Meow meow meow. That means no. Lions do not purr. They do, however, meow (as cubs), hiss, snarl, yowl, grunt, and roar. What's really cool, is the way adult lions sigh or puff when close to others in their group.

But back to purring. Big cats – lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars – have tough cartilage that runs up the hyoid bone (in the throat) to the skull. The cartilage prevents purring, but gives these feline giants the ability to roar. The lion is the only habitual roarer. (Cranky or what?)

Small cats – house varieties, bobcats, ocelots, lynxes, and cougars, for example – vibrate their larynxes, which resonates their more flexible hyoid bone. They can purr continuously while breathing in and out. (Kind of like a didgeridoo but softer on the ears.)