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We all know that fateful sound of terror, something ain’t sitting right with your cat and the hiss has been unleashed. But why is it that cats hiss, what does it mean and should we be as offended as we feel by this behaviour?
It’s quite clear to us that when your cat hisses it’s because something has truly ticked them off and they are in no mood for it. But does it go deeper and are there reasons we don’t understand that leads them to let out their inner cobra.
Reasons cats hiss
There can be lots of different reasons for a cat to hiss, ranging from simple annoyance down to potential pain or a medical condition. It’s also a totally normal way for cats to communicate despite the shock value it has on us less-hissy humans.
Here are 5 of the most common reason your cat might have to let the hiss rip:
Stress
1. Stress – cats love routine and normality, and new things disrupting their environments can cause high stress to our little fur balls. If something is stressing them out at home, you may hear a hiss to let you know.
A warning
2. A warning – a hiss can often be the first level of aggression before a full-blown cat fight. When they’re in fight mode, hisses come first to warn their opponent to back off before things get physical. Cats are super territorial so you’ll often see this behaviour if there’s another cat-shaped intruder on their turf.
Change
3. Change – cats can be extremely uneasy around unfamiliar objects and people. This can be something so simple as a new sofa putting them on edge, or a new friendly neighbour popping around for a chat. Your cat is unfamiliar and might hiss as a defence mechanism until they feel a little more confident around the new change in their home.
Pain
4. Pain – sadly hissing can be a sign your cat is in pain. If you notice whenever you’re picking up or handling your furry friend they’re letting out a hiss, it might be worth calling the vet for a once over just to check they’re in tip-top health.
They’ve had enough
5. They’ve simply had enough – probably the most common of all. We all know cats are super moody, it’s why we love them. Nothing like their canine counterparts, cats sometimes just aren’t in the mood for you. Almost impossible not to take personally, you might just have to acknowledge that if you’re on the end of an irritated hiss, they may have just had enough of their human for the day and it’s time to give them their space. It’s important to acknowledge their body language, and not over handle or pet your cats too rough. They’re sensitive souls and sometimes they just need downtime.
If you do have a hisser on your hands, a top tip is to provide plenty of cosy zen dens and hiding spots for your cat to go and take 5 to calm down somewhere they feel safe and secluded. A simple time-out could be all it takes to improve their mood and get them back purring on your knee in no time.
