JustAnswer PixelPaws and Effect

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

Thomas stares out the window. Photo copyright JaneA Kelley

Cats don’t even need trucks to stare out the window and check out the action. Photo copyright JaneA Kelley, all rights reserved

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.