How To Deal With Cat Hissing

The sound and appearance of a cat hissing can be a scary experience. The cat is typically crouching, with his back arched, mouth half open, eyes half shut, ears back, tail lashing and fangs bared. The combination of the aggressive stance, menacing expression and loud hiss is enough to send anyone - or anything - running for cover.

Let's look at the reasons why cats hiss and what you can do to deal with it.

Why Do Cats Hiss?

A hissing cat is basically trying to frighten away whatever or whoever he's hissing at. It's an act of defense. He's issuing a clear warning saying "carry on approaching me at your own risk."

Snakes are one of the most deadly and feared animals. A cat hissing resembles a snake that's just about to strike - both facially and in the way its body moves. Mimicry - where one animal looks or acts like another - is common amongst different animal species. Some behaviorists believe that cat hissing came about through mimicry of snakes and has evolved as a feline defense mechanism.

The answer to this depends on the reason why your cat is hissing. Here are some common reasons:

1) You've just got a new kitten or cat

If you've recently got a new kitten, your adult cat may hiss at her initially either to establish who's boss, or to warn the kitten off if she's becoming a bit too boisterous. Usually this isn't a problem and won't require intervention from you. The adult is setting boundaries that the kitten will quickly learn. Click here for advice on introducing a new kitten to your adult cat.

Similarly, if you've recently got an additional adult cat, there will be some hissing, growling and perhaps the odd scrap until the cats have established a pecking order. This is normal and shouldn't require any intervention unless the fighting gets serious. To reduce the risk of a war developing, the introductions should be done in a controlled way. The same principles apply for introducing a new adult as those for introducing a new kitten.

2) Your cat is fighting

Fighting cats hiss at each other - before, during and after the fight. Sometimes a fight won't actually start if one cat can scare the other off. Fighting is part and parcel of un-neutered male cat behavior; un-neutered males are much more likely to fight than any other cats. Getting your cat neutered will greatly reduce his urge to fight, reduce risks to his safety and health and generally make him into a much better pet.

3) Defense of his home against "invading" humans

Cats will sometimes hiss at human visitors, because they see them as a potential threat and "invader" of their home. If this happens, the best way to deal with it, if possible, is to ignore it. Neither you or your visitor should shout at the cat or stare at him - both of these actions increase the risk of an attack.

Once the cat has calmed down, if your visitor hasn't run for the hills, get them to hold some of your cat's favorite treats. If your visitor is nervous about holding the treats at first, just put them on the floor or chair next to where they're sitting. If the cat wants them badly enough, he'll have to approach the visitor. Over time, he'll start to trust your visitor and cease to see them as a threat.

4) Other reasons

Hissing is part and parcel of aggressive cat behavior. Click on the links below for some common reasons for aggression in cats and advice on how to deal with it:

Aggressive Cats that Fear Humans
Aggressive Male Cat Behavior
Angry Cat Behavior During Play
Cat Aggression During Petting
Dominance Driven Angry Cats
Maternal Cat Aggressive Behavior

Cat hissing is a "back off or else" warning. I wouldn't advise anyone to approach a hissing cat, unless they're a masochist... Much better to leave the cat alone until he's calmed down.


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