Hissing Back at the Cat: Is It Bad?

When a cat hisses at you, it is a frightening sound, as anybody who has experienced it can attest. It is comparable to the warning sound (which is equally unforgettable!) when a cat hisses.

While some cat behaviourists advocate that cats hiss, others believe that cats hissing may also replicate the sound of a snake. The sound of a hiss, whether emanating from a cat or a snake, may convey the same message: “retrace your steps.”

After reading this, you have realized that hissing at your cat is no longer a good idea. Continue reading to learn how to tell if your cat dislikes you, why your cat may hiss at you at odd times, what to do if this occurs, and much more.

What is a Hiss?

In all cats, even the most giant wild cats, such as big cats, hissing is an intrinsic behaviour that may seem. While pressing air through their tongues with their mouths arched forward towards the middle of their mouths, cats produce the hissing sound that they are familiar with.

When a cat hisses, let out a part of the air. Arching of the body, a drawback of the lips, and the flattening of the ears are common characteristics of a cat hissing from the top.

In addition to hissing, a cat’s hair will rise as a reflexive reaction to anything that causes the cat to hiss. Getting anxious while your cat hisses are entirely normal and even encouraged. A protective instinct, it is claimed, is shown by hissing. It acts as a warning, informing subjects that the cat may lash out over them if they do not stop; what about they are on.

Why Does Your Cat Hiss? 

When compared to other cat sounds, hissing is clear and straightforward. While many cat sounds might indicate conflicting emotions (for example, purring is often associated with joyful cats, it can also mean fear), hissing is straightforward and straightforward.

It’s an indication of impending danger. In addition, if you see a hissing cat, you can be confident that the cat is in some state of distress.

There are several causes why your cat could throw a hissy fit when healthy. Allow me to tear them down:

Annoyed:

When a cat is annoyed with someone or something, there are a few ways it might express its feelings. Most of them have rather obvious facial expressions, such as bared fangs, pinched back ears, an arched back, a fluffed out tail, or flared eyes. On the other hand, if you are talking about noises, hissing is a cat noise or vocalization that shows your puppy is pissed off.

Following the advice of San Francisco-based cat behaviourist perspective and Naughty book author Marilyn Krieger (aka The Cat Educator), a qualified Cat Conduct Consultant. To put it another way: changing unwanted behaviours via positive reinforcement). As your cat hisses, it signifies that your pet is guarding you.

As well as a desire to be aware of your surroundings. ‘A hiss is certainly advising you to keep away,’ she adds. In this case, it is an act of separation. When this occurs, biting may follow. Cats and other animals may also hiss at him. If the cat is whizzing through the glass, there is another creature outdoors. Cats can detect the scent of a cat that has been sprayed outdoors.

You are bugging them:

The most likely explanation for your cat hissing at you is because they sense your anxiety. They may no longer want to be touched at this point, or it may be because you are trying to pick them up when they do not even would like you to. If you do not have any children at home, this form of cat hissing is a common problem if young children do not know when to leave a cat alone.

Pain:

To avoid being taken advantage of, wildlife in the wild hide whatever weaknesses they have. Only if anything is wrong will cats show signs of pain and discomfort right away. If your cat is hissing, it could indicate that he is in despair.

To keep people and other animals away from them (especially children), cats hiss to do so. When your cat spends so much time alone or slipping off to places you cannot get, these hisses could also be a part of their strategy – essentially, “keep far away from me!”

Afraid:

Your cat hisses because it is worried. Combat or flight is a well-known response. When a cat is scared or surprised, it may hiss in response. Your cat may be suffering an anxiety attack if it makes a hissing sound before engaging in a fight or fleeing.

Confused:

Some cats hiss in reaction to bewilderment, while others show various degrees of comfort when faced with novel situations. Each moment your cat is in the process of becoming an entirely new kitten, this could crop up.

Unfamiliarity:

Cats are drawn to familiar objects that help them feel safe and at home. Therefore, your cat’s hissing may cause by new elements in their environment, such as a new toy or fixtures, which may cause your cat to feel uneasy and uncomfortable. Make sure to gradually bring new goods into your own house so that your pets can adapt to them.

Is It Okay To Hiss At Your Cat?

It’s not okay to hiss back at your cat because the sound of hissing can cause scarring of the cat.

Also, if your cat is mentally unprepared to hear any sound, a sudden sound in its ear can cause damage.

Hissing sounds like the sound of a snake which the cat may suddenly hear and think that a snake is coming from behind and may get very scared.

So you should never hiss from behind the cat.

What Does Hissing At Your Cat Do?

Your kitty’s thinking will negatively affect if you hiss at them. In addition, he may be apprehensive about chatting with you. Cats’ propensity of hissing has long been misinterpreted. Contrary to generally held beliefs, aggressive cats do not often hiss.

Hissing is a form of self-defence. The fact that a cat is in agony is a sight that saw on a practically daily basis. Most likely, someone has taken advantage of you in one way or another. A common strategy used to minimize physical conflict is hissing.

Antagonized or pursued, the cat that hisses regularly is usually the cat experiencing kitty interactions and cross violence. Hissing is a natural way to express their pain, stress, or worry.

This is the sound of an anxious and frightened kitten hissing. The common belief is that a hissing cat is “teasing” or “taunting” another cat, canine, or even a human being.

Just an expression of emotion, like “I’m disillusioned” or “I’m threatened”, is all that hissing is.

What should I do if my cat is hissing at me?

First, if your cat is hissing at you, you must give them some space. You would not want to make them attack or show any signs of competing with each other. You should keep an eye on your cat’s nonverbal cues. This way, you can figure out how they begin to feel before you pet them and avoid your cat hissing at you!

You should also teach your kids how to pet and treat a cat because kids cannot tell when your cat is scared or stressed. You should also make sure your home has many places where your cat can hide when people feel stressed. Igloos, cat trees, and areas up high are the finest for them because they let them have a little quiet time.

Should I Punish My Cat For Hissing?

If your cat is acting, but you do not like it, the best way to stop it is to make a bad connection between what your cat does and what happens.

It is known that some cat owners use things like a water bottle or a hand-held alarm to help their cats get back on track. Nonetheless, that is less likely to make them more afraid, which could make their lousy behaviour even worse.

It does not matter what method you use to punish someone. It would help if you stayed out of the way while you did this.

Therefore, your cat will not know that you were the one who made them stop what they were doing and start something else.

Whether your cat is hissing at the veterinarian staff or a new family member, it is likely scared or anxious. Your cat’s hissing will get worse if you attempt to “correct” or “severely punish” it.

Why Do Cats Hiss at People?

When your cat is hissing at a visitor or a roommate? In addition, there is a reason behind this; first, they are scared or do not know the person’s scent; cats hiss at people when they feel threatened. They may even pick up the fragrance of every other animal in your friend!

Make sure your friend knows not to approach or touch your cat anymore if this happens. It is an intelligent decision to ignore your cat. Using “cat language” indicates that your friend is neither an annoyance nor an intruder. Your cat may want to learn more about this strange-smelling stranger over time.

On the other hand, Cats do not just hiss at random passersby. The odd hissing fit from your cat is not uncommon. Your cat’s anxiety and overstimulation are the most common causes of this behaviour. The activity level is absolutely out of control, and she urges everyone to step back for a little.

With all of the sights and noises of the outside world, even the friendliest of cats might get overwhelmed and frightened. Your kitten may hiss, swat, or even bite your hand if you reach down to pet her in the wrong manner.

Your cat may hiss at you if she is afraid of something, even though nothing has changed. There is nothing wrong with her expression; it merely suggests she feels overwhelmed and exhausted.

Yelling at her or scolding her will make things worse. Alternatively, give her room, amble, and wait for her to approach you. You might also give her some additional “comfort foods” to cheer her up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does hissing back at your cat mean?

It is a common misconception that hissing is a sign of aggression among cats, but this is not the case. When you hiss, you are trying to defend yourself. Cats that feel wronged, antagonized, or intimidated are more likely to display this behaviour. Hissing is a common tactic used to avoid getting into a fight.

Does hissing mean a cat is mad?

Contrary to popular opinion, hissing is a common technique for cats to show fear rather than violence or hate. According to Boston-based animal behaviourist perspective and licensed equine behavioural approach Alana Stevenson, “Hissing is a typical behaviour in cats.” They hiss when they are threatened, afraid, or disturbed.”

Why does my cat hiss when I touch her back?

Many reasons may explain why cats act aggressively against humans when they try to pet them. The most frequent is when a cat is afraid, it may show signs of defence such as dilated pupils, backwards-pointing ears, or a twitching tail. A human reaching out to pet your cat may cause your cat to snarl, hiss, or swat him.

Should I let my cats hiss at each other?

Both should let out as long as they are calm. It is very usual for them to hiss at each other when they first meet, so do not be worried. Additionally, a small amount of mild swatting is not uncommon.

Why is my cat suddenly hissing and growling at me?

Cats often express their feelings and intentions by growling or hissing. Cats snarling and hissing are often a sign of fear. You may tell when your cat is disturbed by how it roars, hisses or spats; this indicates something is wrong.

Why is my cat suddenly hissing at everyone?

Vet Street says that new objects in their surroundings might frighten cats. When confronted with new people, pets, or items, they may hiss aggressively to show their anxiety. Hesitation is an early warning indicator, and if your cat responds by attacking, you should be aware of this.

Why does my cat hiss at my other cat when playing?

The act of ‘playing’ may occasionally devolve into something more sinister. Hissing may hear as a result. You do not need to worry about it as long as you do not hear any hissing noises during a game session.

Why does my cat hiss when I walk by?

Using hissing to avoid an actual fight is a typical approach. It is a fact of cat life that the cat that hisses most often is either the victim or the aggressor in cat-to-cat conflicts. Hissing is a common technique for individuals to express their fear or discomfort.

Why does my cat hiss at everyone but me?

Your pets may be protective of your house, but they may also be unfriendly to your guests because they detest change or because they are predatory animals with inbuilt aggression.

Do cats hiss to imitate snakes?

Imagine it or not, when cats hiss, they copy snakes in their hissing! When it comes to predators, snakes generally get a bad rap because of their reputation as one of the deadliest. The hissing sound that cats make is similar to that of snakes when they are trying to frighten an intruder.

Final Thoughts:

Cat hissing is not that big of an issue after all. Investigate your cat’s daily routine to discover what could be causing the sudden onset of hiss in your pet. Remove everything that might be causing you discomfort or anxiety. Setting the toy in its proper place may be as simple as that. Further, you should take your cat to the doctor for an examination if you have no other idea why she is hissing in that way. If you have a senior cat with unique health needs, your veterinarianmay identify a hidden source of suffering, such as an infection or arthritis. Your cat’s unusual hissing habit should cease as soon as the discomfort is relieved.