chuffle

[ chuhf-uh l ]
/ ˈtʃʌf əl /

verb (used without object), chuf·fled, chuf·fling.

(of the larger species of cats) to make a low snuffling sound analogous to the purring of smaller cat species, often as a greeting.

noun

such a sound.

Origin of chuffle

imitative; cf. chuff3, -le