Why do cats purrrrrrr?

I found this on Yahoo.
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Tuesday November 24, 1998

Dear Yahoo!:
Why do cats purr?

Huntsville, Alabama

Dear :

Cause they're funny wittle cuties. Yes they are. Yes they are!
Actually, no one knows why they purr, except, presumably, the cats themselves. In fact, no one really seems to know how they purr either. You might assume that it's some kind of vibration in the larynx, as one science columnist suggests.

However, others, such as biologist Kelleen Flanagan of the MAD Scientist Network, subscribe to the notion that the sound is created by the vibration of blood vessels.

But regardless of the method, the question remains:
What causes cats to purr, whether voluntarily or involuntarily?
At this point, theories are all we've got to go on. Carol Merkle, in a paper titled "Behavior and Language of Cat", offers some possibilities that she culled from print and online research. These include the oft-cited happiness as well as pain, fear and the more subtle "waiting for happiness."

For a list of other theories about purring, check out this page from UselessKnowledge.com.

If all else fails, try Pounce.
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It reminded of this time when my boy was hanging out at my house.
He was playing with Her Royal Highness the Great Hogiey, who loves kids, bless her beautiful heart.

He was stroking her back, the way shy likes it, which made her purr (but of course!)
He heard this purring and he bent down to listen, his face turned to the side (lucky me, he turned his face in my direction).
He had his legs crossed, bending down with his right arm around Hogiey, face pressed against her back with this so adorable smile on his face, just listening to her purr.

Awww!!! So cute!
Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of that.

I hear TIZA screaming "Noooooooooo!!!!"

Ah, well, maybe in the future, I'll make sure to be at the ready.

Here's to you, my BIG baby boy......