How Cat Purring Affects Your Health and Happiness

Cat Behavior & Communication Ariana Perry March 11, 2025

Many cat owners say their pet’s purring helps them feel calm and relaxed.

This soft, vibrating sound that cats make has been linked to various benefits for humans, from lowering stress to possibly helping with healing.

But can a cat’s purr really heal or reduce stress?

Scientists have been studying this question to understand if there’s actual science behind what cat lovers have claimed for years.

The answer might change how we think about our feline friends and their impact on our health.

The Science of Cat Purring

What is Purring?

Cats make the purring sound through a unique biological process.

When a cat breathes, air passes over the muscles in its voice box (larynx), causing them to shake.

This happens during both inhaling and exhaling, creating that constant vibrating sound we know as purring.

Unlike other cat sounds that come only from the mouth, purring involves the muscles around the vocal cords working with the diaphragm to create this special sound.

This is why cats can purr continuously while breathing in and out.

Purring Frequencies

Cat purrs happen at a specific range of sound waves between 25 and 150 Hz.

This range is interesting because scientists have found that sounds in this frequency can have physical effects on the body.

At 25-50 Hz, sound waves may help reduce pain and swelling.

The 100-150 Hz range might help bones grow stronger and heal faster.

These same frequencies are sometimes used in medical treatments called “vibration therapy” to help people heal.

Scientific Studies

Research backs up what many cat owners already feel. Several studies show that spending time with a purring cat can lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones in humans.

In one study, cat owners had lower risk of heart problems compared to people without pets.

The vibrations from purring might also help with healing.

Scientists found that frequencies similar to cat purrs can increase bone thickness and help breaks heal more quickly.

This might explain why cats recover from bone injuries faster than many other animals.

Health Benefits of Cat Purring

Physical Health

The physical effects of cat purring on human health show some interesting possibilities. The vibrations that come from a cat’s purr might help with healing in several ways.

1. Research suggests that the 25-100 Hz frequency range may help tissues heal faster and reduce swelling.
2. These same frequencies might boost bone strength—scientists have seen that sounds at 25-50 Hz can help increase bone growth and healing.
   This might explain why cats’ bones heal faster than those of many other animals.
3. Some studies also link pet ownership, including time spent with purring cats, to better heart health with lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart attacks.

Psychological Benefits

The mental health effects of cat purring are some of the most noticeable for cat owners.

1. When people hear and feel a cat purring, their bodies often respond by making less of the stress hormone cortisol.
2. At the same time, the brain may release more feel-good chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin.
3. Multiple studies show that spending just 15-30 minutes with a cat can significantly lower anxiety levels.
4. For people with depression, the routine and comfort of caring for and being with a purring cat can provide emotional support and a sense of being needed.

This natural response helps explain why petting a purring cat can quickly help someone feel more calm and happy.

Scientific Skepticism

Not all scientists agree about the healing power of cat purrs.

• Some researchers point out that many studies on this topic have been small or didn’t control for other factors that might affect results.
• For example, it’s hard to know if health benefits come from the purring itself or just from the comfort of having a pet.
• Critics also note that while some frequencies in cat purrs match those used in some medical treatments, this doesn’t automatically mean they work the same way.
• The actual strength of vibrations from a cat purr might be too weak to cause physical changes in human tissue.

More large-scale research is needed to confirm exactly how and why cat purring affects human health

How Cat Purring Affects Humans Emotionally

The sound of a cat purring creates powerful emotional responses in most people.

This gentle, rhythmic noise often brings immediate feelings of calm and comfort.

When people hear cat purring, their brains typically produce more serotonin and oxytocin—chemicals that boost happiness and create feelings of connection—while reducing cortisol, the main stress hormone.

Research in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior shows that people often feel more relaxed within minutes of holding a purring cat, with measurable drops in heart rate and blood pressure.

For those who feel lonely or struggle with social anxiety, a purring cat can provide emotional support without the stress that sometimes comes with human interactions.

Which helps explain why cats are increasingly used in therapy settings.

Can Cat Purring Heal?

The healing claims about cat purring focus mainly on bone health and stress relief.

• The 25-50 Hz frequency of purrs matches vibrations used medically to promote bone growth, but direct evidence that cat purring heals human bones remains limited.
• For stress reduction, the evidence is stronger. Studies show that time with purring cats quickly lowers stress hormones and blood pressure.
• This happens partly through the emotional bond—when people interact with cats, their brains release oxytocin, which reduces anxiety and creates feelings of safety.

While specific healing claims need more research, the stress-reducing effects of cat purring are well-documented and may indirectly help healing by creating better conditions for the body’s natural recovery processes.

Conclusion

Cat purring seems to offer real benefits for human health, both physical and emotional.

The vibrations at 25-150 Hz might help with healing, bone strength, and heart health, while also boosting mood-improving brain chemicals.

Though science has found some evidence supporting these effects, more research is needed to fully understand how and why purring works.

For stress relief with your cat, try setting aside 15 minutes daily for quiet petting time, placing your hand near your cat’s chest to feel the purr vibrations, or creating a cozy reading nook where your cat likes to relax.

These small moments can make a big difference in your daily stress levels.