The domestic cat, Felis catus, is a familiar sight in many households worldwide. Now, researchers at Kyoto University, Japan, have discovered that cats with the short form of the androgen receptor gene purr and vocalise more at their human companions.
The research has been published in the journal PLOS One, and studied almost 300 mixed-breed cats, which seem to preferentially express the short form of the gene. Previous research has indicated that purring may have evolved as a beneficial trait for feline communication.
For more information, please see the Independent.