It is 2 months since 2 rescue cats joined our household. They are both very happy cats and play, sleep , wash and feed all day . They not keen on being picked up or touched but happy for me to tickle under their chins with a feather duster

Just wondered if they are not purring because we can't stroke them ? They did have a bad start in life so taking longer to socialise than most cats.

Any ideas, thanks

Some cats never purr at all, and some don't start until they're older so it's probably just one of those wait and see things. In some ways it's good they're not purring in this situation as while it is a sign of pleasure when they're being stroked, it's also a sign of anxiety when they're not - 'please don't hurt me, see how nice I am'! So they're obviously relaxed and not stressed.

Are you able to groom them? lots of cats really enjoy it and often purr while you're doing it.

Ty for reply. No not yet but I did have a try with the brush a while back so maybe should try again . The centre told us to pick them up every day so as they would get used to handling but that stressed them out too much and the centre agreed it was probably better to leave alone. I am trying now on a daily basis to pick up or stroke and getting better but still not over the moon about it . This is more the younger one. The older boy just wants to be left alone and that's fine as long as he is a happy

Can you tickle under the chin with your fingers? Cats also like being tickled just behind the ear and on top of the head. They may accept this contact before full-on body strokes.

My cat loves scritches under the chin. He also likes the cheeks down his nose and between his ears on his head.

Not true. My cat purrs when she is sitting near me and I'm not touching her. Often she will be kneading at the same time, or just about to fall asleep, totally content.

I think it may just take time too.

If they're happy and content, and they sound like they are, I wouldn't worry about the lack of purring.


Purring can be a sign of anxiety when there's no apparent reason for it, not always just sometimes. Our cat purrs randomly when she's not being stroked but she's obviously perfectly happy and content. However, we once had a cat who came home with a large cut on the side of his neck and he was purring all the way to the vets, the vet told us it was because he was stressed and in pain and that cats often do that. They're strange complex creatures!

yes it also can be a sign of anxiety, mine does it at the vets

Some cats have a really quiet purr. You can only hear Beefy's purr when is very quiet in the house and he is near your head.

As tends to happen as he is annoying nudging at my face in the middle of he night....

Thanks - I phrased it poorly.

I have managed it with the little one a couple of times but he's not happy and you can see by his body language he is ready to run but he will sit contentedly when I tickle him with the feather on a stick

haha no worries...I was just impressed that someone knew it was a sign of stress and anxiety as loads don't

if and when they allow you to stroke them - try and do long, slow strokes from the top of their heads, all the way down the their tails - apparently that is like when mummy cat used to lick them when they were little (assuming they had a mummy cat when they were little seeing as they are rescues)

my cat adores big long strokes

good luck and keep us posted please

I knew my cat used to purr to calm herself down after she was chased home by bully cats

Dont worry my cat that lives with my mum doesnt purr outwardly..when he chooses his lion cuddles, he purrs to himself, you can feel it and hear in the rare occassions the house is quiet!

Although I have a budgie that purrs..when his fave ball is presented..so squeeee...it is although i hate cute language..he is like a wee dog, plays fetch..arrgh!

When my cat was a kitten he would lie cuddled up to me all night purring loudly. The older he is getting, the less he is purring and it is quieter. He is a happy kitty but his habits have changed since he was little as he still loves getting petted but will only tolerate being carried for a minute and prefers to sit next to me rather than on me. He still likes his cuddles but it is on his terms. If the cats generally seem happy and relaxed, I wouldn't worry.

Have only ever had one cat but it lived to 16 and purred like an engine all its life!

Cats purr for all kinds of different reasons... content, to attract attention, to indicate "I'm harmless" and for stress / anxiety as well. Pretty much all cats purr but some purr very very quietly, in truth in 40 odds years of cat ownership I've never known a cat that doesn't purr some of the time.

I've had cats a few more years than that even, sadly for me, and although I've never had one that didn't purr, I've had one that purred so quietly you felt it first, then you had to put your ear right up close to hear it. If you happen to have two quiet ones, you might have to wait a while until you can get close enough to hear!

That is very interesting, The Beast who is a nightmare at the vets doesn't purr but whimpers and growls.

I never knew cats purred when stressed.

But yesterday when I got home from work, Beast came round to greet me, at the same time some visitors to neighbours across the courtyard appeared with a big Golden Retriever not on a lead.

He spotted the Beast and rushed across, and Beast shot over the fence and was gone. I shouted and grabbed at the dog and chap came across to get the dog.

To his credit he was very apologetic, but the Beast is getting on a bit now and hasn't had much interaction with dogs over his time, and I wasn't overly happy, and to my discredit was a bit standoffish in response.

Don't get me wrong, I like dogs, had them growing up, but I love the Beast, and don't need him getting frightened about wandering around his kingdom.

Anyway back to the point.

I called for him and he scampered over the fence for a hug, he was purring like a moped.

But it wasn't like his 'lets bash faces' purr, he didn't want to interact, just be hugged.

I have learnt something today, will be monitoring the Beasts purring activities

My cat purrs when I open the food cupboard to give him his pate in the morning. He purrs very loudly on a Monday morning when he gets his weekly treat of proper tuna steak. At night he snuggles beside me lying on his side and purrs away. Sometimes he wakes me up by purring loudly in my ear whilst sitting on a pillow on my bed that's when I know he really wants grub and then out to explore the garden.