Do Large Cats Purr?

Contented lions might if they could, but they can't. Only the smaller cats—not just house cats, but also bobcats, ocelots, lynxes, cougars and others—have what it takes to purr. In big cats—lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars—a length of tough cartilage runs up the hyoid bones to the skull. ...

What is the biggest cat that can purr?

Cougars are the largest species of cat that can still meow and even purr.

What does it mean when a cat purrs heavily?

Purring (and many other low-frequency vocalizations in mammals) often are associated with positive social situations: nursing, grooming, relaxing, being friendly. More likely, though, purring is simply soothing, or self-soothing, as cats may also purr in stressful situations.