Cat fans rejoice! An online generator called Purrli recreates the sound of a cat purring, helping you create a calming acoustic atmosphere.
On Monday, August 8th we celebrate International Cat Day!
Cats have officially become internet royalty. Felines appear in video games like Stray, board games, and merchandise. Their faces have also been utilized in various memes for a long time.
Furthermore, cat owners can attest to how much comfort and giggles they get from their pets’ company. If you don’t own a cat and still want to get into the spirit of Cat Day, websites like Purrli offer a surprising solution.
An app mimicking a kitten’s purr
On Purrli’s homepage, you can listen to a loop of a cat’s vocalization. Whether wearing headphones or listening to speakers, the effect is guaranteed.
Additionally, changing the purr’s pitch is as simple as adjusting one of the numerous gauges on Purrli, the site lets you modulate the purr to your liking.
Do you prefer angry or relaxed purrs? Purrs that are close proximity or from a distance? Adjust the gauges until you discover the vocalization that works best for you.
According to Archerint, Purrli went online in 2017 and also offers other background noise generators, such as those that mimic the sounds of nature, open space, or the ambiance of a busy bar.
Stéphane Pigeon, a sound processing consultant, created the Purrli website. He’s also the brains behind the MyNoise website, which lets you choose from various soundscapes based on your preferences.
Initially, MyNoise didn’t include options to simulate a cat’s purr. However, he decided to take the risk after receiving requests for this nearly daily.
Purrli is better than most recordings because it doesn’t just play an audio file; the app uses sound resynthesis. Pigeon explained:
“If it was just a recording, you would be unable to set the purr-rate to taste. And playing back that recording would result in playing exactly the same purr sequence, always. I wanted to avoid that.
Stéphane Pigeon wanted a purr sequence that would permanently change, like a real cat. Thus, he used his own cat, Babouche, to build a virtual cat that lived up to his expectations.
Babouche offered her purr to Purrli, albeit reluctantly. As Pigeon told Vice:
“She was skeptical of my mics, so I had to utilize deception, such as hiding a little microphone in my ear, then bring my head close to her, without her suspecting that I was recording her”
The innovative Purrli app encourages you to experiment with the benefits of cat purrs, such as using them to help you sleep and to soothe and cheer you up.