I was visiting my friend, who has a cat.  I was minding my own business, sitting in a corner, when this cat hops up on me, stretches out on me, and starts to purr!

So I google: "Why does my Cat Lie on me and purr?"  To my indignation, Google changed it immediately to Why does my cat lay on me and purr?

To the best of my knowledge, 'Why does my cat lie on me?' is correct.  Google is using an AI spelling corrector, and it seems to have learned wrong grammar!!  

'Lie' is the present tense.  "I lie here, all alone, waiting...."

'Lay' is the past tense.  "Man, I lay there for quite a while, but did anyone come?  Nooo..."

'Laid' is the past perfect.  In a sentence with a had, or a have,  or a have had, you would use 'laid', or sometimes 'lain'.  I'm not enough of an expert to be able to tell you which one goes where; I sort of know when it's wrong. 

Coming back to the purring: apparently they purr at you if they like you and they're relaxed.  It also makes them feel even better, the few authors I read say, but I get the strong impression that it's a phenomenon still being investigated.  Unfortunately, since most cat people are familiar with Purring cats, I get the feeling that research on purring has a low priority.

But why on our chests?  The warmth, partially, and the sound of our heartbeats is apparently very soothing to the purrmeisters.  Aww!  I love this little cat, but I get the impression that she--- and cats generally--- are a lot of work!  So when I want a dose of purring, I visit my friend. 

Kate Ashley