Healthwealthhappinessfreedom: Does a cat's purr hold holistic powers?

Pete Wedderburn

Pete Wedderburn qualified as a vet twenty-five years ago, and now spends half his working life writing newspaper columns. He lives in Ireland with his wife, two daughters and a menagerie of dogs, cats, poultry and other furry and feathered companions. Pete answers readers' queries about their pets' health in his video Q&A – he is also on Twitter as @petethevet and has a Facebook Fan Page.

Does a cat's purr hold holistic powers?

By Pete Wedderburn Health and lifestyle Last updated: February 22nd, 2011

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There’s something almost mystical about the purr of a cat. It’s a sound that’s easy on the ear, and cats seem to use it when they’re feeling goodwill towards humans. There’s not much to dislike about a cat’s purr.

Except, of course, when it’s the loudest purr in the world. Smokey, a twelve year old cat from Northhampton, is the world record holder, with a purr as loud as a lawnmower. He has to be put out of the room if people are on the telephone, and he even drowns out the sound of the radio and television.

Even normal cats’ purrs can be annoying for vets. If you’re trying to listen for subtle abnormalities in the sounds of a cat’s heart and lungs with a stethoscope, a purr can make it impossible. There’s a trick used in veterinary consulting rooms to “switch off” a purr: if a tap in the sink is turned on, most cats stop purring for a few minutes while looking at and listening to the water.

It’s easy to assume that a purring cat is a happy cat, but it’s not quite so simple. In her latest book, The Secret Life of Your Cat, feline behaviourist Vicky Halls explains that a cat’s purr is not just about contentment. She says that a purr happens when “positive social interaction is taking place or desired”. I’ve also heard it described as happening when a cat has a friend or needs a friend. Cats purr in all sorts of situations. The classical example may be a contented cat curled up on your lap, but I’ve seen cats purring even when they’re in pain.

Which brings me back to that mystical side of a cat’s purr: it’s been suggested that one of the function of the purr is to enable natural healing of the cat’s own body. Cats purr during both inhalation and exhalation with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz. Various investigators have suggested that sound frequencies in this range can improve bone density and promote healing. This has been of interest in “holistic healing” circles but although it has not yet become widely accepted, it suggests that there may be potential for Smokey to get out there to earn his own keep. “Purr therapy”, only £50 a session, anyone?