Why Do Some Cats Purr Quietly – 6 Reasons!

Cats are known for being vocal with their constant meows and purring. however, some cats are a bit quieter than o

Cats are known for being vocal with their constant meows and purring. However, some cats are a bit quieter than others, sometimes to an alarming degree. You might have even run across a cat that doesn’t seem to have an audible purr whatsoever. Is that normal, though? Why do some cats purr quietly?

Cats purr quietly because they choose to communicate in other ways. This includes meowing, jumping around, clawing, and other non-verbal forms of communication. Quiet purrs can also be a sign of pleasure or a result of old age or blockages of the vocal cords. 

Although quiet purrs may appear unusual at first, it’s usually nothing to be concerned with. Let’s take a deeper look at what quiet purring means when it comes to cats and discuss some of the many reasons they may be doing it. 

Reasons Cats Purr Quietly

In order to better understand why a cat purrs quietly, it’s essential to dive into the various reasons that cause it. Below are the 6 most common reasons why cats purr softly.

Your Cat Is Relaxed

When a cat is relaxed they do a variety of things. From rolling over, to head bunting your leg, a relaxed cat is the best cat. However, lighter sounding purrs are also a behavior they engage in when they are relaxed.

For most cat owners, what you’ll experience is a cat that vibrates, but it’ll be close to inaudible. No, this doesn’t mean something is wrong with your cat. If anything, it means your creating a warm and inviting experience for your pet.

In my experience, soft purring occurs when you are also in the same vicinity as your cat. It’s not something they’ll just do on their own; your cat needs someone to direct that positivity energy towards.

Your Cat Is Too young To Purr Loudly

Purring requires quite a bit of development on your cat’s part. This means your cat has developed things such as:

• Circular breathing
• A large rib cage
• Strong lung capacity
• Bigger frame to support its body

So in most cases, the above features describe a healthy adult cat. For younger cats, this really isn’t the case though. When you think about it, younger cats are not fully developed. They have leaner, more slender frames. The lung capacity is not as large, so it can only hold so much air. More importantly, your cat is still learning how to manage circular breathing so that it can eventually purr.

So, the next time you hear a soft purr out of a young cat, in particular, that’s quite normal. Over time the purr will develop, and it’ll settle into a nice full tone once their bodies develop.

Old Age

As your cat ages, its purrs will become less and less audible. Purring takes quite a bit of energy, and your cat may be more focused on using that for other things such as eating and resting.

Eventually, your cat may stop purring altogether.

Even if your cat is older, you can do things to help motivate the behavior. This includes:

• Petting your cat frequently
• Giving them plenty of personal space
• Providing them surfaces to knead

Also, realize that purring may just be your cat’s preferred method of communication anymore. Cats are known to switch up their routines all the time, so it’s entirely normal for them to move to other forms of communication. Remember, a cat not purring is not necessarily an indication of dissatisfaction.

Your Cat has Blocked Vocal Cords

In order for a cat to purr, it has to make use of the additional membrane. These are called ventricular cords. Those cords have the ability to vibrate. They are able to open and close quickly, and even more impressive is that your cat can still breathe freely while this is happening.

However, if the vocal cords are obstructed in any kind of way, problems will arise, including the ability to purr.

Yes, blocked vocal cords are a thing when it comes to cats. It’s quite serious and something that will need vet assistance to diagnose and fix in most cases. Blocked vocal cords are mostly related to inflammation.

These blockages can be caused by scar tissue from surgeries, or if the vocal folds are simply obstructed. This won’t just impact purring either, as your cat will probably have trouble breathing. They also might overheat because the airways are not fully open enough.

Anxiety & Stress

Cats are very reactive to almost anything. Any kind of stressful situation whether it’s loud noises, other pets in the home, or just discomfort can cause them to experience anxiety and stress. Even cats that are lonely may experience some sort of anxiety because they are not used to dealing with others.

As a result, your cat may purr less simply because they don’t feel comfortable. Remember, purring is a sign of affection and pleasure, and if your cat is not experiencing those emotions, then they likely won’t purr loudly, or at much at all. If your cat suddenly stops purring, assess the situation, this is most likely the cause.

Your Cat Is Injured

Because cats are always active in the home, chances are they will experience multiple injuries in their life. Injuries to the rib cage, neck area, or even their feet can cause them not to purr. Purring is a vibration that rumbles the entire body. So, as you can imagine, a cat with an injury in a sensitive area will try to create as little movement as possible. This helps them avoid pain.

Still, it’s a cat’s natural instinct to purr when they are comfortable. So, cats might just do it softly to still show their satisfaction while minimizing the pain they might be feeling from an injury.

Check your cat for any bruising or scars if you notice the lack of purring is a recent development.

Is It Normal For Cats To Purr Quietly

Yes, it is normal for cats to purr quietly.

Quiet purring is a result of several factors such as discomfort, a cat dealing with an injury, old age, or just their desire to communicate differently. If the quiet purrs are a recent development, you may want to take your cat to a vet. However, if your cat has always been this way, then it is most likely in their nature to behave this way.

Why Do Some Cats Purr Quieter Than Others

Some cats purr quieter than others because it is in their personality to do so.

Certain cat breeds are known for being less vocal than others, and the age of the cat is a big factor as well. Senior cats, for example, are less likely to purr with a lot of velocity because they don’t need to. At this point, your cat has developed other methods of communication. This can include pawing at you, relocating to other areas of the home, or head bunting.

Then there of course is the comparison of feral cats vs your average domesticated cats. Feral cats are known to not purr much at all, and that’s probably because it’s a behavior taught by their mothers in the wild. It’s a skill learned to not attract predators and means of protection.

Of course, medical situations could be a cause of cats purring more quietly, but there are usually symptoms beyond the purring that will indicate something is wrong. For example, some cats may inherit

Does The Volume Of A Cats Purr Mean Anything

Generally, the volume of a cat’s purr doesn’t mean much of anything.

Purring for the most part is a low-volume action. It occurs at a lower frequency, even if your cat’s body is vigorously vibrating. Now, some cats that are larger in size will naturally have louder purrs. There’s a much bigger frame to fill with sound. For example, a Maine Coon is going to purr significantly louder than a Munchkin cat.

If you discover a larger cat with a lack of purring volume, then in that case this may indicate something is wrong. Likewise, if you have a smaller cat that seems to purr too loudly, that’s something you’ll want to look into as well.

Do Cats Have Control Over Purring

Cats do not have control over purring. This is because the nervous system controls purring, and it’s not something that your cat consciously has control over. It’s a natural reaction that their bodies go through based on the present conditions.

Just as quickly as a cat begins to purr at a satisfying situation, it can just as quickly stop the behavior. However, that’s the body reacting, and purring is mostly an automatic reaction.

It’s a lot different than meowing for example, which is entirely voluntary. Purring is an entirely involuntary response, however, it’s easy to associate it with your cat voicing pleasure with the situation.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, a cat that purrs quietly is nothing to worry about. It’s entirely normal behavior and something you should expect as a pet owner, especially in your cat’s senior years.

If you feel that your cat’s soft purring is abnormal, or a recent development, then it may be a wise idea to get them checked out. For the most part, it’s something all cats will go through at some point.