Why do cats sigh? Are they troubled by something?

Often used when relaxing or expressing comfort.

A 2016 study found that sighing requires regulation of a very small number of neurons. Many mammals have the relevant neurons and can “sigh”, and cats are one of them.

There are three main reasons why cats sigh:

Physiological needs, exercising lung function, and regulating breathing

In experiments, researchers found that human babies sigh unconsciously every 50-100 breaths, which helps to exercise lung function and develop a good breathing rhythm.

Cats also adjust their breathing by sighing after exercise or when they have difficulty breathing.

Relax yourself, mostly before falling asleep

By sighing, the alveoli are compressed, which can release excess carbon dioxide, while removing energy and relaxing other muscles in the body.

This type of “sigh” may occur before a cat falls asleep, as a preparation for sleep.

Expressing emotions, usually happiness and comfort

Because cats and humans express emotions differently, in their world, “sighing” is not necessarily due to sadness or sorrow…

Veterinarian Beverley Ho believes that this is a sign that cats are happy and comfortable. Because most of the time, cats sigh with positive emotions such as squinting their eyes and ears pointing straight forward.

However, some people have observed that cats sigh when they have nothing to do at home, so they think that “sighing” is also a cat’s way of expressing boredom…

But in general, “sighing” in the cat world is more often used to express positive emotions.