Editing Purr (section)

==Purpose==
In domestic cats, many signals that occur when interacting with humans seem to originate from when the animal was dependent on the mother. Cats have been observed to purr for most of their lifespan, starting from when they were young and suckling from their mother.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=McComb|first1=Karen|last2=Taylor|first2=Anna M.|last3=Wilson|first3=Christian|last4=Charlton|first4=Benjamin D.|date=2009-07-14|title=The cry embedded within the purr|journal=Current Biology|volume=19|issue=13|pages=R507–R508|doi=10.1016/j.cub.2009.05.033|pmid=19602409|s2cid=10972076|issn=0960-9822|doi-access=free|bibcode=2009CBio...19.R507M }}</ref> Purring may be a signaling mechanism of reassurance between mother cats and [[Lactation|nursing]] kittens. Post-nursing cats often purr as a sign of contentment when being petted, becoming relaxed or eating. Some purring may be a signal to another animal that the purring cat does not pose a threat.

Cats have been shown to have different types of purrs depending on situations. For example, purring appears to be a way for cats to signal their caretakers for food. This purring has a high-frequency component not present in other purrs. These are called solicitation purrs (when the cat is seeking a result) and non-solicitation purrs, and the two are distinguishable to humans. In a study, 50 humans were subjected to playbacks of purrs recorded in solicitation and non-solicitation situations at the same amplitude. Humans regularly judged the solicitation purrs as less pleasant and more urgent than the non-solicitation purrs.<ref name=":1" /> This variety of purring seems to be found more frequently in cats in a one-to-one relationship with a caretaker. Similarities have been drawn between an infant's cry and the isolation cry of domestic cats. The high-frequency aspect of the purr may subtly exploit humans' sensitivity to these cries. Using sensory biases in communication between species provides cats with a productive means of improving the care that they receive.<ref name=":1" />

Cats often purr when distressed or in pain, such as during the three stages of [[Birth|labor]]. In the first stage, the uterus begins to contract, the cervix relaxes, the [[Rupture of membranes|water breaks]] and the cat begins to purr. The female cat (queen) will purr and socialize during the first stage of labor. The purring is thought to be a self-relaxation technique.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/reproductive/c_ct_dystocia|title=Birth Difficulties Symptoms - Cats {{!}} petMD|website=www.petmd.com|access-date=2019-11-18}}</ref>