If you are a cat owner, you might know that cat hissing is natural, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t unpleasant when your cat does so. Well, there can be several reasons for your cat hissing at you. Cats have grown with some coping strategies to exist with humans, but sometimes these sounds of conversing may seem fearful.
Thus, it is crucial to understand what might be the reason behind their hissing so that you can handle your cat properly. So, here are the top ten reasons why your cat hisses.
Your cat is probably in pain
Sometimes when a cat is experiencing pain, it may hiss at you if you touch the sensitive parts of its body. It may be an indication to tell you not to touch them because they are hurt. A cat may also hiss because they don’t know why they are in pain.
In all these circumstances, you have to consult a veterinarian to understand what is causing your cat so much discomfort, particularly because it could be a real health problem.
Your cat could be ill
Cats may hiss if they suffer from chronic sicknesses. If a cat’s body is not functioning the way it should due to any severe disease or organ failure, it will continuously hiss to let you know the same. Also, it will show other symptoms related to the disease.
Here are a few cat diseases, along with their symptoms.
Disease |
Symptoms |
| Feline Leukemia | Persistent fever, enlarged lymph nodes, poor cat condition, progressive weight loss, and loss of appetite |
| FIV | Diarrhea, poor appetite, weight loss, anemia, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes |
| Renal Failure | Weakness, constipation, a dry coat, mouth ulcers, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and weight loss |
| Feline Distemper | Vomiting, rough coat, high temperature, diarrhea, depression, dehydration, and anemia |
If you notice any of these above-stated symptoms in your cat and feel the corresponding disease may be a reason for their illness, you should contact the vet immediately.
Feeling scared or anxious
Another common reason for cat hissing is their fear or anxiety. If the cat is scared of something, it may begin hissing at it frequently. So, for example, if your cat is scared of your dog, even if they don’t certainly have a cause to be afraid of, they may simply hiss at them. Usually, while hissing, cats tend to keep their eyes extra big, puff up their tails, and roll their ears flat back.
Besides, if your cat is unexpectedly put into a new circumstance that makes them anxious or uncomfortable, spend enough time with them, or play along with their favorite toys. You can easily purchase Bread Catnip Toys to divert your cat’s mind from their fear or anxiety and keep them engaged in playing.
Petting and redirected aggression
Both petting aggression and redirected aggression are common attitude problems noticed in cats. These problems can be self-limiting and mild due to stress development and change in their schedule or environment.
These problems can also become more severe and chronic that can influence the animal-human relationship. So, if your cat is suffering from this, you should plan an appointment with the vet as soon as possible.
Warning other pets and humans
At times, cats also hiss to convey the alert message that they are not in a good mood and don’t want to be disturbed. For example, your cat may simply hiss because they want another human or you to let them have their space and leave them alone for some time. They may also hiss at other cats in the same way for somewhat similar reasons.
If a cat is not very peaceful toward other animals or humans, they may hiss to warn the intruder to let her be alone. It’s just a threat to let these outsider animals and individuals understand that they may be hurt if they don’t listen to the cat’s hissing. Despite the warning, if these strangers continue to disturb the cat, it won’t be very unnatural for them to receive a swat or two.
Searching for a partner
If your male cat is non-neutered, they may hiss while searching for a partner. Male cats often commit this behavior to warn other male cats from coming near their partner.
However, there is a lesser possibility that your female cat will hiss due to mating than a male cat, but it is possible to note this manner in some of your female cats that have not yet been sterilized.
Your cat may be dissatisfied
Dissatisfaction can be the outcome of many things. The reasons may vary from being positioned in a carrier to having the smell of another dog or cat on your clothes.
Another indication of dissatisfaction in your cat can be when you enter “their” area. Be very aware of this fact, particularly if you are an energetic child or a loud person.
Protecting any precious things or their kittens
If your female pet cat has recently delivered cute little kittens, this could be a period of hissing all around. They will probably not even allow trusted humans to touch their babies until they are sure that the individuals won’t harm them. So, when any stranger cat or not-so-trusted human approaches their babies, the cat starts hissing at them aggressively to protect their children.
Cats are very territorial and possessive about their belongings. So, they refrain from sharing their precious things like toys, sleeping mats, etc., with other cats or humans by hissing them off.
The play hiss
Have you ever seen your cats hissing while playing? Well, it is a prevalent trait noticed in them, especially in kittens. However, the tone of these play hisses is a bit different. It is generally a quicker hiss than a protective one. A kitty tends to hiss in this way if their little mates give them a little too tough fight in the play.
Besides, you might have also noticed a young cat react to a surprisingly loud noise by hissing and jumping up, right? Well, this is another instance when cats emit play hiss.
You’re just irritating them
Cats are not individual pleasers like dogs. So, if you attempt to make your cat do something as per your order, but they don’t want to, they will hiss at you. At such times, it is better to leave them alone.
If you have kids, you should know how to oversee their time together to ensure your kids behave nicely towards your cat. Kids often don’t understand their hissing and tend to mistakenly ignore their warnings, which, in turn, can vex the cat, causing them to scratch or bite your children.
Conclusion
Thus, these were the top 10 reasons for cats hissing at you. If you own a cat, you must understand that no difference exists between a cat’s hiss and a dog’s bark. It’s just the natural way cats convey their aggression, annoyance, pain, and fear. So, the next time your cat hisses, do not worry; instead, try to find the reason for their hisses and act accordingly.
