Animals that purr (that aren't cats)
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Animals That Purr (that Aren't Cats) — Daily trivia Saturday, March 14, 2026: questions and answers
All 10 questions with answers and explanations. Play this daily
Q 01Which common household pet, besides the cat, is well known for making a purring sound when content?
- AHamster
- BChinchilla
- CGerbil
- DGuinea pig
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Guinea pig
Guinea pig. It makes a bubbling purr when content, such as when being petted, while a low rumble usually signals dominance or fear.
Q 02Which big-eared Sahara animal can purr as well as bark, yap and squeak?
- ADesert hedgehog
- BDromedary camel
- CFennec fox
- DJerboa
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Fennec fox
Fennec fox. Foxes are among the animals with purr-like calls, and a fox purrs only as it breathes out, unlike a house cat.
Q 03Where are purring ring-tailed lemurs found in the wild?
- ABorneo
- BMadagascar
- CSri Lanka
- DSumatra
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Madagascar
Madagascar. Ring-tailed lemurs live nowhere else in the wild, and their purr sounds much like a house cat's.
Q 04Unable to roar, cheetahs are known for which bird-like sound?
- AWhistling
- BCooing
- CChirping
- DTrilling
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Chirping
Chirping. The chirp, sometimes called a stutter-bark, is an intense call used when excited, and a contented cheetah purrs much louder than a house cat.
Q 05How do rabbits produce their purr-like sound?
- AGrinding their teeth softly together
- BVibrating their vocal cords
- CFluttering their nostrils rapidly
- DClicking their jaw joints
Show answer
Grinding their teeth softly together
Grinding their teeth softly together: a relaxed rabbit makes this purr while being petted, but loud grinding usually signals pain.
Q 06Black bear cubs make a purring-like sound primarily in which situation?
- AWhen threatened by predators
- BDuring play-fighting with siblings
- CWhile nursing from their mother
- DWhen marking their territory
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While nursing from their mother
While nursing from their mother, cubs make a motor-like hum, and they squeal, bawl or scream when anxious.
Q 07Gorillas produce purr-like humming and singing sounds most commonly during which activity?
- AEating their favorite foods
- BGrooming each other
- CSleeping in their nests
- DBathing in streams
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Eating their favorite foods
Eating their favorite foods. Wild gorillas hum and sing during meals, and adult males call more than females or juveniles.
Q 08Which structure in the throat has classically been used to divide cats into 'purrers' and 'roarers'?
- AMandible
- BTympanic bulla
- CSternum
- DHyoid
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Hyoid
Hyoid. Cats with a fully ossified hyoid were classed as purrers and those with a partly ossified one as roarers, though roaring really depends on long vocal folds.
Q 09European badgers are documented to purr in which social context?
- ADefending burrow entrances
- BDuring courtship and mating
- CWhile foraging for earthworms
- DWhen establishing new setts
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During courtship and mating
During courtship and mating: boars have been described purring or crooning while courting sows, and adults also purr around cubs.
Q 10Which member of the roaring big-cat genus Panthera purrs instead of roaring?
- ATiger
- BSnow leopard
- CLion
- DJaguar
Show answer
Snow leopard
Snow leopard. It cannot roar, one reason some scientists wanted to keep it in its own genus, Uncia.
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