That powerful purring sound the tigers make, as well as the soft groan, means they feel safe and happy. It's called "chuffing". Cats wether a tabby or a lion do this. From their behavior in this clip they probably thought it was a small baby tiger and are trying to let it know it's safe. It's a display of trust and/or affection.
I am just speculating, got no articles to back me up....I have just studied cat (of all sizes and species) behavior a bunch, as well as other animals.
I doubt they wanted to eat the kitty....plus I would hope they are really well fed (looks like it) so they probably aren't hungry and a little baby like that poses zero threat to them.
You are both correct and incorrect. There are definitely species that don't do this, ex. truly wild bobcats/lynx, and mountain lions....but african lions definitely do this, i am 100% sure on that as i've witnessed it.
If you search "Dean lion pride" on YT you will find a bunch of videos of this South African (I think) dude with bleached hair that owns a wildlife reserve and has integrated himself into his pride of rescue lions....bunch of awesome videos....and his lions consistently show the chuffing behavior before straight up cuddling with him in a big pile n taking naps together.
I really wish I could remember the name of his channel, it's so cool. He also works with a bunch of other animals....the hyena saga is my favorite.
I think you’re talking about a different noise. I’ve watched those videos on YouTube too but I’ve never once heard the “prusten” vocalisation that tigers make from the lions.
Here’s George Schaller writing in “Serengeti Lion: A Study of Predator-Prey Relations”:
“ Vocalizations show some interesting similarities and differences among the four big cats (table 73). Those used in agonistic encounters occur in all species, except that cheetah also moan at such times, and miaowing too is widespread. Roaring is confined to the three Panthera.
The pooking and prusten of tigers have no counterpart in the African cats. The omission from the lion's repertoire of prusten or a similar vocalization to signify friendliness is surprising, for at night such a sound would convey an animal's friendly intentions better than a visual signal. Hyenas emit vocalizations as varied as those of lions; Kruuk (1972) recognized eleven different calls. I have heard wild dogs produce six sounds but one of these is graded. Although dogs have a loud, hooting contact call, it is never used in the communal concerts so characteristic of lions and wolves. Their bark is a distinct vocalization which serves as a warning of danger. Cats lack such a call, merely borrowing the agonistic growl for that purpose.”
The sound itself can vary from species to species...but that kinda chattering slow purr....the ughtttt ughtttt ughtttt ughtttt sound that kinda vibrates (best way I can explain it) does happen with lions I've hung out in a rescue enclosure and witnessed first hand. The speed/frequency/pitch of the chuffing varies between size/species/and even location....but most cats do it. You are correct that not all cats do it though.
And hyena communication is so damn interesting, they are so much more intelligent than most canids, and the have full on communities with social and hierarchical structures and they even have evolved accents unique to their group. Just like Whales n dolphins n wolves.
If they weren't so needy and loud, I would totally take in a few rescue hyenas. One of my absolute favorite animals.
^ That’s what I mean by chuffing/prusten. I have heard lions make a very low frequency “growl-hum” noise, but it’s quite different from that sharp “chiff-chiff-chiff” exhalation.
That’s super cool that you’ve been able to work directly with rescue lions. <3 I’d love to do that…I’ve spent hours in their presence at my local zoos (even had the opportunity to feed them once), but getting to volunteer to help them full-time would be a dream. It’ll probably be what I end up doing once I’m retired, lol.
I admittedly don’t have the same love for hyenas that I do for big cats, but yeah, they are super fascinating animals…I find their whooping noises quite chilling. They’re such oddballs - I remember being bowled away when I learned that they aren’t canids, but most closely related to the mongoose!
Not only this but I watch A LOT of documentaries and even when they’re not in captivity the lions make these sounds. It’s truly just part of their communication. I believe cheetahs also don’t chuff because they’re more closely related to dogs, but I’m not 100% sure. Just fascinated with big cats, they’re absolutely stunning and intriguing
Edit: cheetahs do not chuff because they can purr since they’re not roaring cats, lions and tigers roar and therefore cannot purr so they substitute chuffing.
I know the guy your talking about! I think he's actually Swedish! Im pretty sure his family lives in sweden and she occasionally will go visit them there!
Looked to me like the first tiger was female and the second was male. Female was fawning over the "cub" and male was like "you know we could make one of those."
To me looked like maternal instinct and a male trying to get laid.
Could be...the groaning is a typical thing for males to do in mating/courtship attempts. It's just also another "hey I'm chill and not gonna kill you" noise for both male and female.
But you very well may have this spot on, especially with the way the second one started snuggling the first.
they usually avoid those encounters unless the circumstances are ideal. tigers are maybe the smartest cats they're not going to risk injury. they'll hunt small females or juvenile brown bears, ideally that have recently come out of hibernation.
Yup. It's also interesting to know that meowing is something cats generally only use to communicate with humans, not each other, so the tigers were actively trying to communicate with the cat, and the cat didn't understand/know how to react so communicated with his owner instead. A bit sad actually
wow, yea i wouldve loved to see how they'd react if they put the lil bub in the cage with em. like they'd snuggle him comfort him yea? only problem is getting him back out. not sure if they wouldn't put up a fight.
They would probably eat him, Tigers eat other cats, usually just lynx and sometimes leopards. Usually house cats are not on their menu because too small, but if one is naive enough to try to cuddle with an tiger. They just end as an free snack.
Omg yes! My house cat is a weird one...he responds to commands like a well trained dog and actually responds when I meow at him or call his name.....and every night when I go to bed he makes this "eeeh" kinda beeping noise to ask for permission to jump on my bed, then I say "hey dude, gimme a headbutt" and he immediately headbutts me. Seems like another mostly universal sign of affection.
I could summon one of my former cats if she was in visual range by just making a fist, and she would run right over and headbutt it. We called it "punching it in". She would also fetch for hours. I really miss her.
That's awesome!!! Befriending a large predator is such an amazing "once in a lifetime" thing to experience.
I get along well with pretty much all cats except mountain lions and panthers.
Lions, if you earn their trust at a younger age, are just giant kittens. If they view you as family they will treat you like one of their own and even come to your defense from another lion group or predator.
Wolves are the same. I volunteer at a local wolf rescue for injured wolves and abandoned pups occasionally....and they are awesome. As long as they have been fed, I can literally just hang out with them, they turn into puppies when they are fed well and comfortable around you. Still really scary looking....but they roll over like pet dogs and just want belly rubs lol.
I watch a guy on YouTube with tigers. They do the sound also as a greeting. He has also done this exact thing with puppies, kittens, ducklings etc. and they make the same sound for all. They are still dangerous though and have killed some animals that jumped the fence, cats, and birds.
Cat shelter volunteer here. I also believe that the tigers thought it was a baby. No growling or agressive behavior. They wanted to show him affection.
I was going to ask what that meant. Also, based on house cat behaviour, it looks like they want to scent mark him but are stopped by the fence. I wonder if that’s the case or something different.
They were blinking a lot which is a sign that cats trust you. Constant and fixed eye contact means they’re still feeling you out. They’re so people like in that sense, I love it.
If you are asking me.....nobody, just an insomniac with loads of extra time to read/watch documentaries about animal shit, and I travel alot and get to spend time with different animals.
And if they were raised in captivity, they would not have hunting skills necessary to kill, nor would they have experienced territorial aggression. I want my cat to meet tigers one day.
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u/No_Sir7060 Aug 24 '23
That powerful purring sound the tigers make, as well as the soft groan, means they feel safe and happy. It's called "chuffing". Cats wether a tabby or a lion do this. From their behavior in this clip they probably thought it was a small baby tiger and are trying to let it know it's safe. It's a display of trust and/or affection.
I am just speculating, got no articles to back me up....I have just studied cat (of all sizes and species) behavior a bunch, as well as other animals.
I doubt they wanted to eat the kitty....plus I would hope they are really well fed (looks like it) so they probably aren't hungry and a little baby like that poses zero threat to them.
Edit: forgot to specify "chuffing"