What frequency range is commonly reported for a domestic cat’s purr?

A domestic cat’s purr is commonly reported to span about 25–150 hertz.

Purring is a rhythmic vocal behavior produced during both pleasant and stressful situations. Cats may purr while being stroked, nursing, resting, injured, or undergoing veterinary treatment, so it is not a simple synonym for happiness. The sound is generated through repeated activation of muscles associated with the larynx and respiratory cycle, creating regular changes in airflow.

The reported 25–150 hertz range is a broad acoustic estimate rather than a fixed pitch shared by every cat. Individual purrs vary with body size, anatomy, breathing, emotional state, and the recording method. Researchers have also investigated whether low-frequency components could have mechanical or soothing effects, but many popular claims about guaranteed healing remain unproven.

Cats can purr while inhaling and exhaling, unlike many ordinary vocal sounds. Purring should also be distinguished from meows, chirps, hisses, and trills, which have different acoustic patterns and social contexts.