Can tigers purr?

No, so says the best source of information¹ on the wildcats. What I mean is that this book¹ does not mention purring as a vocalization made by the tiger. Is this incorrect? These are the sounds the tiger makes:

• main call
• prusten (short range vocalization)
• grunts (short range vocalization)
• growl
• snarl
• moan (subdued roar) - close range vocalization
• meow (this is a domestic cat vocalization, tiger style!)
• spit
• hiss (the spit and hiss are also made by the domestic cat)
• roar (although one expert says that technically tigers don't roar)  - long range call.

As you can see the purr is not included, so by default the tiger can't purr. Perhaps the experts are wrong. There is still a lot about the wildcats that we don't know.

If you can can get close enough to a tiger to touch his throat, you might feel a purr if he is content! In this video, a tiger called "Freedom" (he is caged) moans and purrs when petted. You have to listen carefully.



Associated page: Cat Sounds.

Note: 1. Wild Cats of the World, page 356. ISBN-13: 978-0-226-77999-7