Why do cats hiss?

Does your cat ever hiss? What does it mean when a cat hisses at you? Let's explore the world of cats and hissing. 

According to rover.com, hissing in cats is an involuntary reaction to something that has startled them. I've seen my cat get startled by a small thing like me dropping my pen and let out a small hiss, then immediately relax again when he sees it was nothing that can hurt him. it's like when you might give out a little scream when something scares you and then realize it's nothing to worry about. My cat hissed then went back to being calm right away. He sometimes will start to groom himself then as if to say - I wasn't scared, I just needed to clean this foot!

Why would my cat hiss at me?

Sometimes it can feel like your cat is hissing for no reason. According to rover.com this can happen if your cat is overstimulated. A cat can get overstimulated from when petting. Even if they like the first few pets, it might get to be too much for them quickly, resulting in a hiss. Take that hiss as a warning and back off from petting to let your cat relax again. 

But another reason for cat hisses could be that they are in pain, so if your cat hisses at you during petting, pay attention to see if it always hisses when you touch a certain area. If your cat hisses consistently when touched in the same spot, it could be time for a trip to the vet to see if they are having pain in that area, especially if they have had any other changes in their routine, like hiding, decreased activity or decreased appetite. 

A cat might also hiss at you if it is annoyed with you. This can be because you are doing something it doesn't like, like trying to trim its nails, vacuuming, trying to put it in a travel carrier, or even just touching it when it's not authorized! This kind of hissing can be a common reaction to children who try to pick up or pet a cat who doesn't want their attention!

Why does my cat hiss at other cats?

Sometimes cats hiss at each other. PetMD lists some common reasons that cause cat on cat hissing. Some examples are:

• A mother cat trying to protect her kittens. Mother cats want to keep their kittens safe, so they will sometimes hiss at other cats even if they used to be friendly if she feels like they are getting too close to her kittens. 
• A cat trying to defend it's territory. A hissing cat might be trying to assert it's dominance. This can happen if a new pet is introduced into the household. If your cat feels threatened by a new addition, PetMD says it's important to make gradual introductions between them and make sure your cat has space to escape from the new pet for a while and feel secure. A cat could take a while to trust a new family member, and could be on edge and hiss more often then usual. This could contribute to the feeling that your cat is hissing at nothing, because a jumpy cat might be more quick to hiss at the smallest thing. 
• A situation out of the usual. PetMD gives the example of a cat who has returned from the vet who gets hissed at by the other cats in the household, possibly because of their absence and then return with a weird smell or maybe even a cone! 

Hissing cats could be giving a warning that they are feeling insecure and are actually trying to avoid aggression. They are sending a warning to back off, and if that warning is not heeded, then an attack could follow! If your cat is hissing, it can feel like a time to try to reassure them, but approaching a cat who is hissing because of feeling threatened may be taken as a sign that you are aggressive, and could cause your stressed cat to lash out with it's claws or even try to bite, so it's best to back off and let your cat calm down. Let them escape from the stressor, whether it is you, another pet or even the vacuum. It could take a while before your cat feels calm again, so give it time. Then, when they are calm again, PetMD says that some positive reinforcement like treats and toys can help relieve anxiety that can lead to hissing. 

Rover.com also offers some other suggestions to reduce stress for your cat. They say to make sure it has all the basic necessities like food, water and litter boxes. They also say scratching posts and cat trees can be helpful because they allow your cat to scratch and climb and can also provide a safe perch for them to escape to. Increasing play time with your cat might also help them work off some extra energy and bond with you. 

Paying attention to your cat to see if you can determine the cause for it's hissing and taking steps to make sure your cat feels safe can go a long way toward  a happier cat!

Photo by Rasmus Järborg on Unsplash