Cat owners around the world might share the secret to a long and healthy life. Unbeknownst to most, cats have a superpower, one that involves purring and helps their owners without them even being aware of it. The superpower we’re talking about here is the healing power of cat purrs.
Feline purrs seem to have healing properties on the human body and there’s some science backing it up as well, so hurry up and get yourself one of those little purring friends asap. Keep on reading to find out more details about this cat superpower.
The Healing Power of Cat Purrs
What could be better and more comforting than the soothing purr of a cat sitting on top of your chest while you take your afternoon nap?
Beyond the obvious calming effects that the gentle thrum of a cat has on our minds, there is another positive side effect. It has the power to heal us. Or at least that’s what the latest research points out.
Basically, cats have super powers. Somehow we all knew that, because that’s the reason we love them so much, right?
It’s All About Frequencies
The purring mechanism through which cats purr revolves around a neural oscillator inside the brain of the cat, the larynx and the laryngeal muscles to produce that specific sound. Those muscles have the role of opening and closing the space between the cat’s vocal chords, like a valve which opens to let the air pass and then closes and opens again. This happens rapidly and in cycles.
When those muscles are active, they vibrate, which further makes the air around vibrate and produce the purring sound. Those vibrations have a frequency range of 20 to 140 Hz, which is known to have therapeutic effects in numerous medical cases.
So there you go, that’s the secret to a cat’s nine lives. Since cats are well adapted to conserve their energy – obvious if you think about how much they sleep – there’s a theory that states that the purring sound is a sort of low energy mechanism of self healing.
Purring Strengthens Bones
Some medical studies have shown that the respective frequency helps with bone healing. And that seems to work for cats and owners alike. Frequencies between 25 and 50 Hz seem to be the best for bone regeneration. Also, it has been observed that cats with broken bones take less time to heal than other animals, so the researchers might be onto something here.
Purring Reduces Risk for Heart Attack
There’s another recent study that points to the fact that cat owners have a 40% less risk of heart attack though that in part might be the stress relieving effect that owning a cat – or a pet in general – has on us.
Other Effects
Cat purrs seem to also be helpful in the healing of soft tissue, ligaments, tendons and muscles injuries or infection and swelling.
While further studies are needed for a correct and precise answer, we can’t deny the possibility of the healing power of cat purrs.
