A cozy cat curled up in warm light, looking calm and content.

Big question

为什么猫会呼噜呼噜叫？

Wèishénme māo huì hūlū hūlū jiào?

Why do cats purr?

猫会呼噜呼噜叫，是在告诉我们它很舒服、很安心，或者想靠近一点。

Māo huì hūlū hūlū jiào, shì zài gàosu wǒmen tā hěn shūfu, hěn ānxīn, huòzhě xiǎng kàojìn yìdiǎn.

很多猫在觉得安全、舒服，或者开心的时候会呼噜呼噜叫，特别是在休息，或者有人轻轻摸它们的时候。那个呼噜呼噜的声音，是它们身体里面的小动作发出来的。猫有时候在想要安慰的时候也会这样叫，所以呼噜声常常像是在轻轻地说话。

Hěn duō māo zài juéde ānquán, shūfu, huòzhě kāixīn de shíhou huì hūlū hūlū jiào, tèbié shì zài xiūxi, huòzhě yǒu rén qīngqīng mō tāmen de shíhou. Nàge hūlū hūlū de shēngyīn, shì tāmen shēntǐ lǐmiàn de xiǎo dòngzuò fā chūlái de. Māo yǒu shíhou zài xiǎng yào ānwèi de shíhou yě huì zhèyàng jiào, suǒyǐ hūlūshēng chángcháng xiàng shì zài qīngqīng de shuōhuà.

如果一只猫蜷在你旁边开始呼噜呼噜叫，你觉得它现在是什么心情呢？

Rúguǒ yì zhī māo quán zài nǐ pángbiān kāishǐ hūlū hūlū jiào, nǐ juéde tā xiànzài shì shénme xīnqíng ne?

Cats purr to communicate feelings like comfort, calm, or wanting closeness.

Many cats purr when they feel safe, cozy, or happy, especially when they are resting or being gently petted. The purring sound comes from little movements inside their body. Cats can also purr when they want comfort, so a purr often means they are trying to say something soft.

If a cat curled up beside you and started to purr, how do you think it might be feeling?