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Research provides insight into how cats purr
The discovery questions a previous theory that cats need neural input to purr.
Cats use a human-like vocal fry to produce their purr.

A new study has revealed that cats purr by producing a vocal fry, similar to a human’s croaky voice, from their larynx without cyclic muscle contractions.

This discovery questions a previous theory that cats need constant neural input to do cyclic muscle contractions and relaxation to purr.

The research, led by Dr Christian T. Herbst of the University of Vienna, involved an anatomical study of cats’ vocal chords to find out how they produced their iconic purring sound. The investigation saw the researchers dissect the larynges of eight domestic cats which had been euthanised due to terminal disease.

Previous theories have suggested that cats vocalise in a vastly different way to other mammals, involving neural patterns to use active muscle contractions (AMCs) of their intrinsic laryngeal muscles to modulate respiratory airflow.

However, this new study has found that a low-frequency phonation, similar to purring, could be drawn from the larynges without any muscle contractions or neural input.

The vocal chords used low-frequency vocal fold vibrations in a way that is similar to the ‘vocal fry’ that humans are able to produce. This is combined with pads in cats’ vocal folds, a little-studied anatomical specialisation, which allow the purrs to be released using the same aerodynamic mechanisms that produce vocalisations such as meows, trills, and screams.

Using this method, the scientists were able to generate vibrations and sound at the same frequency of a domestic cat’s purr, without any neural input at all, from all eight of the extracted larynges. In each of the larynxes, the long duration of vocal fold contact was comparable to the vocal fry phonation of humans.

Although this discovery doesn’t completely disprove the AMC theory, it does suggest that more research is needed to understand exactly how cats purr.

Dr Herbst said: “Anatomical investigations revealed a unique ‘pad’ within the cats’ vocal folds that may explain how such a small animal, weighing only a few kilograms, can regularly produce sounds at those incredibly low frequencies (20-30 Hz, or cycles per second) – far below even than lowest bass sounds produced by human voices.”

The full study can be found in the journal Current Biology.

Image © Shutterstock

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.