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So, why do Bengal cats purr? To start off with, all cats purr, so purring isn’t something special that Bengals alone do. In fact when it comes to the different sounds that any cat makes, purring just happens to be one of the most common types of sounds that you’ll hear them making. Those who study cats admit that even though this one sound is most common, they really understand it far less than their chirping, chattering, hissing, meowing, and growling. In this article we will cover different reasons that Bengals and all cats purr:
Most of probably believe that the main reason why their Bengal cat purrs is because they are content. No doubt that when your cat takes a moment to relax in the sun you’ll hear that gentle rumbling as they breathe in and out. You might then touch them, and you’ll feel a little quiver come from them and it’s like they’re sending out a wave of calmness.
However, don’t always assume that his purring sound means that your Bengal is in a really good mood. You also shouldn’t assume that the only time they purr is when they are content and happy. Because that’s not always the case. Quite often, your cat will be purring in order to try and communicate other types of emotions and needs as well.
For example, when you pick up your Bengal, do you hear them start purring right away? Is this a good thing or not? It’s hard to know for sure, they could be purring because they liked the fact you picked them up, but, on the other hand, they could simply be nervous and it’s a way to calm themselves down.
To be honest, you may never really know the true reason behind why they are purring, but if you know your cat well and take into consideration the situation in which your cat is purring, you can make an informed guess.
You more than likely can tell when they are happy. If your Bengal seems to be extremely relaxed, maybe taking time out and laying on their back with their eyes partly closed and tail is still and you hear them purring, you can probably safely say that your Bengal is in a happy place. You might consider that purring sound you hear the same as a huge smile.
Hunger is another thing that can often generate purrs from your Bengal. Ever notice an increase in the purring of your cat when it’s time to eat? Researchers have discovered that when it’s mealtime and a cat has food on their mind, their purrs sound a lot different than if they are purring because they’re just happy. Next time you feed your Bengal, see if you can notice a difference in the sound of their purring. When your Bengal purrs for food they tend to combine what seems to be their “normal” purr with an almost unpleasant meow, kind of like the cry of a human baby. Some experts believe this is intentional because they seem to know that we will more likely respond quicker to this sound and feed them. Here’s a happy Bengal purring:
Believe it or not, but Bengal kittens, in fact all kittens, can purr when they are just a few days old. This more than likely their way of letting their mothers know where they might be and that they are doing alright. Researchers believe that purring also is way to help the kitten bond with its mother. Mother cats also seem to use it the same way we would use a lullaby to calm a baby or lull them to sleep.
Since kittens can use their purring to bond with their mothers, it’s also possible that they try to use that same technique to bond with their human owners. Bengal cats, once bonded with their humans will remain forever loyal to them. In fact, Bengals tend to be one of the loyalist cats in the world of domestic cats.
Purring does take a lot of energy to produce, however, many cats will purr when they are injured or seem to be in pain. Seems curious that they would use up energy in order to heal themselves. It makes you wonder whether or not it’s worth the effort. Some feel it’s a way for your cat to soothe itself, much like how a child might suck their thumb to try and feel better.
Some research does suggest that your Bengals purring may actually help your cat heal faster. They believe this because purring sends out low frequency vibrations within their body which may help to do the following:
This actually could explain why cats seem to be able to survive falls from extremely high places and even tend to have far fewer complications after surgery than dogs do.
So, what do you think? Did this article help you better understand why your Bengal purrs? Please let us know by posting your comment below.
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