The domestic cat purr has been discussed at great length in Internet articles and in scientific studies. We all know about it and enjoy it. Some wild cats also purr such as the cheetah, bobcat, puma, ocelot for example. Their purrs are stronger than that of the domestic cat. The “big cats”, that famous foursome of the jaguar, lion, tiger and leopard, can’t purr because they can roar. It seems the two aren’t compatible because of the anatomical configuration of the voice box.
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So, what about other animals? Here are some examples of purring in animals other than domestic cats:
Hyenas: they make giggling or laughing sounds. It’s a close-call vocalisation as hyenas are highly social animals living in clans. Giggling is used to communicate with other members of the clan. It conveys messages about establishing social bonds, signalling aggression or alarm and coordinating group activities. You might hear a hyena “purring” when feeding as they are competing with other members of the clan over a carcass. It can act as a message of dominance to other clan members. But it can also be used in friendly interactions such as play sessions, greetings and in relaxed moments. Hyenas also use giggling to defend and mark their territories. It can be a warning to others to stay away from their territory. It is a multifacetted vocalisation.
Civets: my research indicates that some species of the nocturnal civet, found in Asia and Africa can purr. In fact, the African civet, in particular, is known to be a purring animal!
Raccoons: like many animals they have a variety of vocalisations which includes purring. The video on this page shows you what it’s like. Raccoons can be pets. It’s different to the domestic cat purr as expected. I don’t know if the production of the raccoon purr is exactly the same as that of the domestic cat. It probably isn’t. Nowadays we know a lot about the production of the domestic cat purr which you can read about by clicking on this link if you wish. Raccoon purring is normally linked to contentment, which is the same as for the domestic cat but domestic cats purr under a variety of circumstances. The video certainly shows a contented raccoon.
Rabbits: the rabbit purr is not the same as a domestic cat purr but it could be described as a purr nonetheless. They make the vocalisation when they are comfortable or content. They are low rumbling vibrations.
Genets: a small carnivorous mammal living in Asia, Europe and Africa, some species of which such as the common genet can purr as a form of close communication.
Do you know other animals who can purr? Please comment.
RELATED: Translating the feline purr into English
Some tags (click on these links to see several articles on purring and other cat sounds):
