Tag Archive for 'psychologists'

Cats exploit humans purr-fectly

cat_01Researchers at the University of Sussex in Britain have discovered that cats employ a “soliciting purr” to seduce their owners into giving them more attention and food. The study, published in the July 15 edition of Current Biology journal, says the purr proves irresistible because a high-frequency element embedded within it, similar to a cry or meow, subtly triggers a sense of urgency.

The team of Sussex psychologists discovered that cats appear to be exploiting innate tendencies that humans have for nurturing their own offspring. However, in this case the felines subtly bury their “feed me” messages in an otherwise pleasant purr. Lead author Dr Karen McComb initiated the study because her own cat, Pepo, had the knack of consistently waking her up in the mornings with insistent purring.

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