第1575期:Why do cats purr?

We’ve all heard cats meow and hiss, but why do they purr? There are a number of theories out there - from the commonly held belief that they are simply happy, to British comedian Eddie Izzard’s light-hearted suggestion that they are impersonating a drill.

我们都听过猫叫和嘶嘶声，但它们为什么会发出咕噜声？那里有许多理论 - 从普遍认为他们只是快乐的信念，到英国喜剧演员 Eddie Izzard 的轻松建议，他们正在冒充演习。

While they do purr when tickled or caressed to show their appreciation for attention, cats also make the noise when not in our company. The purring noise is a consistent pulsing sound that occurs while they both inhale and exhale breath. The word ‘purr’ is a great example of onomatopoeia and refers to the constant noise which ranges in frequency between 25 and 150 hertz.

虽然它们在挠痒痒或爱抚时会发出咕噜声以表达对关注的感激之情，但猫不在我们公司时也会发出声音。呼噜声是一种持续的脉冲声，在他们吸气和呼气时发生。“purr”这个词是拟声词的一个很好的例子，指的是频率范围在 25 到 150 赫兹之间的恒定噪声。

For a long time, scientists debated how cats purred. Most people believe that the cat’s brain signals the laryngeal muscles to vibrate and function like a valve, opening and closing the space between the vocal cords. What triggers this reaction is debated. Some argue that the cat intends to purr, while others say it may be due to endorphins released by the brain as a reaction to pleasure, or pain.

长期以来，科学家们一直在争论猫是如何发出咕噜声的。大多数人认为，猫的大脑向喉部肌肉发出信号，使其像阀门一样振动和发挥作用，打开和关闭声带之间的空间。引发这种反应的原因尚有争议。一些人认为猫会发出咕噜声，而另一些人则认为这可能是由于大脑释放内啡肽作为对快乐或疼痛的反应。

According to Leslie A. Lyons, an assistant professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, cats often purr while stressed, such as when they head to the vets or are recovering from an injury. So what are the potential benefits of this ‘drilling’ sound? Some scientists believe the vibrations that ripple through the cats’ bodies may actually promote muscle development, heal bones and injuries, ease breathing and lessen pain. It could even help to soothe discomfort in a similar way to a child sucking their thumb.

根据加州大学兽医学院助理教授 Leslie A. Lyons 的说法，猫经常在压力大时发出咕噜声，例如当它们去看兽医或从受伤中恢复时。那么这种“钻孔”声音的潜在好处是什么？一些科学家认为，通过猫的身体产生的振动实际上可能会促进肌肉发育，治愈骨骼和受伤，缓解呼吸并减轻疼痛。它甚至可以帮助缓解不适，就像孩子吮吸拇指一样。

So, the purring of a cat may have more uses than just telling you they’re enjoying attention. It’s also important to remember that not all cats can purr. Some bigger felines, like lions, can’t, and only roar. So, the next time you hear a roar, it probably isn’t your pussy cat, and you might need to run.

所以，猫的呼噜声可能不仅仅告诉你它们正在享受关注。同样重要的是要记住，并非所有的猫都会发出咕噜声。一些较大的猫科动物，如狮子，不能，只能咆哮。所以，下次你听到咆哮声时，它可能不是你的猫，你可能需要逃跑。

词汇表

meow 猫叫声，喵喵叫
hiss 嘶嘶声
purr （猫发出的）咕噜声
pulsing 脉冲的
inhale 吸气
exhale 呼气，吐出气
onomatopoeia 象声词，拟声词
frequency （声波的）频率
hertz 赫兹
laryngeal 喉部的
vibrate 震动，颤抖
vocal cords 声带
endorphin 内啡肽，安多芬
vibration 持续震动
ripple （声音）传播起伏
roar 吼叫