How cats purr: the laryngeal mechanism

This study investigated the mechanism by which domestic cats and some other felids produce the continuous purr during both inhalation and exhalation. Measurements indicated that purring arises from rapid, rhythmic activation of the laryngeal muscles that intermittently separate the vocal folds, modulating airflow to generate the characteristic low-frequency sound. The work helped resolve long-standing uncertainty over whether purring was vascular or muscular in origin, supporting a neuromuscular laryngeal account. Understanding the production mechanism is essential for interpreting why purring occurs across such varied contexts, from contentment to pain and self-soothing, and it grounds comparative questions about which felids can purr versus roar.