Why Do Cats Hiss Is It Normal What Should You Do

It is very normal for them to hiss, and in exceptional cases, you might need to call your vet as your cat might be going through stress, pain, or anxiety.Pet cats are now as popular as dogs. The dog and cat both are known for their territorial nature, but the cat is an exception in the case of being reserved and more dominant.The cat’s aggressive feline behavior is often evident along with their hissing. It is believed by many doctors that the cat hiss is an action to show that they are annoyed with something around them. The kitten hiss is exceptional in this regard, as it might turn to hiss even while playing with another pet. If a cat is hissing without any reason, then some serious problem might be present with which they are dealing, such as pain or chronic stress. The reason behind the hiss of a cat really needs to be understood before you take any serious action in the form of positive or negative punishment that might reinforce them to do the same. Their environmental conditions such as food, toys, and other pets also play a major role in the cat’s hissing. The cats may illustrate different gestures, such as straight, alert ears, with their hair standing up, and an angry look by showing their fangs. The cat’s hissing is similar to the snake’s hissing, which is exhaled into the air with a puff sound. The cat hisses show their defensive counterparts.If you enjoyed this article about the cat hissing, then why not also read about why do cats sneeze or why do cats throw up here on Kidadl!Is it normal for cats to hiss?Yes, it is normal for cats to hiss. However, there are some exceptions when your cat’s hissing might be a warning sign of some trouble.You all must be aware of the fact that cats do have the habit of hissing and living in an environment where these animals’ bodies feel safe and comfortable is important. It is a known fact that cats are very active and aggressive when they feel threatened, which is why they never give a second thought to fear, hiding, and stressing about it.Cats are good when it comes to mimicking the sounds of other animals, and this is generally a good sign for their own survival. The sound of a cat hissing is very much related to the hissing sound of a snake. The cat hissing may be a matter of concern and call for a vet if some other gestures are noted often by the owner. The cat also hisses when they are playful. However, they never hiss when they’re happy.The cat hissing is perfectly normal, and the owner can easily detect the cat’s aggressive behavior based on its body language. If you have a cat or a dog as a pet, you will be familiar with the warning signs of cats might often be seen hissing at another cat or animal, strange people, or even at the house owner. The cats can make various gestures, such as straight, alert ears, hair standing up, and an agitated look by displaying their fangs.However, it is totally normal for the cat to hiss. The cat hissing noises are just a warning sign which might include pain, aggression, physical stress, and protective gestures of a mother cat towards her kittens or the cat’s own objects, such as a toy with which they play, according to some of the feline experts on animal behavior. Even in an unfamiliar environment of a household or humans, the cat may hiss.What does it mean when cats hiss?It depends upon the situation. Either it will be very normal due to their dominant nature, or they will really be going through some chronic stress, pain, or might be annoyed by some changes around them.A cat might hiss for different reasons, the major reason being an unfamiliar household or environment. Cats love to live in their own space and are also considered to be very dominating with their own objects. They take time and slowly indulge themselves in a new household or new space. The person who owns the cat as a pet is well acquainted and able to relate to the cat’s body language along with the sounds they make.When a cat hisses, a puff of air is exhaled by its mouth, which creates a sound similar to that of a snake. The cats’ hissing makes their mouths open wide, pins their ears back and their tongue makes a U-shape. The cats’ hiss might be an indicator that they might be under chronic stress. Many times, stress could be due to the environmental space the cats are living in and what sort of food they are being provided. The absence or disregard of certain warning signs may cause your cat to hiss at you.Generally, cats may hiss when they are in pain. This means that they might have hurt themselves unknowingly. If the cat is hissing at you, then it might be related to some behavioral changes and need a visit to the veterinarian.The unfamiliar situations make cats feel threatened, which further provokes them to give a warning sign before they attack. Many times, cat hissing is evident when they are annoyed. The kittens hissing is normal while they hide and play because it’s sort of rough play for them in the house. In short, the hissing cat is a stimulus reaction to the conditioning they are provided with, either from being a mother cat, kitten, or male cat.Why do cats hiss at other cats?Cats are believed to be introverted, reserved, and territorial by nature. So, ending up with any new member or pet around them would provoke them to hiss at other cats.It is a very natural phenomenon for humans that when they visit a new environment or meet new people, they take time to adjust. Similarly, a cat is a very reserved and secretive animal that directly displays fear, or fear of the unknown, in the form of warning shots. A situation would make a cat feel threatened, specifically the mother cat, in regard to their kitten’s protection.The protective nature of cats makes them aggressive towards other cats or animals. They set their boundaries, even with the new kitten in the house. This could also be a way to teach certain lessons to the kittens. In order to avoid any physical confrontation, they hiss at each other or new pets such as dogs. You will be well acquainted with the cats’ and dogs’ fact that they are not quite well suited to living within the same territory, but nowadays, there is a behavioral change in the aggression level of these favorite pets.Cats hiss at each other or at dogs because of the certain smells that each cat has. The place a cat lives in leaves certain marks and chemical smells of its own, which are often disliked if intruded upon by any other cat or dog. The dominant nature enforces the cat’s hissing behavior, which even turns out to be irritating and annoying. This is also the case with their food sharing.For example, if you have a cat and a dog as pets at your place, and if you give the cat food to another dog or cat, then, of course, you will not be rewarded with calm behavior, but rather a sound of hissing may be heard from their side. This is not confined to food but also to specific toys with which they bond emotionally.What to do when a cat hisses at you?You must observe their conditioning and their stimulus reaction when provided with the particular conditioned stimulus. So, vicarious learning is a must before you take any action regarding them, and lastly, a veterinarian is the best option to tackle the cats’ hiss.The first thing to do is to know the reason behind your pet cat’s behavior before taking any steps in return for the cat hissing behavior. There is an infinite number of reasons for the pet cat’s hissing. A cat’s body language, their food habits, and the environment in which they are kept along with another cat, dog, or kitten must be taken into consideration as they might be triggering their pain or chronic stress which they show by their hisses.The cats’ conditioning is the utmost priority, which really needs to be extrapolated. What are the things that they are conditioned to deal with on a regular basis that will naturally lead to stimulus reaction? If your cat is in the habit of playing with a specific toy, then it would be a better idea to not share that toy with another cat or dog, as this will annoy them.Also, if none of the above cases apply, you should consult a veterinarian if you notice any behavioral changes in your hissing cat. The cat may indeed show certain changes if it is dealing with some chronic stress or physical pain. A vet is the best option in this case, as you, being the closest person, might fail to understand the reason for their hissing. If you hiss back at your own cat, then it might end up attacking you.If you rarely see the hissing behavior of a cat, then leave it on its own as it is natural behavior because of its dominant and reserved nature. If you punish them, that will only annoy them and further aggravate their hissing behavior.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do cats hiss, then why not take a look at why do cats trill or Siamese cat fun facts for kids.Main image by Basile Morin.Second image by Eatcha.

It is very normal for them to hiss, and in exceptional cases, you might need to call your vet as your cat might be going through stress, pain, or anxiety.