I’m not a cat person, but I’m the one who cares for the cat
at my house. I provide fresh water and food. I clean kitty litter, deal with hairballs,
and constantly remove bits of cat fur from every surface. Why? From time to
time, when she’s feeling especially contented, she plops down on my lap (or shoulder
or face) and purrs. Purring is such an interesting skill, and housecats aren’t
the only ones who have it. Bobcats, lynxes, ocelots, cougars, and cheetahs can
purr. In order to purr, a cat vibrates its larynx, which makes the twig-like
hyoid bones resonate. All purring cats can make this sound whether they’re inhaling
or exhaling. In lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars, a length of tough
cartilage runs up the hyoid bones to the skull. This allows these larger cats
to produce a full-throated roar, but prevents them from purring. It's one of
many reasons you’ll never catch me cleaning a lion’s litterbox.
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