Siberian Cat's Open-Mouth Purring Is a True Sight To Behold

Everybody is used to cats purring. Sometimes they do other things while purring, like "making biscuits" (kneading with their paws) or rubbing their head against whatever is closest to them. When cats purr, they're happy.

Usually, no one questions that... until Tuesday, October 1st, when one Siberian cat decided he was going to start purring with his mouth open. It was not something he'd ever done before, but after a rushed trip to the vet, his mom was informed that he simply does that now:

I fully understand @billiebalta's pain. Just a few days into being a dog mom, my puppy decided that she loved to yelp whenever she picked up a toy. I was terrified. The vet literally said, "this is what parenthood is like, girl."

Related: Siberian Cat Becomes an Unlikely Water Enthusiast and His Journey Is Too Cute

The cat in this video is Baltazar, the younger brother to Billie, a matching Siberian cat with three legs. Billie is a little bit of a drama king, so it was no surprise to see his little brother turn out the same way. Now, Billie has a little bit of a reason to be dramatic; he had a terrible accident and amputation was pretty much the only resort.

Baltazar must've been feeling left out watching his brother go on all of those vet visits, because he recently made his mom rush him in, too. He had developed a habit of purring with his mouth open, which she was worried was a sign of something awful. As it turns out, it absolutely was not: Balta was diagnosed by a doctor of veterinary medicine with excessive comfiness and sent on his way. Thanks for that, kitty!

What Does Open-Mouth Purring Mean in Cats?

This is where it gets confusing: Balta was fine. He was just really relaxed and cozy, and closed-mouth purring was not loud enough. That is one reason for open-mouth purring.

However, there are many other reasons, most of which are not nearly so nice:

1. Respiratory infection
2. Asthma
3. Exhaustion
4. Seizure activity
5. The "Flehmen response," which is basically when they open their mouth to smell something better.

Context clues are vital when it comes to deciding whether or not your cat needs to be taken to the vet: what are they doing? In this instance, Baltazar's mom is just snuggling him, and according to her, he hadn't seemed ill at all the last time she saw him. If your cat is seeming lethargic or dazed, breathing in a labored fashion, or the purring sounds more like a crackling or popping sound, it's very likely that something is wrong. Remember, being safe is better than being sorry. Anxious girls, pet insurance is your best friend!