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Our enigmatic little furry friends may have just given up one of their secrets, as scientists think they have discovered the gene which underpins purring in cats.
Cats are believed to purr for various reasons, from expressive contentment and self-soothing to even helping promote bone regeneration and heal fractures.
The study—which was undertaken by Yume Okamoto and colleagues at the Kyoto University Wildlife Research Center in Japan—focused on variations in the so-called androgen receptor gene, which has been linked to various feline behaviors.
“Through our research, we hope to deepen our understanding of cats and contribute to building happier relationships between cats and humans,” Okamoto said in a statement.
Stock image of a purring cat
Stock image of a purring cat
Konstantin Aksenov/iStock / Getty Images Plus
In their study, the researchers worked with 280 domestic cats, all of whom were neutered or spayed mixed breeds kept as indoor pets.
The team both conducted behavioral assessments on the felines and collected DNA samples—allowing them to compare the androgen receptor gene with those in the other species of Felidae, the wider cat family.
The findings supported the hypothesis that a genetic basis exists for both purring and other forms of vocal communication in cats.
Specifically, those cats with the “short-type” androgen receptor gene were reported as purring more by their owners than those with the “long-type” gene.
Male cats with the short-type gene also tended to be more vocal with humans, while their female counterparts exhibited more stranger-directed aggression.
When the researchers compared the domestic cats’ DNA with those of 11 other Felidae species—including cheetahs, leopards and tigers—they found that domestic cats carried longer-type androgen receptor genes not found in other members of the Felidae family.
The findings revealed that those cats raised by humans since kittenhood—which are typically pure-breed cats—tend to rely less on vocal communication. Previous studies have indicated that pure-breed cats are more likely to carry the long-type gene.
Of the cats in the study, many of the mixed breed felines were former strays, suggesting that rescue cats may be more vocal.
The team also noted that both the fishing and leopard cats—which are both closely related to domestic felines—possessed only the short-type version of the androgen receptor gene.
Put together, the findings suggest that the emergence of the longer-type genes may be a result of genetic changes associated with domestication and selective breeding.
With their initial study complete, the researchers are now planning to expand the focus of their research to include other species of the Felidae family.
In the meantime, the findings may help us better understand our feline friends—and how best to care for them.
“When we called for participants, we were moved to receive responses from 265 cat owners from across Japan in just a single day—and received kind messages,” Okamoto said.
She concluded: “This reminded us of the strong public interest in cat research.”
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about cats? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Okamoto, Y., Hattori, M., & Inoue-Murayama, M. (2025). Association between androgen receptor gene and behavioral traits in cats (Felis catus). PLOS ONE, 20(5).
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