Everyone Was Wrong About Why Cats Purr

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Microsoft spawned two billionaires. Paul Allen is the other one. Written by Paulina Borsook. Originally published on August 1st, 1994. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from o ...  Show more

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop A cat wearing a short tie plays music on a cat-shaped keyboard (“Pancake Meowsic Video,” 185,459 views). A woman performs sun salutations with a cat on her back (“Cat Loves Yoga,” 1,539 views). A m ...  Show more

Cats purr for all kinds of reasons, including communication and healing themselves. Christian explains how purring works and which cats can't do it.

Why and how do cats purr? That’s what Reid wants to know. It sounds like a simple question, but it leads us to a deep challenge: Can we ever understand cats? To find out, we launch a full-scale cat purr investigation. You’ll hear from a puzzled veterinarian, a scientist who studi ...  Show more

Why do cat eyes look the way they do? Can cats really see in the dark? And what are they trying to tell us with that purr (you know the one)? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

This episode brings you a slew of dog and cat mystery sounds to puzzle over. Can you tell the difference playful barks and warning barks? How about decoding the meaning behind a cat’s meow? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.