Why does cats hiss

Unfamiliarity Cats like familiar things which make them feel safe and at home. Explore our cat brands:. Related articles. Cat Training. Common Questions About Cats. Advice and articles tailored to your pet's needs. Free access to our in-house team of vets, behaviourists and advisors. Discounts and offers from our brands. Sign me up. Keep in mind that not all hissing between cats is bad.

Adult cats sometimes "play fight," and they'll lightly hiss and scratch at each other while playing. If they actually injure each other or you find one cowering in a corner, that means playtime has turned into a bona fide fight.

Cats hiss at dogs for many of the same reasons they hiss at other cats. If your cat feels intimidated by your dog, he might hiss to reassert dominance. He's telling your dog not to venture in too close. Since dogs and cats speak different languages, your dog might not pick up what your cat's trying to say. Your dog might even be tempted to chase your cat, which you need to stop right away. If your cat is feeling particularly stressed by one of your other pets dog or cat , you may need to reintroduce them to each other.

You can do this by keeping them in separate rooms for a bit and feeding them on opposite sides of a closed door. Let them get used to each other's smells in a non-threatening environment. Once they're calmer, slowly give them supervised face-to-face meetings. Is your cat hissing at a roommate or a guest?

There's a reason for this too. Cats hiss at people because they feel intimidated or don't recognize the person's smells.

If this happens, tell your friend not to approach your cat or try to pet her. The best action is to ignore your cat. In "cat language," this communicates that your friend isn't a threat or trying to take any of her territory. In time, your cat might venture out to learn more about this strange-smelling person. But cats don't just hiss at strangers. Sometimes your cat might even hiss at you, seemingly out of nowhere.

Many things can prompt this, but it's usually because your cat is overstimulated and feeling insecure. Do you notice your cat hissing often? Have you gotten concerned about how often she hisses at you, other animals, or almost any intrusion into her space? If you are a cat owner, you may worry about hissing as an uncommon behavior in your feline friend.

In this article, we will explain six of the most common reasons why you might notice your cat hissing more often than she usually does. One of the most concerning reasons why cats may hiss often is because of pain. Hissing may be a warning to tell you to stay away from them because they hurt and they do not want you to touch them. They may also hiss because they do not understand the reason why they are in pain. In all of these situations, you need to take your cat to the veterinarian to figure out what is causing her to be in so much pain, especially because it could be a real emergency.

Cats may hiss if they are sick, especially with chronic illnesses, too. Once again, if you think this could potentially be the cause, you should take your cat to the vet immediately. Another common cause of hissing in cats is anxiety or fear. If your cat is afraid of something, she may start hissing often. Cats who are hissing out of fear may press their ears flat back against their heads, puff up their tails, and keep their eyes extra-wide.

Have you ever heard your cat hiss at someone who enters your home or does your cat run off and hide? While it might not make any sense to you, your cat is trying to communicate with you. In the wild, cats hunt alone. They depend on stealth to survive; not only to avoid enemies, but also to hide from prey they want to catch.