Introduction: How to Make Your Cat Purr

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About: I enjoy visiting the dump to look at, and take, all the free stuff people throw away. It's a lot of fun. I like Xbox live cus it's the best.

In this Purr-fect instructable, I'll show you how too make your kitty-cat purr like a champ! Through strategic rub-down points, and hidden scratching spots, you can have your cat purring for you in no time!

For this instructable, I'll be using my cat, Oliver, as my example to show you how you can make your cat purr.

I love feedback and comments, and positive ratings are appreciated!

Step 1: The Science of a Cat's Purr.

The following information has been obtained from Wikipedia. In no way do I claim ownership over this information, but I am placing it here for scientific and informational purposes.

How felines purr

Despite being a universally recognized phenomenon, the exact mechanism by which the cat purrs has been frustratingly elusive for scientists. This is partly because the cat has no obvious anatomical feature unique to it that would be responsible.

One hypothesis, backed up by electromyographic studies, is that cats produce the purring noise by fast twitching of the muscles in their larynx, which rapidly dilate and constrict the glottis, thus causing vibrations in the air both during inhalation and exhalation. Combined with the steady inhalation and exhalation of air as the cat breathes, a purring noise is produced with strong harmonics.

Why felines purr

Above all, the purr is probably the cat's way of communicating to others (cats and humans) that it is in the mood to be sociable. The purring sound is frequently made at the same time that other 'sociable' signals are made, e.g. erect tail, slightly closed "contented" eyes. People usually interpret the purring of a domestic cat as an expression of some type of positive feeling.

This information has been copied from Wikipedia, the exact source of said information can be found at this web address:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purr

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So, if you read the above information from Wikipedia, you would have learned that a cat's purr is produced through the rapid twitching of muscles in the larynx as the cat inhales and exhales. You would have also read that you can tell if a cat is in a purring mood by the way it looks. Does it's tale stand up? Are it's eyes in a half closed drowsy state?
You can also tell if a cat is ready to purr by the way it acts around you. It may weave in and out of your legs, and lean close to you as it walks by.

Now, read on for the how to on making your cat purr.

Step 2: Let Them Choose Where They Lay.

The first step, and most important, is to let your cat choose the environment. Make your lovable friend feel comfortable by allowing him/her to lay wherever they like. This will make them feel more at home and comfortable when you're confronting them for their daily rub-down. My cat, Oliver, enjoys curling up on the beds in my house, right under the pillows, and still on top of the comforter, so I leave him there when I pet him.

If your cat has a favorite sheet, piece of clothing, or pet bed that they like to lie on, let them. You wouldn't want someone telling you that you couldn't mope around on the couch would you?

Step 3: Bring Their Favorite Things.

When confronting your cat, make sure you do it in a non aggressive sort of way. Don't make it look like you want them to play with you, or you're about to chase them out of their spot. If you do this, you might not be their most favorite human for a short while. Do you like your family members to walk towards you like they're about to sucker punch you while you're relaxed and watching TV? I thought not.

What your cat will want most after he/she is in their favorite spot, is to have their favorite treats, toys, or brushes. Oliver likes toy mice filled with catnip, an old purple hair brush, his hair removing brush, and a ceiling fan duster.

When he's laid up in his favorite spot, I'll bring him a treat, and sneak his favorite brushes in with me behind my back.

So, bring your fluffy friend his favorite things, whether it be treats, brushes, toys, or catnip. Cat's usually like stiff brushes to rub their faces against. For example: You could find an old ceiling fan duster (Like I have), or another stiff bristled brush.

Move on to the next step, and learn how to brush your cat the way they like it!

Step 4: Commence Rubbing.

Once you have successfully approached your cat, with some of their favorite things, it's time to start the rubbing/scratching!

I start off by stroking Oliver from his lower neck down to his tail. Once I get to the base of his tail, I grip his tale, and gently slide my hand all the way down it to the end. Do this a couple of times, and then move on to the cats head.

After stroking your cats back, move on to scratching his head. Using four fingers, scratch the back and top of his/her head, and in the little creases where their ears meet their head. You can tell if their digging it when they flatten their ears out to the sides. If they flatten them backwards, you may be getting them annoyed, so, be careful.

My cat enjoys it a lot when I put a thumb in his ear, and grip the outside of his ear with the rest of my hand. I then gently pull all of the hair in his ear vertical. It's like you're massaging their ear, but please, do it gently.

Move on to find out about secret areas to scratch your furry amigo that they love the most!

Step 5: Moving on to Hidden Areas.

There are a few spots that cats consider gold mines when it comes to scratch time. And they're very easy to locate.

If you ever find your cat nudging your hand with his/her head, they want you to vigorously scratch their kitty cranium. (top of their head)

If your cat randomly puts his head up in the air exposing his chin area, and underside of his neck, consider this an invitation to scratch his chin and neck region.

If your little catzilla suddenly rolls over on their back and stretches themselves into a crescent shape, rub their bellies, under their front and back legs, and especially around their lower stomach where most of their hair turns white.

Cat's also love being scratched at the base of their tail, where tail meets butt, on the top of their back. This is a place where cats cannot reach with their paws, or very well with their tongues. Do them a favor by removing an itch they may have had for a while by scratching there.

Step 6: Purring

After you've hit all of the key areas where cats enjoy scratching, you should eventually get purring from your cat. Keep up the scratching and rubbing, and maybe give them another treat. It is a huge satisfaction to hear your cat purr, because it signifies that there is a special bond between you and them (especially if the cat purrs more for you than anyone else he knows).

Eventually though, little kitty will get tired of purring for you, and will want to run off and chase lizards. Allow them to go and do as they want, never force your animal to stay with you, or accept rubbing and scratching that they do not want at that moment. They need to be free to do things just like you like to.

Continue to make bonds with your kitty amigo, and you will both be the best of friends. Though there are some cats who are able to hide their true feelings for you until you least expect it.

Read on to find out what to do if your cat turns on you!

Step 7: Avoiding Kitty Danger.

If you try to force your cat to play with you, accept scratching or rubbing when they do not want, or put them in aggravating situations, expect the unexpected.

If you find that your cat ever hisses at you, back away. Do not try to be the bigger being in this fight (Though you are). You do not want to break bonds with your cat that you have so painstakingly made.

If your cat wraps itself around your arm and begins clawing and chewing on it, do not fling him into oblivion. Whether it be playfully, or in self defense, cats will bite back. If you find yourself in a situation where your cat is biting playfully, but it is causing you some pain, blow air in their face. They do not seem to like this very much, and will back away.

If your cat is biting you out of aggression, and you cannot get it off, grab it by the scruff of it's neck, like a mother cat would do, and try to ease him/her off of you. Do not hit your animal, unless you know that it could seriously harm you.

I hope you have found this instructable useful, and that it hopes you to get your cat purring. If your fluffy friend ever does attack back though, please follow the directions above, and then call your local hospital, and animal control if the situation gets out of hand.

I hope you have enjoyed this instructable!

I love feedback and comments, and positive ratings are appreciated!

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