Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:
My furkids are fascinated by big trucks. Every time anything bigger than a pickup rumbles by, they run to the window and stare at it with their tails waving. They are strictly-indoor cats and in no danger from the trucks, but I’m wondering why they are so obsessed with them! What do you think? Purrs!!
~ 2catsmom
Siouxsie: Hmm. Well, I can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with the sound of the trucks’ diesel engines.
Thomas: You see, cats purr at about the same frequency as an idling diesel engine — 26 cycles per second.
Kissy: Or maybe they were truck drivers in a past life!
Siouxsie: Don’t make me come over there and swat you, you silly kitten!
Thomas: As you probably know, when kittens are nursing on their cat-mamas, everybody purrs: the kittens purr to let mama know everything’s all right, and mama purrs to help the kittens find her. Kittens are born blind, so they need some kind of cue to help them find the source from which all nourishment flows. Mom cats even purr while they’re in labor.
Kissy: I’ll tell you what, though: once those babies’ teeth start coming in, mama cats don’t purr much when the kittens belly up to the milk bar. Ouch, ouch, ouch! And you wonder what motivates us to start weaning our babies? Hah!
Siouxsie: Anyway, maybe your kitties are fascinated because it sounds like there’s a giant mama-cat rolling by.
Thomas: Did you know that cats purr for all kinds of reasons?
Kissy: That’s right. Sometimes we purr to help ourselves feel better when we’re scared or in pain. I know I’ve done that a few times.
Siouxsie: Purring is like a mantra for cats. It helps us relax. It also releases endorphins that help to relieve pain.
Thomas: Purring even helps humans feel better! That’s why cats make such wonderful therapy animals.
Kissy: If you want to know more about the whys and wherefores of purring, you can read this article Mama wrote for Catster.
Siouxsie: So, 2catsmom, we hope we’ve helped to shed at least a little light on why your cats seem to have such a joyous love affair with trucks.
JaneA Kelley is a punk rock cat mom and award-winning blogger. She is a regular columnist for Catster Magazine, and she and the Paws and Effect Gang share a home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Thanks for sharing this. My two cats do the exact same thing, whenever a large vehicle passes by the house they’ll run up to the window sill, sit, look and wave there tales regardless of what they were doing previously and I always wondered why. I never thought there would be a link between a diesel engine and purring.
Cats are very aware that 95% of their food, litter and toys are being delivered through a massive transport system and network of roads & highways. They discuss this delivery system and can smell different items in route to them, from miles away. Naturally they can also hear the tractor trailers and trucks about pass their windows. Studies have revealed that Cats in a family setting, where one family member is a truck driver, will gravitate to him, recognizing his importance. Also Cats have on many occasions, used trucks to travel. They are well aware of large undercarrige and compartmental opprotunities of trucks, if hitch-hiking around the country. Occasionally we catch cats engaging in this stow-away activity, but normally they escape a humans attention. Humans tend to over simplify a cats motivations and actions such as interactions with trucks. Next time you notice your cat watching a truck, remember their not the simple felines you think they are.
I was told once that a cat loves per example to sleep on top of cars because of the oil of the engine, is like it releases pheromones, as well because it stays warm, they jump and sleep on top of it or go under the cars, dangerous place to be though….Now your cat passion abt trucks lol its probably the same….or like Jack Johnstone says.
My cat does the same! Trucks and airplanes. Good to know that she’s not the only one ;).