Ask Auntie Liz ........................................

[JaneJ]

How long can a cat purr for? You would think they would get a sore throat!

[chenrezig]

You have me foxed on that one .. I can only assume that as they breathe out they can purr, so in theory forever unless their throat does get sore .. But they purr for several reasons ...

http://pets.webmd.com/why-do-cats-purr


Why Do Cats Purr?

Purring is the most common sound cats make. Yet we know less about it than meowing, chirping, chattering, hissing, and growling. Yes, cats purr when they're content. When yours is curled up in the sun, you may hear a gentle rumble as he breathes in and out. Touch him, and you feel a little quiver. It's almost as if he's sending out waves of calm.
But you shouldn't assume that sound means your cat is in a good mood. Or that it's the only time you'll hear it. Cats purr to communicate other emotions and needs, too.

What if you pick your cat up and hold him? Does he purr because he likes it -- or because he's nervous? Although you'll never know exactly what yours is saying when he purrs, research from animal experts, along with considering the situation, lets you make an informed guess.

She's Happy
-Your cat looks relaxed: Perhaps she's on her back, eyes half-closed, tail mostly still. If she's purring, it's safe to assume she's in her happy place. That noise is a big smile.

He's Hungry or Wants Something
- Some cats purr when it's mealtime. British researchers studied the sounds that house cats make when they're hungry and when food isn't on their minds. The purrs don't sound the same. When cats purr for food, they combine their normal purr with an unpleasant cry or mew, a bit like a human baby's cry. Experts believe that we're more likely to respond to this sound. They've found that people can tell the difference between the purrs, even if they aren't cat owners.

Kitten-Mother Connection
- Kittens can purr when they're only a few days old. It's probably a way to let their mothers know where they are or that they're OK. Purring also helps a kitten bond with its mother. Mama cats use it like a lullaby.

Relief and Healing
- Even though purring takes energy, many cats purr when they get hurt or are in pain. So what makes the effort worth it?
It might simply be a way for a cat to soothe itself, like a child sucks their thumb to feel better. But some research suggests that purring actually helps cats get better faster. The low frequency of purrs causes a series of related vibrations within their body that can:
Heal bones and wounds
Build muscle and repair tendons
Ease breathing
Lessen pain and swelling
This might explain why cats are able to survive falls from high places and tend to have fewer complications after surgeries than dogs.

[chenrezig]

Who's next to Ask Auntie Liz ???

[JaneJ]

Thank you Liz.

That was really interesting.

That sound is so relaxing. Teddy has such a loud purr. He uses it in the early hours of the morning together with a paw tapping on my face so I wake up to rub his cheeks ans stroke him. After a coup,e of minutes doing it he settles down again usually as close as he can get to me and goes back to sleep.

He is a cutie

look forward to the next question

xxx

[wendy]

Please can you let me know when the last cuckoo leaves Britain.

[chenrezig]

I found this on the RSPB website ..it says that cuckoos emigrate in July, and the youngsters leave about a month later ..

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoy ... ckoos.aspx

[wendy]

Thank you
Have you ever seen a cuckoo?
I did once in the 70's

[wendy]

Do you know how a fox kills any fleas it may have on its body?
I do and it is most interesting.

[chenrezig]

I know .. I know Auntie Wendy! (Liz puts hand up like she did at school lol lol)

Something about getting hold of a piece of sheeps wool or something similar and ducking under the water so all the little fleas climb onto that and it gets rid of them that way ?

[wendy]

that is brilliant Liz
no it pulls out a piece of fur, and all the fleas jump on this dry piece of fur to save from drowning and then when all the fleas are there, the fox lets the fur fall into the water.
Isn't that clever.

[wendy]

It holds the fur in its mouth untill all the fleas are on it and then let's it go

[wendy]

I have a small plant which has yellow flowers on it in my pond.
It seems to have died.
Is this right?

[chenrezig]

Do you know the name of it? I only keep houseplants ..if a can remember to water them lol !

[wendy]

No sorry a lady from street life gave it to me

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