Do Lions Purr? Why Big Cats Can’t Make This Sound?

Lions do not purr, but they can roar. Big cats, including lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars, can't purr due to the design of their voice box.

Do Lions Purr?

Four big cats can roar - lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar. All belong to the genus Panthera. Big cats, including lions, can't purr, which could be due to the structure of their voice box.

A ligament replaces the voice box's epihyal bone in the animals. Stretching this results in a greater pitch range and a larger sound-producing passage.

The sound produced when air moves across the vocal cords decreases in volume the more the ligament expands. The chords are also big, intact, and meaty, which results in deeper sounds.

This trait stops the larynx from purring but still allows the animal to roar loudly, up to 114 dB in the case of one tested lion. The sound might get close to a person's pain threshold in terms of volume.

One of the two primary distinctions between the two main genera of cats, Felis and Panthera, is the capacity to purr rather than size or behavior. These genera are frequently referred to as "the purring cats" and "the roaring cats," respectively, albeit only the lion regularly roars among the latter. The main difference is that the eyes of the former have pupils that narrow to vertical slits. Other big cats are more likely to hiss, spit, grunt, snarl, or cough.

However, this case isn't true for one big cat - cheetah. The cheetah is the only big cat that can only purr and cannot roar. It can't fully retract its claws, so biologists classify it in a separate genus (Acinonyx). The cheetah's high-pitched chirp, which is also distinctive, is thought to sound like a canary.

"When I first heard it," Theodore Roosevelt once wrote, "I was sure that it was uttered by some bird, and I looked about quite a time before finding it was the call of a cheetah."

ALSO READ: Average Cat Lifespan Indoors: Signs Your Feline Friend Will Live Long Life

Why Cats Purr?

Purring is accomplished via blood flow to the larynx, which raises the organ's volume, and skeletal muscle vibration in the larynx, also known as the voice box. The vibrations from purring travel through the chest, abdomen, and even into the bones; this can have a therapeutic effect on the cat's body, enhancing blood flow while minimizing the impact of stress and anxiety. The vibrations are felt most strongly in the abdomen, which aids in digestion and is particularly important for nursing mothers, a theory suggests.

Most of the time, cats will purr when relaxed, emitting waves of calmness. This could also happen when you stroke them; if it does, your feline companion is content or friendly.

However, cats also purr to express other demands and feelings. For instance, when you carry them, cats may purr out of hunger, enjoyment, or fear.

Cats may also purr when hurt or in pain. Experts believe felines also purr to heal faster because the vibration within their body can help heal their bones and wounds, repair tendons, ease their breathing, and decrease pain and swelling.

Cats also make the sound when they are only a few days old to let their mothers know where they are and if they are fine. Purring is also considered a bond between kittens and their moms. A mother cat's purr is reportedly a lullaby to the kittens.