Think Cats Are the Only Animals That Purr? Think Again.

A purring cat is one of the most pleasing sounds in the animal kingdom. Typically, it means your kitty is happy, relaxed, and calm (although they can also do it when they’re stressed). One thing you might not have known about purring, though, is that cats aren’t the only creatures that do it. There are plenty of other non-feline animals that make a purring sound, and it often means they are content or ready to mate. Here are 11 non-feline animals that purr.

Yellow Mongoose

The yellow mongoose (also referred to as the red meerkat because of its similarities to a meerkat) can purr just like a cat when mating. Although this animal is generally quiet, according to the South African National Biodiversity Institute, it can also make high-pitched screaming sounds when fighting, low growls when warning or threatening others, and a short bark in dangerous situations.

Toucan

Instagram account @toucan.central re-shared a video of a beautiful toucan (@toukithetoucan) purring like a cat. This sweet bird is purring when it feels relaxed and safe.

Other sounds this playful creature makes include barking, croaking, growling, and even braying sounds according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. They also emphasize their vocal noises by making tapping and clattering sounds from their long bill.

Badger

As vocal animals, badgers have up to 16 different calls they use, including warning barks, growls, and snorts, according to the Zoological Society of London. Female badgers will purr when summoning, grooming, or carrying offspring, and other badgers will churr, which is similar to a purr but is used as a mating call. Badger cubs have their own language, often using clucks, wails, and coos to signify different things to their peers.  

Caqueta Titi Monkey

Some monkeys can purr, like the Caqueta titi monkey, which is a type of titi monkey discovered in 2010 in the Colombian Amazon. These titi monkeys purr toward each other when they feel content. These monkeys are vocal creatures but they also communicate through touch, grooming, intertwining their tails together, and other ways, per the New England Primate Conservatory.

Rabbit

When rabbits are happy and content, they will purr too. But instead of the sound coming from their throat like cats, it’s made from their teeth softly chattering. Rabbits can also whine, whimper, grunt, chirp, click, honk, buzz, hiss, growl, and scream, depending on what they want to convey.

Guinea Pig

Like rabbits, guinea pigs will make a purring sound when they are happy and content. This will be a low, constant sound that’s a mix between a cat’s purr and a dog’s grumble. The same purring-like noise but in short spurts can indicate they feel threatened, according to the Anti-Cruelty organization.

Other noises guinea pigs make include a rumble mating call, a growl of distress, teeth chattering, shrieking, and whining.

Raccoon

You may have heard a raccoon rustling through your trash or sneaking around your attic, but they also use their voices to make noise. One of these noises is called a chitter, which is a playful and comforting purr-like sound that mothers use on their young. As the raccoon grows, they might make the same noises to self-soothe.

Raccoons can also whistle, which can carry over 300 feet, squeal, screech, bark, grunt, growl, chitter, churr, mew, whine, and growl.

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Yes, squirrels purr too! The common Eastern gray squirrel, found throughout the U.S., can bark, buzz, wail, squeal, trill, squeak, and purr, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Each of these can mean different things like the squirrel is startled, excited, aggravated, threatened, injured, or ready to mate.

Fox

Foxes might look like dogs, but they are actually very cat-like, including their ability to purr, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. They can also bark, yap, and squeak, and communicate by using their tail posture or other greeting method.  

A male fox might try to scare off other males by making a high-pitched screaming sound, while a female fox might attract a mate by making short, shrill shrieking sounds. (Not exactly pleasant for the humans caught in the middle of that exchange!) They can also bark, howl, scream, squeal, and gekker, which is a series of howls and yelps combined with rattling.

Gorilla

Despite what their size might have you think, gorillas are another mammal that can purr. The Gorilla Foundation says that gorillas will vocalize their feelings, needs, and wants, expressing emotions like pleasure, fear, anger, annoyance, and joy through the sounds they make. These include hoots, cries, chuckles, grunts, barks, and purrs, of course.

Bear

When they are happy, extremely relaxed, or enjoying a special treat, bears can make a purr-like sound. In fact, they first do it as bear cubs when nursing from their mother and continue making the sound as they grow up. You can hear this unique noise and other vocalizations bears make — like cooing, grunting, teeth clacking, moaning, and shrieking — at Bear.org.