Bryan Morris, age 10, of Anderson, South Carolina, for his question:

'How does a kitten purr?

Mother cats have their kittens in spring or early summer. Right now, hundreds of furry kittens are big enough to leave their mothers and find homes of their own. If your family wants one, now is a good time of year to choose one. The animal shelters at your local SPCA or Humane Society have plenty of kittens, hoping to be adopted. Other kittens are for sale in the pet shops. Right away, take your new pet to as animal doctor who will check its health and give it a shot to protect it from a serious sickness in the future.

Now it is ready to be taken home and meet its new family. This is just what it wants and it will show its happiness by starting up a purring little motor in its throat. It has two sets of vocal cords, one for catty conversation and one for purring. Both sets are in the throat. The purring set is too weak to utter mews and meows and the kitten can use it only when relaxed and contented. It is made of small flaps of skin. When the breathing is soft and relaxed, the gentle air makes the flaps hum with a sweet purring sound of kitten contentment.