Why does the cat hiss?

Typically, wild or unfamiliar cats hiss at people or other larger animals. Hissing in cats is a warning sign. This is not a pleasant phenomenon, because we can never be sure how the cat will ultimately behave. However, most mammals make warning noises when they are in a dangerous situation or are about to attack. In cats, it is the hiss that tells us “Get away from me and stay away”. Hissing is usually a warning sign before attacking and biting the attacked individual. Why does a cat hiss and what are the reasons for this behavior?

Hissing as a warning sign

Hissing is nothing more than a warning sign of an attack. This behavior in cats occurs during defense. When we witness such behavior, let’s move away from the cat.

Each cat is different, some individuals may hiss and then run away, while others attack after being warned. To avoid unnecessary bites, the best solution is to move away from the cat so that it does not hurt us.

In most cases, this reaction accompanies wild cats. However, it also happens with domesticated cats. If we are the guardian of a cat that hisses at the household members, we should react quickly. This behavior can be a sign of poor socialization. However, it is worth bearing in mind that such behavior can be caused by a human, e.g. when he steps on an animal’s tail. Then, in this case, you should not be nervous. However, when hissing at a person is frequent and deepens, it may indicate that we are dealing with a problem with the socialization of our cat. A cat may hiss when it feels pain. In such a situation, the caregiver should react quickly and consult a specialist.

In addition, below is a list of situations when a cat may hiss at a person or other animals. The reason for this behavior can also be:

• defending a cat’s life against an attack by a larger predator,
• defense of food,
• defending offspring by the mother,
• diseases,
• behavioral disorders,
• the occurrence of discomfort due to pain,
• unwanted crushing of a cat’s body by a human or other member of the household,
• Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio disorders,
• territory defense,
• cats in heat.