Most of the time hissing is a sign that a cat is feeling anxious, frightened, or agitated. However, there are some other reasons why a cat will hiss as well. For example, a mother cat may hiss if she feels that her kittens are threatened. Similarly, cats will also hiss if they are in pain.
What is Your Cat Saying When He Hisses? Hissing is simply an expression of emotion; “I'm upset,” “I feel threatened,” “I'm uncomfortable,” or “I'm scared.” Whether your cat is hissing at veterinary staff or a newcomer to the household, your cat is feeling vulnerable, threatened, or insecure.
“Generally, hissing is the last warning you will get prior to physical contact such as a swat, or a bite. So find ways to de-escalate the situation. Stop making direct eye contact, back away, don't try and touch or pet this cat.” Bennett recommends giving the cat time to settle down, and providing an escape option.
Hissing, growling, scratching, and biting are all ways of your cat saying “I'm uncomfortable or scared.” Ignoring this behavior will not help them feel safer or change the behavior. In fact, when aggression is ignored and the cat is still in the situation, they are likely to escalate their behavior.
Hissing is a natural reaction to a situation; it's not something that your cat thinks about doing. It doesn't mean your cat dislikes you or that your cat is aggressive. It's a warning that your cat may have to resort to aggression if the perceived threat doesn't back off.
Most often cats will start hissing at you because they are annoyed and are trying to tell you to back off. However, a hissing cat could also be telling you that they are in pain and need your help. So if you're petting them or lifting them when the hissing sound starts, check to see if they have any signs of injury.
Hissing at your cat is going to make the situation worse.” The best thing to do when a cat hisses is to back away and give them the space they're asking for. Rather than petting your cat or picking them up, talk in a low, soothing voice.
There are many different reasons why cats hiss. Most of the time a cat will hiss when they are feeling threatened, anxious, or frightened. However, sometimes cats will also hiss when they are in pain or if a mother cat feels the need to protect her kittens.
Some cats may simply hiss because they want you or another human member of the family to leave them alone and let them have their space, and they may also hiss at other pets in a similar way. If your cat is not very friendly toward humans or other animals, she may hiss often to tell intruders to leave her alone.
Cats tend to hiss and growl to show you that they are unhappy, worried, angry, or feel threatened. Sometimes hissing or growing is a reaction to pain. Hissing can vary in severity from a silent facial expression to an angry “spit.” Your veterinarian will need to give your cat a thorough check to rule out a pain cause.
For cats, a hiss or even a growl is part of their communication style. You might think it's the same as physically punching someone—an act of anger. But often, it's more of a warning and a way of saying, "Hey, I'm feeling uncomfortable and vulnerable, so give me some space."
Under socialized kittens often hiss, sometimes spit and stomp, and sometimes swat and bite. The way to correct these behaviors is to be gentle yet firm, and totally unafraid of the kitten even when she looks ferocious. You must remain calm and able to hold the kitten without reacting fearfully or in anger.
When you are petting your cat and she suddenly bites, scratches, or hisses at you, she is likely exhibiting petting-induced aggression.
Growling, hissing or spitting indicates a cat who is annoyed, frightened, angry or aggressive. Leave this cat alone. A yowl or howl (they sound like loud, drawn-out meows) tells you your cat is in some kind of distress—stuck in a closet, looking for you or in pain.
Your cat is expressing her affection for you.
Your cat's licking may be an affiliative behavior, which is a friendly, altruistic behavior. Mothers groom their kittens, and cats may groom one another, which is called allogrooming.
There is no definitive answer as to how long your cat will do this. For many cats, minor misdemeanors seem to fall in the short-term memory category so it is likely all will be forgiven within a few hours to days. Kittens have a relatively short memory and can appear to be more forgiving than older cats.
Signs Of Obvious Distress
Cats are typically very stoic animals, so if your cat suddenly seems to be in distress, it is a cause for concern. Howling, crying, hiding, and otherwise acting in a way that is out of character for your pet should alert you that something may be seriously wrong.
Some reasons they may be angry include fear, pain, conflict with another cat, or territorial aggression. Once you pinpoint where the aggressive behavior is coming from, you can then try to help your cat.
Is it normal for a cat to skip hissing behavior altogether? Fortunately for me and for other owners of non-hissing cats, this is a perfectly normal variation in cat communication. Hissing is, at its core, a warning behavior — a sound cats make when they feel frightened or vulnerable.
Hissing, growling, biting, slashing, or digging their nails into your skin are fairly clear indications that a cat is not happy with you. Of course, some cats do play a little rough, and most cats will give a love bite now and then, but if your cat bites you hard enough to break the skin, that is one pissed-off cat.