressure by releasing stress. Many health care providers and athletes have found benefits from vibration therapy. The frequency of a cat’s purr is similar to the effect vibrational therapy can have on the human body. The purring process can also be beneficial for the tissue.

It lowers risk of heart disease

Owning a cat lowers the risk of having a heart attack or cardiovascular disease by 30 percent. Researchers looked at 4435 people, of which 2435 were cat owners. Participants entered the study in the 1970s and were followed for 10 years. The study was able to determine the effect of owning a cat by adjusting for race, age and smoking. Cat owners had a 30% lower risk of heart attack.