Cat Behavior - Hissing
If you are a true cat lover, you take great pride in understanding your cat's behavior.
And of all the behaviors you're trying to explain to your neighbor over a cup of tea, "hissing" may be one of the more interesting ones.
To satisfy your neighbor's curiosity you will have to explain why your cat hisses, what your cat hisses at and what the heck is that hiss anyway? To begin with, it's plain and simple; your cat will hiss and spit at anything they want to drive away, other animals or people.
The action is a form of "defense" mechanism, intended to warn the human or animal to either stay away or go away depending on the situation.
The question of why however is a bit more complicated.
Your cat will hiss at another cat often when hierarchy is trying to be established.
Or in other words, when they're trying to figure out who the boss is.
Cats that live together can and will have their little arguments.
It's rare for two or more cats to share the same space in a home without one cat hissing at the other at some point.
Introduce a new cat to the mix and you can almost guarantee hissing, spitting, and growling, and if you are not careful, actual fighting will break out until that all important dominant hierarchy is established.
Your cat will hiss at your neighbor because cats don't like some people just as some people don't like cats.
Sometimes they are afraid of some people for no obvious reason.
Cat owners that have the privilege of sharing their household with mother and her kittens will have witnessed mother cat hissing at her kittens.
Sometimes the mother cat may need a bit of a rest and the kittens soon learn that mom hissing means stay away.
Another reason that you may find your cat hissing at you is because she is injured or not feeling well.
If it is out of character for your cat to hiss at you and there are other signs that she is not well, not eating or drinking, vomiting, etc.
then you may want to consult a veterinarian.
And finally, what he heck is that hiss anyway? Well, interestingly, a cat's hissing is a form of mimicry or mimicked behavior.
Your cat is pretending to be a snake.
What? A snake you say? Yes, the hiss is an almost exact copy of the hiss of a snake.
Many predators will back off from attacking snakes because they know that a lot of snakes are venomous.
A cat hissing will often have its ears flattened against its head, its mouth gaping open and its tail thrashing, all serving to give the impression of a dangerous snake that the predator better not mess with.
I bet your neighbor didn't see that one coming!
And of all the behaviors you're trying to explain to your neighbor over a cup of tea, "hissing" may be one of the more interesting ones.
To satisfy your neighbor's curiosity you will have to explain why your cat hisses, what your cat hisses at and what the heck is that hiss anyway? To begin with, it's plain and simple; your cat will hiss and spit at anything they want to drive away, other animals or people.
The action is a form of "defense" mechanism, intended to warn the human or animal to either stay away or go away depending on the situation.
The question of why however is a bit more complicated.
Your cat will hiss at another cat often when hierarchy is trying to be established.
Or in other words, when they're trying to figure out who the boss is.
Cats that live together can and will have their little arguments.
It's rare for two or more cats to share the same space in a home without one cat hissing at the other at some point.
Introduce a new cat to the mix and you can almost guarantee hissing, spitting, and growling, and if you are not careful, actual fighting will break out until that all important dominant hierarchy is established.
Your cat will hiss at your neighbor because cats don't like some people just as some people don't like cats.
Sometimes they are afraid of some people for no obvious reason.
Cat owners that have the privilege of sharing their household with mother and her kittens will have witnessed mother cat hissing at her kittens.
Sometimes the mother cat may need a bit of a rest and the kittens soon learn that mom hissing means stay away.
Another reason that you may find your cat hissing at you is because she is injured or not feeling well.
If it is out of character for your cat to hiss at you and there are other signs that she is not well, not eating or drinking, vomiting, etc.
then you may want to consult a veterinarian.
And finally, what he heck is that hiss anyway? Well, interestingly, a cat's hissing is a form of mimicry or mimicked behavior.
Your cat is pretending to be a snake.
What? A snake you say? Yes, the hiss is an almost exact copy of the hiss of a snake.
Many predators will back off from attacking snakes because they know that a lot of snakes are venomous.
A cat hissing will often have its ears flattened against its head, its mouth gaping open and its tail thrashing, all serving to give the impression of a dangerous snake that the predator better not mess with.
I bet your neighbor didn't see that one coming!