Why Doesn’t My Cat Purr? [ Know The Reasons Here ]

Cats’ only way of communication is by purring. So do you need to worry if your cat is devoid of the only way of communication? Not really, and there is not much to worry about. It might be possible that your cat is different and has other gestures for communication, likely facial expression or body language.

Your cat can also have a perfectly healthy body but just a deficit vocal cord and require the veterinarian’s attention. Or, your cat has a very low purr and is almost inaudible. Let us find out what are all the reasons and studies behind this.

Why doesn’t my cat purr?

Kittens start learning how to purr from their mother to communicate very early. Purring is the mode of communication that almost every cat uses to voice its needs or gestures. But if it is not purring, there might be a reason behind it.

The first may be that the cat never learned how to purr when it was a kitten or had other ways to communicate. Also, there can be some medical conditions inhibiting the cat’s vocal abilities. The cat can also have some specific gestures to communicate. There can be many more reasons. Let us look at them in detail.

Different communication styles

Just like humans, cats have a versatile range of emotions. Although, it doesn’t mean that it has to have a blanket of justification for behaving. It is just that your cat has other ways of communication, and it feels like it can put forward its point better through a normal voice such as a meow.

Feral origins

Body language Expressions or The reason behind this is that feral mothers discourage purring to save their young ones from predators that could be attracted by purring. This is not universally true; some observations made over and are unlikely to purr.

Feral cats are more docile and tame than domestic cats sometimes. Unlike domestic cats, feral cats do not put effort into socializing with humans. Instead, they are more interactive with humans.

Vocal cord injury

The beautiful purring of the cat can be due to various ailments in the voice box. The larynx or the voice box has the vocal cord, which involves sound production. If there is any slight to the vocal cords, there can be problems in the purring.

This can include past trauma, cancer, abscess, etc. there can also be neurological malfunctions such as autoimmune disease, muscle disorder, hereditary paralysis, etc. Mostly all the larynx ailments can be cured.

Stress or illness

Cats who are in the habit of purring all day merrily long suddenly stop purring, then this is a matter of concern. There must have been some prominent reason behind this. In that case, try to recall your cat’s activities in the past few days.

Cats who are injured tend to remain silent to prevent the attraction of any predator in the vulnerable stage. So if your cat is quiet and avoiding you, then something must be up with its health. Narrow down the issue and take the consultation of a vet.

Stress can be brought in by sudden change or aggression. Cats are susceptible to change and are bold enough to channel it. This can lead to either attack or frustration and stress. The probable cause can be the acquaintance of a new member or a change in its routine or belongings. In that case, they might lose their purr.

Older cats

Older cats have a more quitter nature and might have become calmer than their youth, which might be the reason behind their faded or lost purrs. But with age does come some unavoidable discomfort and stress. To put through their point, they have certain physical gestures that help you understand your cat’s problems.

You are not just hearing it

Your cat is purring, but you cannot hear its soft and low purr. Do you want to confirm it? You can do that by placing your hand against its chin or head. Start petting it, and you will feel the vibrations. And that is your cat purring.

If things get out of your hand and you are scared of the situation, don’t panic and take your cat to the vet. Rest leave your feline in the doctors’ hands to figure out the problem and its solution.

Is it normal for cats not to purr?

Although it is not common amongst cats not to purr, it is okay for cats not to purr. If your cat doesn’t purr, that doesn’t mean that it is unhappy. There can be various reasons. Cats usually purr when relaxed or scared when they meet a new mate, females in labor.

When any of this doesn’t happen, then the cat doesn’t purr. All cats don’t need to purr. Your cat may be too calm and tamed to be in any of the situations, and subsequently, it doesn’t need to purr.

Are there cats that don’t purr?

Some cats don’t purr. The reason can vary. There can be some past trauma of the mother being feral. The cat might have some vocal cord ailment or other health problems. The vest is the best person to figure it out. But cats not purring is not very uncommon, and there are many breeds of cats around the world that don’t take the chance to purr.

But you can always encourage your cats to purr, and there are many ways to do it. Some of those are:

Petting

Gently stroke your cat behind its ears, under its chin, on its back, all places where it attains relaxation. This way, the cat can get rid of the tension in its muscles and voice its peace in tiny purrs.

Cuddling

Lie next to your cat while resting or napping and gently stroke its back. This helps to make him feel secure, and it purrs to tell you that he likes your presence.

Talking

Your cat does not speak your language, but it understands your actions. So try talking to your cat and singing lullabies to it. Your cat will feel the urge to communicate with you and purr to channel its elation.

Make them feel comfortable

Cats love kneading onto soft and squishy things. So you can try giving it a pillow, a cushion, or soft toys so that it can knead its head into it and start purring out of comfort.

Provide space

Please don’t force it on your cat. The cat can get nervous and conscious about its presence and might not purr. If you look straight into its eye and wait for it to purr, then that may not happen.

Can cats lose their ability to purr?

Some accidents in the past or health issues like cancer and neural disorders can cause severe damage to the vocal cords and the larynx. In that case, the cat might lose its purr. However, there are several cases where the larynx operation has fixed the voice of the cats, and they regained their purr with time.

There are the best vets worldwide, and you can go to the best for your cat’s treatment. But there might be some severe and permanent damage, and your cat can lose its purr permanently.

Conclusion

Purring entirely depends on your cat. Cats might have a very low or almost inaudible purr. There can be other reasons that the vets can best handle, and your cat can regain the ability to purr. But whether it will purr or not is entirely up to it. You can force your cat and make it purr all the time.

What you can do is observe your cat deeply. Make notice of its likes and dislikes. Try to make your cat happy and healthy. Ensure to attend to all its needs and make it feel comfortable. Once you and your cat are acquainted, and the cat gets all it needs, it will go back to the merry purring.