家里養貓貓的人都知道，貓咪最喜歡給撓癢癢了，撓得高興，它就“呼嚕呼嚕”的哼哼，非常享受的樣子。不過，它這種聲音是怎么發出來的？好像沒見它叫啊？到底是怎么回事呢？請看下文分解。

Purring is part of every cat's repertoire of social communication, apparently created by the movement of air in spasms through contractions of the diaphragm. Interestingly, purring is sometimes heard in cats that are severely ill or anxious, perhaps as a self-comforting vocalization. But, more typically, it is a sign of contentment, first heard in kittens as they suckle milk from their mother.

In adults, purring is heard in domesticated cats when they are petted and in feral cats during sexual or other social contexts. Like submissive posturing among dogs, purring may be a signal of appeasement to other cats or to people, a way to communicate that the purring cat need not be threatened.

As with many behaviors in dogs and cats, the original presumed purpose of the behavior may not be directly relevant to a pet's home. But we do believe that, when our healthy pet cats purr, they are happy and at peace.

purr: 咕嚕咕嚕聲，發喉音

repertoire: 技能

spasms: 痙攣

diaphragm: 隔膜

feral: 野生的，兇猛的

（英語點津Annabel編輯）