While the general belief is hissing is a sign of hostility or even animosity, in reality, it’s quite common for cats to hiss when they want to express fear. They hiss at each other and at people when they sense a threat.
Even if hissing is quite a normal part of any typical cat behavior, it’s still a good idea to understand the cause so you can give your cat enough space and make the needed changes to their environment if they are scared or stressed.
You should also try to investigate if you’re noticing excessive cat hissing with your veterinarian to make sure it’s not just your cat’s way of letting you know they are in pain or that something else is wrong.
What does hissing sound like?
Cat hissing sounds very similar to the hiss of a snake or even the sound of air leaking from a car tire. When a cat hisses, she releases a burst of air through her mouth, which then causes the hissing noise. If you happen to be close enough to her face, you can easily feel the air coming out of their mouth when they are hissing.
A hiss can easily change based on the given situation. It can range from a silent, open-mouth hiss that stands as a visual sign of unhappiness to an aggressive hiss with full-on spitting. Some of the most common cat body language cues that can be displayed along with the hissing are:
- an open mouth with a curled tongue
- flattened ears
- back arched
- hairs standing on end.
Why do cats hiss?
Hissing is mainly seen as an expression of discomfort, fear, or even stress. Some of the main reasons cats can also include feeling threatened by someone or simply fearful of people, being in direct confrontation with other animals, trying to protect their kittens, being in an unfamiliar situation or even meeting an unfamiliar animal, stress, physical pain and anticipation of pain, displeasure or even annoyance.
Cat hissing is much more defensive than offensive, whether it’s somehow directed at other animals or even at humans. When your cat hisses, what they mean is they need space from whatever they are directing the hiss at.
Why did my cat hiss at me?
It’s true that your cat might hiss simply because they are annoyed with you. Maybe they just don’t want to be petted at the moment, or maybe you’re just trying to pick them up when they don’t want to.
This type of hissing is quite common if you have small kids at home who don’t know yet when it is the right time to leave the cat alone and when not to. Here are some of the main things that could cause your cat to hiss at you: trying to trim the nails or even groom them, putting the cat into a carrier for travel, having the smell of an unfamiliar dog or cat on you, vacuuming and using another noisy household appliance, and touching your cat in an area where they experience pain.
Why do cats hiss at each other?
When a cat hisses at another one, there’s this misconception that he might be teasing or even taunting the other cat. In reality, hissing is nothing but a signal that the cat wants to avoid physical confrontation. In any cat-to-cat behavior, the cat that hisses is almost all the time the one being chased or antagonized. Some of the most common scenarios for cats hissing at each other include:
- a female cat with a litter of kittens that hiss, growl, chase, swat, or try to bite another feline that approaches, even one that she was formerly befriending.
- two unneutered male cats or even one unneutered male with an intact female commonly hissing at each other when they’re looking to mate.
- cats hissing to protect their territory, especially if a new cat is introduced into their environment.
- cats hissing at other cats to assert dominance, especially if a new cat is introduced to their environment.
- cats hissing to redirect aggression or in anticipation of pain.
What should I do if my cat hisses a new kitten?
If you bring home a little feline, resident cats could hiss at them to establish boundaries, especially if the older cat’s boundaries are being pushed. A hiss is often seen as a rapid way for that older cat to tell the smaller one to stop.
What if my cat hisses at my dog?
There are so many reasons why your cat could hiss your dog. As a general rule, cats do not like confrontation with other animals, and hissing is their way of telling a possible aggressor to keep their distance.
What to do if my cat hisses?
If your cat hisses, here are some immediate steps to follow:
- First, you want to make sure you back away a little bit. As a general rule, cats start hissing before getting scratched or bitten.
- Then, try to give the cat some space and let them hide so they can feel secure again. Try not to stare at your cat or hold or comfort them.
- What you want to do next is to make sure your cat has tons of escape routes from other animals and pets, as well as plenty of space to hide. Cat condos, perches, or any other high spaces are ideal since they let cats find their own safe spots where they can calm themselves.
- Give your cat some grace and time. At times, they might take hours to calm down.
- When you sense they are calm enough, just coax your cat out with food and catnip, as well as positive reinforcement. Some rewards, such as toys, treats, and canned food, can definitely help them relieve the anxiety and stress that are often associated with cat hissing.
Make sure your cat doesn’t have any health issues
Physical pain is not a common reason your cat might be hissing. But if you notice that you touch them and they start hissing, then it might be because that area hurts. To fully establish whether a hiss is due to pain or fear, you might want to get your cat examined by their veterinarian.
How to help your cat feel less stressed
If all medical issues have been automatically ruled out, there are many other ways in which you can help your cat be calmer, feel safer, and more at ease in their environment. Just give them some time to acclimate to new situations.
Understanding what triggers your cat (like your dog) could help prevent unnecessary injuries. Moreover, daily enrichment that uses physical and mental energy is wonderful when it comes to decreasing stress and anxiety in your little pet. This can also include interactive toys, catnip, hiding in boxes, cat trees, window bird feeders, and outdoor activity on a leash and harness.
Ultimately, we also recommend asking your vet for a recommendation for an animal behaviorist who specializes in helping people understand their pets’ behavior. A behaviorist can help analyze any specific situation and provide the needed tactics to try and alleviate your cat’s stress.
If you found this article insightful, we also recommend checking: 6 Ways to Prevent Motion Sickness in Dogs During Travel
