In the early 2000s, bioacoustician Elizabeth von Muggenthaler recorded and analyzed dozens of felines, from domestic cats to cheetahs to pumas. She found that purring consistently falls within a narrow range of about 25–150 Hertz.
That’s significant because it’s the same range used in therapeutic vibration treatments for human health and injuries. Clinical studies have shown that vibrations at those frequencies help with bone density and growth, fracture healing, inflammation, and tissue repair [1,2,3,4,5,6].
In other words, cats appear to have evolved to produce frequencies we recognize as therapeutic, that we attempt to replicate with medical devices!
It’s important to note that in this research, the subjects didn’t just listen to the low-frequency sound - they experienced physical vibration applied directly to the body.
However, simply listening to sound frequencies, without the physical vibrations added, such as a purr [1], may have physiological and neurological effects on the human body and mind all by itself. In some studies [1, 2], sound meditation and sound baths with low-frequency vibrations were shown to reduce tension, anxiety, fatigue, anger, and depression in humans after one session, as compared to before listening. The use of sound (including music, natural sounds, and binaural beats) primarily affects the nervous system, allowing the body to transition into a calmer and more regulated state. Listening to low and steady tones will lower stress hormones, slow breathing and heart rate, improve sleep, and ease the perception of pain. Listening by itself may not directly repair broken bones or tissues, but it helps create the conditions that allow the body to heal.
When a cat purrs while cuddling on you, you get a combination of mild physical vibration and the auditory experience - a beautifully complete healing package. Let the cuddle sessions begin!
