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Purring is often linked to comfort, but cats may also purr when injured, frightened, giving birth, or seeking contact. Context, body posture, and the rest of the cat's behavior matter more than the sound alone.
Acoustic research describes low, regular vibrations during both inhalation and exhalation. A 2023 study presented biomechanical evidence that specialized tissue in the vocal folds may support passive low-frequency vibration.
What about the healing claim?
A popular hypothesis suggests that purr frequencies could have therapeutic effects. The frequencies can be measured, but that does not prove cats purr in order to heal bone or tissue. It remains a hypothesis, not clinical advice.
If a purring cat is hiding, refusing food, breathing differently, or showing pain, do not assume it is happy. Consider the whole picture and seek veterinary care.
SCIENTIFIC SOURCES