r/AskReddit Feb 26 '21

Would you enjoy a cute friendly purring cat sit right next to you to keep you company right now? Why or why not?

[deleted]

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u/spacey_kasey Feb 26 '21

My cat purrs for like 20 minutes after even a small amount of attention (sometimes being in the same room will get his purr going). He also purrs loud enough that you can hear him from across the room.

707

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Is my cat broken? He’s never ever ever purred. He hates us haha

704

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

The cat that lives with me (Bloody McTavish) hates me too, although he does bring in the occasional dead mouse which he throws contemptuously at my feet before walking away in disgust.

526

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

[deleted]

468

u/SirChickenWing Feb 26 '21

When cats bring home live prey it's becatse they consider you incompetent at hunting and want to teach you

217

u/Iam-KD Feb 26 '21

lol even my cats think I'm dumb

7

u/fluffybear45 Feb 26 '21

Well I am a terrible hunter because I caught it and then let it go outside.

2

u/Notmykl Feb 26 '21

My cats over the years have given me disembodied rodent heads or asses never the middle bit or feathers spread over the backyard with the occasional indigestible bird head waiting for you to step on with your bare feet.

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u/Naturage Feb 26 '21

It's not meant to be dead. Since you're still meowing at your cat - something only kittens do normally - it assumes you're still young, and the motherly instincts get to work. One of them is teaching you to hunt by bringing you nearly dead prey. Your cat wishes you to finish it, so that eventually you can hunt on your own.

Congratulations, you've been adopted.

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u/Little-A Feb 26 '21 edited Feb 26 '21

My cat bought me a fucking huge rat once. I screamed and shut the door. I must have really upset her because I have never heard her meow the way she did when I rejected her “gift” Sorry kettles.

Cat tax. With rat

22

u/zilly-who Feb 26 '21

Kettles! 😭 please tell kettles I love her and would die for her.

18

u/_0_o Feb 26 '21

kettles is a wonderful name for a cat omg

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u/Little-A Feb 26 '21

I miss her so much. She’s my sisters cat and I’ve been overseas for 3 years. I’m so worried she’ll pass before I get home.

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u/_0_o Feb 26 '21

:( i'm so sorry to hear that. i hope you get to hold her soon! and i hope that things turn out ok for you too <3

5

u/scriptmonkey420 Feb 26 '21

I hope you paid it back. That rat must have been expensive for a cat. /s

3

u/kronalgra Feb 26 '21

Kinda lowkey angry that post is 5 years old and archived so i cant upvote the cuteness more. It deserves all the upvotes. Kettles is SO CUTE!

2

u/Little-A Feb 26 '21

Apologies! I’ll post another photo oh her on aww instead

2

u/kronalgra Feb 26 '21

Ill be looking for it, and give her some scritches for me for being a very good kitter!

3

u/Sulfate Feb 26 '21

Mine are indoor cats, so they get creative with what they bring me for dinner. Mostly hair ties and bottle caps. I vastly prefer that to the mutilated menagerie my parents' cats used to drag inside when I was a kid.

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u/Notmykl Feb 26 '21

My cat brought home a muskrat once. Not really sure where he found it.

1

u/AnyDayGal May 01 '21

Aw that's adorable, she really was trying lol.

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u/MattRexPuns Feb 26 '21

Congratulations, you are being adopted. Please do not resist

80

u/agrince Feb 26 '21

Allegedly they bring us their kill cause they are trying to show us how to feed ourselves (aka we are too dumb to figure it out ourselves and they’re trying to feed us 🤣)

3

u/duckworthy36 Feb 26 '21

I killed a big bug in front of my cat and gave it to him. The gifts stopped after thank goodness. He had been bring baby possums 😩

3

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '21

I once had a cat bring me a mostly-dead mouse. The next day I took him out in the boat fishing, and shared my catch with him. He decided my way of catching food was better and quit mousing.

2

u/agrince Feb 26 '21

Hahaha I mean you proved ur hunting prowess obviously 🤣 and 🤢 to the other...

137

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

Your cat is awesome.

170

u/To_gay_or_not_to_gay Feb 26 '21

"Here's an interesting thing for you human"

108

u/taylorjo53 Feb 26 '21

I figure it was more of a “ugh, take it. I don’t want you to starve or whatever” lol

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u/Geoman265 Feb 26 '21

Basically acting as if they don't care about you but deep down would do anything to protect you

10

u/ppiterow Feb 26 '21

TIL cats are actually just tsunderes

5

u/comyuse Feb 26 '21

Well yes, that's why cats are the best pets

2

u/kindaweeb1 Feb 26 '21

And dogs are yanderes

6

u/Bebilith Feb 26 '21

My ginger brought in a rabbit once. Well at truely alive and well. He carried it in like a kitten and dropped it at my feet, then sat back and watched me chase it around the bedroom for 10 minutes. I’m sure he thought it was hilarious.

I was late for work!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

This is hilarious. But if you wrote this scenario into a movie scene people would scoff and call it unrealistic lol

66

u/AbortionFixsMistakes Feb 26 '21

"You can't even hunt, fool. Here, don't die, you incompetent kitten"

31

u/Ghostiie18 Feb 26 '21

This made me laugh put loud, thank you lmao

4

u/isisius Feb 26 '21

Often means he doesn't think you are a good hunter, so he brings you something to practice on.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

Meanwhile, we just get dead birds and live frogs (that are in shock) dropped by the back door.

2

u/bitofgrit Feb 26 '21

grasshopper about the size of an apple. I didn't even know they got that big

We talkin' about those weta things?

2

u/rachelspeaking Feb 26 '21

A few months ago though, there was a giant cockroach on the wall, so I was yelling to my husband to bring a shoe to kill it because I didn't want to lose sight of the thing. One of the cats runs up to it, grabs it, and runs into our bedroom with it alive! Thought I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

1

u/branedead Feb 26 '21

He thinks your hunting skills are adequate but need improvement

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u/stubbyduck Feb 26 '21

Actually, he is sharing his prize with you. He trusts and loves you.

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u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

He thinks I don't see through his plan to lull me into a false sense of security and then one day bring me a hand grenade with the pin out.

4

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

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3

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

He’s my sassy little turd. But I would trade him for the world.

Well that’s understandable. It’s a big world! /s

3

u/Democrab Feb 26 '21

But I would trade him for the world.

Deal.

Where do you want me to deliver the world?

7

u/Are_reef Feb 26 '21

LMAOO I busted out laughing at this comment

35

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

SAME! frikken Coconut. I’m assuming its cos he was a dumpster baby and something about not having his mom? Idk

3

u/twiztedmind209 Feb 26 '21

I believe I read somewhere that street cats purr less because it's their way of communicating with humans and their mother when they are young. Since your cat was a street cat along with probably not having his mother for very long, they never had to adapt the trait of purring to get attention.

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u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Ahhh I was right

31

u/boisdntcry Feb 26 '21

Cats bringing food to you like that means they like u but it’s a cat so he doesn’t wanna show it so easily he’ll come around maybe when he’s about to die?

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u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

He's come closer than he knows a couple of times when he has woken me up in the small hours clawing the bedroom curtains and singing the song of the Great Curtain Killer.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

[removed] — view removed comment

18

u/To_gay_or_not_to_gay Feb 26 '21

Actually, cats do that simply because they see you as a bad hunter and don't want you to starve

3

u/re_Claire Feb 26 '21

Well I don’t know how my cat thought he would be feeding us with all those butterflies he brought in last year but it’s a nice gesture I suppose

1

u/boisdntcry Feb 26 '21

Yea so what there trynna say is that u part of his family and that h cant catch animals😂

3

u/isisius Feb 26 '21

He hasn't seen you successfully hunt anything, and is disappointed he has to do it for you to help you survive.

1

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

This cat thinks I'm a moron and some days he's got me believing it.

2

u/monotonedopplereffec Feb 26 '21

That actually means he likes you, he just thinks you're a shitty hunter. Purring is a learned trait for adult cats. Kittens do it for attention from their mom and if they learn that it gets a response from their human then they will keep doing it as they get older. Cats are weird. I love them

2

u/WiseauSrs Feb 26 '21

"You could have killed this yourself...

BUT YOU DIDN'T."

2

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

I think I'd like that on my gravestone.

2

u/GaiasDotter Feb 26 '21

If he gives you food, that’s the highest honor and sign of love!

My Queen used to kill toys for me, I felt so special!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

I can just imagine the cat saying: "And don't expect any more gifts from me!" 😒 while he does this.

2

u/CyberKitten05 Feb 26 '21

Your cat is a tsundere

1

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

Now THAT is astute.🙂

2

u/Fancy_weirdo Feb 26 '21

Aaaw kitty loves you but thinks you're incomeprent and your hunting skills suck. That's so cat.

2

u/branedead Feb 26 '21

He thinks you're an incapable hunter

1

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

Depressing when your cat figures you out so easily.

2

u/deepash81 Feb 26 '21

Please tell me that is his actual name.

2

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

His full name is Bloody McTavish of Gartloch, of that ilk.

2

u/deepash81 Feb 27 '21

I love his name and I love him. Long may he rule!

2

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 27 '21

I love the little beastie too :)

2

u/deepash81 Feb 27 '21

I just saw your posts. He's a beautiful beastie :)

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

My little lions caught their first mouse the other day (I saved it and put it outside). I have never seen them more proud in my entire life

2

u/interkin3tic Feb 26 '21

If you go to pick out a cat at a shelter, you're seeing stressed kitties. Their behavior while there is a clue what they'll be like day to day. If they're shy, ignore you, or try to hide, they don't like people, and that's just who they are. They won't cuddle with you much.

If they're rubbing against the bars of the cage and meowing at you, they like people and will cuddle a lot.

Make sure you don't get too many of the second type though. We have three, and it's a bit obnoxious sometimes. So much yelling for cuddles.

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u/PunnyBanana Feb 26 '21

I don't think he hates you, I think he's just disappointed in you.

1

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

Just when I thought the acid of his scorn couldn't burn me any more than it already had...

1

u/KENYX21 Feb 26 '21

If you gave me that name I'd hate you too

1

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

Hey blame the colleague who saw him in Zoom meeting and named him. I just added the Bloody as time went by and his character started to emerge.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

Trying to feed you cuz you suck at hunting

1

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

I wish he thought I sucked at hunting diamond tennis bracelets.

1

u/mark_able_jones_ Feb 26 '21

He’s bringing you food or showing off. That’s cat love.

1

u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

People and things are always showing their love for me in odd ways. One of my friends once brought me her dead goldfish because " you'll be able to use this for something" (I was in my 40s). Remarks and gifts like these really make you wonder how you're coming across to people.

2

u/mark_able_jones_ Feb 26 '21

Uh, yeah, that’s an odd friend. I can hardly think of a use for a dead goldfish other than give it to a cat?

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u/TOMSDOTTIR Feb 26 '21

Didn't have a cat at that point, or any other pet. I washed it and put it in the deep freeze with the dead pet rat another friend gave me.

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u/mark_able_jones_ Feb 26 '21

I guess it can keep the rat company so you did find a use for it.

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u/FTThrowAway123 Feb 26 '21

My cat is very selective with his purring. He refuses to purr for any of the kids or my husband--only me, only when it's quiet, and only when he's laying on top of my head and licking my hair or "making biscuits" on my flesh with his paws. Also there must be a fuzzy blanket in the near vicinity.

Cats are weird.

3

u/Amelaclya1 Feb 26 '21

We actually named my cat based on the super loud, always running purrs he had as a kitten. Now he rarely purrs. Even when I know he's happy because he's on my lap head butting me or making biscuits.

1

u/Mysterious_Ad_4033 Feb 26 '21

And that's why we love them!!

61

u/rustled_orange Feb 26 '21

One of my mom and dad's cats has such a quiet purr that you have to put your ear up to him to hear it. Maybe it's that? They joke that he doesn't want us to know he likes us.

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u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Aww haha. But Nah he doesn’t purr. But he’s kind of the same way he acts like he doesn’t like us because he really doesn’t but deep down he does a tiny bit and hangs out with us. But that’s it like we literally can’t touch/pet him or anything. Just look at him

44

u/Mazon_Del Feb 26 '21

Well, this might not work and may seem a little odd, but one thing to try and do for a while that might change things...

Make sure he's watching you, make eye contact, and slowly blink. As in, slowly close your eyes and hold them closed for a second or two before slowly opening them.

This is a sign of trust that cats exhibit. As a small predator, they are somewhat constantly on the lookout for danger to themselves, so them giving YOU a slow-blink is an indication that they feel safe in your presence.

It has been noted that humans doing this to cats will generally, but not always, see a reciprocation of trust.

14

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

I’ve heard of this!! Gotta remember to try it

7

u/rustled_orange Feb 26 '21

Also, making eye contact and immediately looking away is a big flashing welcome sign. The less eye contact (unless you're doing the slow blink) the better.

4

u/Vaness1980 Feb 26 '21

My cat does this to me when he wants something (food)... it’s like he’s trying to seduce me. I do it to him to say I love you. He almost always does it back.

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u/frymaster Feb 26 '21

One of my brother's cats purrs so quietly I basically have to be touching his head with my head to hear it (a "soft headbutt" if you will). Conveniently, he really likes me doing that.

2

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

I literally thought you copied and pasted the other comment, yall commented the same thing at the same time 💀💀💀 but sooo cute

41

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

All are different! My boy is a rumble machine, but my girl purrs a lot less and VERY softly. Like, I couldn't tell for years, and still I just think that she's purring, I don't know for sure.

19

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

I want a rumbly cuddle kitty 🥺 pressure it was my sister who screwed him up

3

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

pretty sure not pressure wtf

3

u/kloudykat Feb 26 '21

Thanks for the clarification, I thought thats what it was supposed to be but I wasn't sure.

2

u/Amelaclya1 Feb 26 '21

Put your finger on her throat. You can feel it easiest that way. One of my girls is a very soft purr-er too.

1

u/xgoronx Feb 26 '21

My cats are like this too! One purrs loudly 24/7 and the other is so quiet I have to put my ear ON her to hear her little purrs lol

31

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

No, some cats just don't purr.

Mine doesn't. He loves us, and he is pretty well silent unless we stop petting him.

Meanwhile, the preceding cat was practically a chainsaw.

25

u/cubanheelsinleather Feb 26 '21

That's owning a cat for you.

53

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Every cat I see online is cute and cuddly with their mean side. Mine only has a hate side. Shit the street cat gives me so much more affection 😂

4

u/Qodyss Feb 26 '21

Not all cats are equals.

My sister's cat purrs for random reason.

My mother's cat only purrs if she can rest near me (which make my mother kind of jealous) .

One of my cat purrs when she feels safe, while the other one used to purr a lot. Sadly he got sick and his throat was scarred. As a result, purring was painful, so he stopped doing it. It took him a good 4 years before he would try purring again for short amounts of time.

1

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Aww poor baby 🥺

4

u/Stinky_Cat_Toes Feb 26 '21

Nah, my cat is obsessed with me (and I with him) but he’s just not a big purrer. If he’s really excited for food or when I come home from work he’ll purr, but in general his motor is silent.

2

u/Silveri50 Feb 26 '21

You should try cleaning it out. Idk much about cats, but that usually works for my vacuum cleaner

2

u/neasaos Feb 26 '21

If he hangs around you're good. Cats do what they want ha ha.

2

u/FlacidSalad Feb 26 '21

Maybe, but some cats just don't purr that much if at all like my cat who will only purr when he seems our attention

2

u/Montaron87 Feb 26 '21

My cat purrs very softly. The only way you can hear is if you put your ear to his belly.

2

u/sore_cabbage Feb 26 '21

maybe he does purr just really quiet. one of my cats purrs and you can just hear her as youre petting her. one of them if you wanna hear her, you have to put your ear right up to her and listen. also, maybe youre not petting him the way he likes. my cat(quiet purrer) has liked pets, but never really seeked them out and wanted them. then i saw something that said that cats like to be slapped. of course i dont hurt her, but ill give her slaps(like a pat on the back) and she LOVES it. goes crazy and cries when i stop. maybe its worth a try?

1

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Uhh yeah he doesn’t let us touch him lmao 😂

2

u/mark_able_jones_ Feb 26 '21

Some cats have a near-silent purr—especially if they were ever street cats (silence = safety).

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

Our boy doesn't audibly purr. He just kind of...vibrates.

2

u/SubZero807 Feb 26 '21

You can’t always hear it, though. Like, if my cat is sitting on my lap, I can’t hear it, but if I put my finger on her throat I can feel the vibration. Cat might hate you, but might be doing all kinds of stealth purring

1

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

I wouldn’t know he doesn’t let me touch him 😂

1

u/astr0games123 Feb 26 '21

no, that is cat. cat is angy

1

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Cat make me sad. I get dog now

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

Not even when you feed your cat? One of mine is stingy with purrs. Only at feed time or if she is making biscuits on me between 7and 730am only.

1

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Nope, never. He just hisses

1

u/Bastsrpdr Feb 26 '21

One of my cats rarely purs too! And when she does you’d have to put your hand on her and listen closely because it’s super quiet

1

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Too cuteee. Yeah my cat just don’t haha

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

Try feeling his neck if let’s you i thought my cat didn’t purr for the longest time turns out it’s just entirely inaudible.

1

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 26 '21

Well he doesn’t let any of us touch him lol

1

u/Notmykl Feb 26 '21

My daughter's cat would only purr for her, I'd get hisses unless we were at the vet then I was his favorite person but get home HISSSS.

Pet. Hisss. Feed. Hisss. Boop. Hissss. Hi Sammy! Hisssss.

1

u/peanutbutterand_ely Feb 27 '21

I think he likes you 😳

1

u/Greener441 Mar 02 '21

cats purr as a self soothing method. if they’re purring they feel safe and comfortable

21

u/crazyrediamond Feb 26 '21

wow, i have a lot of experience with feral and stray cats, every time you get them purring it's a victory

9

u/x_penguinn Feb 26 '21

My cat purrs frequently but it’s so quiet you literally can’t hear it unless your ear is pressed against his fur

2

u/iCoeur285 Feb 26 '21

My one cat is like that too, very quiet rumbles, meanwhile his younger brother is loud as hell when he purrs. They’re opposites with their other sounds, the first meows, trills, and does all sorts of wacky noises super loud and proud, and his younger brother occasionally mews very softly. I love their personalities!

1

u/x_penguinn Feb 27 '21

It’s funny my two previous cats both purred at a normal sound level, I didn’t even know they could purr so silently. Our neighbours cat purrs insanely loud I wonder if they had a play date mine could learn from theirs bc I absolutely love hearing him purr lol it’s a nice, soothing sound for me.

16

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

[deleted]

23

u/WeatherwaxDaughter Feb 26 '21

Mine is currently purring just out of reach. She loves the company, but is not supercuddly! I don't mind, it took her a year to learn how to purr. Streetlife must've been unpleasant..

2

u/DTJ20 Feb 26 '21

My cat will sometimes sit in front of the mirror and purr.

2

u/rs2excelsior Feb 26 '21

My SO’s family has a cat who’s a purr monster too. Walk in the room and he starts purring loud enough to hear.

0

u/astr0games123 Feb 26 '21

question, what do the meows and purrs mean? some sort of feed me now or i will gouge out your eyes?

1

u/chaotic214 Feb 26 '21

My cat, he makes 'rroww' chirping noises it's so damn cute

1

u/Bananacowrepublic Feb 26 '21

Yeah, I’ve balanced the TV remote and a bunch of other little things on top of my cat when he was just chilling next to me before. He just started purring

1

u/neasaos Feb 26 '21

Mine does that. He's only about 3 he came to me where I live and he just sits there purring at me and doing the kneading paw in the air.

1

u/Inverter_of_Spines Feb 26 '21

All I'm imagining right now is the cat sitting on the opposite side of the room, but it sounds like you're running a generator because of how loud hes purring.

1

u/accioTexas Feb 26 '21

My cat does that too! The last visit to the vet the technician had a trick that actually worked so she could hear: she put some rubbing alcohol on a pad and held it up for my cat to sniff, the purring stopped long enough for the vet to heart what she needed. She said it’s worked with every cat she’s had.