From a Roar to a Purr: Do Big Cats Hum Like House Cats?

Big Cat Rescue offers an intriguing lesson in the mechanics of purring.
By Jocelyn Heaney
February 3, 2012
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african lion, ferocious lion, snarling lion, growling lion, lion bares teeth
Scientists believe that the relative flexibility of a cat's hyoid bone determines whether he roars or purrs. (Photo: Image Source/Getty)

If you’ve ever seen Big Cat Rescue’s wonderful videos of tigers, lions, cougars, and other big cats playing with pumpkins on Halloween, or mauling Christmas trees and brightly wrapped boxes during the holidays, you know that in some ways these awe-inspiring beauties are just as playful and goofy (albeit in a more casually terrifying way) as their humble house cat relatives. But do big cats purr like so-called lesser cats?

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The folks at Big Cat Rescue have put together an informative lesson to explore this puzzling, hotly debated question. 

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Approximately 15 species of wild cats can purr including lynx, cheetahs and cougars. Some claim that lions, leopards, tigers and jaguars, (the greater cats) can roar but not purr, while the opposite is true for lesser cats (including house kitties).

But what constitutes a true purr? And why do big and small cats purr at all? Check out this fascinating video to weigh in on the debate.

Thanks to Boing Boing.

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