Hello, this is Dr. Karin. Read my bio, learn more about me, and meet my five cheerful cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
One characteristic of cat behavior that we all know is that cats purr when they are happy and content. However, over the course of my career, I have noticed that some of my sickest feline patients purr, sometimes energetically, almost aggressively. I knew that these cats were in terrible condition and that despite the treatment and pain relief we provided, they were almost certainly still in some degree of suffering.
This made me wonder if these cats purr as a way to calm themselves down. After doing a little research, I discovered that I wasn’t the only one who came to this conclusion.
benefit of hindsight
I was shocked when my old cat Sally, who had traveled all the way from Australia to England, passed away at home while we were away. I was obviously very sad that she passed away, but I was especially angry that we didn’t see it coming and that she was alone. She seemed bright and cheerful on the morning of her death, just her usual self, and I think her 16-year-old heart had had enough, and she showed no signs that anything was wrong. . Or did she have one?
Knowing what I know now, when I look back on her past few weeks, I remember her being a little more affectionate and more verbal. At the time, I interpreted this to mean that after 18 months, she was finally settling into her new cold home. Now I think she was just trying to make herself feel better, but unfortunately we’ll never know the truth.
rumbling and endorphins
Research shows that the vibrations produced when cats purr are May release endorphinsa chemical produced by the body that reduces pain and thereby improves mood and satisfaction.
Every time your cat purrs, you don’t have to worry that it’s in pain. This is not what I or anyone else is suggesting. A happy cat’s purr is just a natural reaction that increases, maintains, and communicates that emotion to others. Although purring is not a clinical symptom of pain or illness, it can be a clue that the pain or illness is present and serious.
I have never seen this in cats with acute injuries, but I have seen it in cats recovering from surgery or with chronic or serious illnesses.
Terminal rumbling
After experiencing the purring of an extremely sick and dying cat, I came up with a word to describe this phenomenon. Terminal rumbling sound. For many, but not all, it was like a death knell, telling me the end was near. What was even more difficult was that this terminal purr often provided a ray of hope and optimism for the cat’s family. Because they naturally believed that rumbling was a sign of recovery. It was always a devastating blow to realize that a cat’s purring was more of a “bad sign.”
For cats suffering from terminal illnesses for which we have completely exhausted treatment options, I have often used “terminal rumbling” as an indication that it is time to consider euthanasia. . She explained that while it can be difficult to put your cat to sleep when she’s still purring, there’s an option to wait until she’s no longer able to do so, which means her endorphin supply has also been depleted.
It is much like the wagging tail of a dog that has reached the end of its lifespan or treatment options. I always think it’s better to say goodbye when there’s still a little bit of tail left than to leave him alone until he can no longer wag his tail.
Don’t be afraid to purr
Again, don’t panic every time your cat starts rumbling. The cat won’t die. When I think of “terminal purring,” I only associate it with cats that are sick or terminally ill. That being said, if your cat purrs more frequently, purrs at unusual times, or behaves out of character, it’s a good idea to have them checked out by your veterinarian. .
Would Sally have stayed with us a little longer if I had figured out the connection between her increased purr and possible heart problems? Hey, it’s possible. Do I blame myself for not realizing there was a problem? I don’t. I was shocked that I wasn’t by her side when she passed away, but I also know that just a few hours earlier she was purring and eating and making a fuss. I didn’t know that at the time It was Say goodbye.
My advice from experience is that if you have a very old cat or a cat with a chronic illness, don’t ignore purring as a sign that everything is okay. It could mean that their medication needs adjusting, it could mean that time is coming, or it could just be that they’re especially happy and content. It may also mean. But it’s up to us to look at the big picture and listen to what our cats are trying to tell us.
Have you ever experienced “terminal rumbling”? Share your story in the comments section below.
This article is part of Dr. Karin’s 5 Hilarious Cats series.
