Brenda Kirk, age 13, of Stone Mountain, Ga., for her question:
CAN LIONS PURR?
The familiar purring sounds our domesticated cats make at various times might lead us to assume that all animals in the cat family Felidae purr. Such is not the case, however. People experienced in the ways of the truly large cats tell Andy that lions, for example, may roar and growl, but they do not purr.
No, lions do not purr. Neither do other large cats, such as the tiger, leopard, cougar, cheetah and panther. These cats make up for this lack in many ways: For one thing, they roar and growl at proper times to show their power and strength.
Many of the smaller cats, however, do purr. Along with our domesticated varieties, these include the puma, ocelot, jaguarundi, margay, serval, lynx, golden cat and a number of small wildcats.
The explanation for the phenomenon of purring is not completely agreed upon. Many experts believe that cats have two sets of vocal cords one set above the other, and each producing different sounds. The lower set within the larynx makes the ordinary "meow" and other catty noises, while the upper set is responsible for purring and growling.
More recent research suggests, however, that purringdoes not originate in the cat's throat. Instead, the sound is considered to begin in the animal's blood system. The actual sound results from a vibrating motion that arises from the wall of one of the major blood vessels in the chest area. These vibrations are transmitted to the upper air passages, resulting in a purr.
We know that domestic cats purr during periods of comforting rest, while being stroked or even while eating. Surprisingly, however, cats may purr when they are in pain, when they are hungry or when they want to be left alone. Perhaps only the animal's owner can tell which purr is which.
Lions may not be able to purr, but they roar and growl and hiss with unequaled ferocity. Territorial disputes, squabbles over prey, even. courtship rituals are often accompained by loud calls of verbal expression. And each animal displays verbal talents unique to the individual, just as each human voice has its own identifying pattern.