Helping Aubie this week is Dr. Kathy Gaughan, associate professor, with AU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dear Tristen,
What a great question! Cats and kittens make many different vocal sounds and purring is the one we hear most often. No one knows the real reason cats purr – too bad we can’t ask most of them (Aubie says he purrs when the Tigers are playing well).

Baby kittens seem to know how to purr almost from the time they are born and do so when they are in close contact with their mother. Adult cats purr when they are in close contact with people, animals or objects with which they are familiar (does your cat purr when he’s rubbing against you?). While these situations would suggest purring is a sign of contentment or pleasure, cats are also known to purr when very sick or in pain. So purring may be the universal signal among cats that means the cat needs or desires attention. Here is a like of some other sounds that cats make and their meaning:

Purr contact
Trill / Chirrup greeting / kitten contact
Miaow greeting
Howl aggressive
Growl aggressive
Yowl aggressive
Snarl aggressive
Hiss defensive
Spit defensive
Pain shriek fear / pain

Thanks for your question!
Aubie and Dr. Gaughan