by Judith Windover

Created on: January 17, 2009   Last Updated: January 27, 2009

Did you know cats are the only animals that purr? Cats purr at a speed of 26 cycles per second with their mouths closed during inhalation and exhalation. Purring begins within the first week of life and, according to Arline Bleecker,Why Do Cats Sulk, kittens purr as a signal back to mom that they are getting their milk and are content. Most cats purr in anticipation of something that will make them happy such as being fed or stroked. But some cats purr when they feel fear or are in great distress. Animal behaviorists believe purring is a cats way of reassuring or comforting themselves when they are in pain. And according to Dr.Milani, Everyday Health Tips, 2000 Practical Hints for Better Health and Happiness, cats even purr while concentrating.

All cats talk but no two cats talk alike. The language of cat is "meow" though various dialects such as "meek-erk", "meep", and "raarh" do exist. Kittens meow in the first few days of life as a signal of distress and grow into cats that screech, meow and howl when they are angry, hungry, hurt, lonely, afraid, in need of affection, stressed, sick, or excited. Every cat has a different quality of sound depending on the breed and circumstance. Of all the breeds, the Siamese meow the most with a loud and lowly voice while other breeds like the Persian tend to meow in soft high chirps.

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