Why Cats Hiss
by Nomi Berger
As remarkably loving and friendly as cats are, if they ever feel threatened, they’re more than capable of adequately defending themselves. How? They will typically emit a loud hissing sound to frighten off whomever or whatever is the source of their perceived fear.
According to veterinarians and animal behaviorists, we, as humans, hear these startling, snake-like noises and automatically assume they come from an aggressive cat, when in fact, the opposite is true. Even the most passive cats will hiss if confronted with a situation that makes them feel anxious or afraid. Hissing is simply one of the many “nonverbal” ways in which all cats communicate with their pet parents, fellow felines and/or unfamiliar faces.
When cats feel threatened, they will not only emit those hissing sounds, they will even change their facial expression and ear and body postures to appear more intimidating. Similar to a snake’s long hiss and the way it stands up when it feels it’s being threatened, this cat behavior is meant to be a warning signal to deter all of their “opponents.” In fact, it’s believed that cats actually developed their hissing “techniques” from snakes.
Have you noticed that any time a new guest enters your home – from a good friend visiting for the weekend to a family member during a reunion dinner — your cat doesn’t warm up to them? While this might not apply to all cats, some may view your guest as a potential threat and will, therefore, appear aggressive and hiss to ward off the “intruder” from invading their territory. To make the visit less stressful for everyone involved, warn them ahead of time to basically ignore your cat unless they openly “ask” for your visitors’ attention. You can also try one of any number of reputable cat diffusers to keep your cat calm long before your company arrives. Diffusers make your home a safe haven for your cat by using a heating element to diffuse a calming pheromone into the air. The vapor signals to your cat that the area is both safe and friendly, reducing their urge to either hiss at your guests or display other forms of defensive behaviors.
Attempting to force your cat to do something they heartily dislike — from putting them in their carrier to shooing them off a piece of furniture — can cause them that same anxiety. The result: your cat will start hissing, which in “cat language,” means “STOP!” Instead, help your cat stay calm during these situations by using one of various brands of calming cat chews. These soothing supplements (featuring such flavors as chicken, lamb, liver and salmon) use natural ingredients to reduce your cat’s stress and ease any aggressive behavior on their part.
Another suggestion is using a brand name pheromone cat-calming collar. These collars’ pheromones mimic those that a mother cat produces to alleviate any stress her offspring might have. Once around your cat’s neck, it will help them feel safe and secure and less likely to resort to defensive behaviors. Then there’s always a thundershirt to keep your cat relaxed in stressful situations by applying gentle, constant pressure to calm their fear and anxiety.
Should your cat hiss at you, rather than reprimand or attempt to comfort them, experts advise you to give them space by walking away. If you don’t, your anxious cat may resort to more aggressive behaviors such as scratching and/or biting you. Better still, if you can identify the source of their anxiety, remove it as soon as possible (from a new kitty to an old friend of yours) before the cat becomes combative and injures them.
Please bear in mind, though, that besides feeling intimidated, your cat may hiss because something is physically wrong with them. Hissing can be a sign that they’re ill and require medical attention. If your cat is hissing with no perceived threats in sight, bring them to your vet promptly for a consultation and a thorough examination.
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