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Page last updated at 06:32 GMT, Tuesday, 14 July 2009 07:32 UK

Cats 'exploit' humans by purring

Cats use a "soliciting purr" to overpower their owners and garner attention and food, researchers at the University of Sussex have discovered. Dr Karen McComb, the lead author of the study, discusses how cats appear to have tapped into a human bias towards certain sounds.

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