Is it normal for cats to hiss

Other cats only briefly tolerate petting and show no indication of actually liking it. Close X Animal Type. Keywords Search. Apply Filters. Recent Articles Back to Top. If your cat. Keeping Cats Off Countertops and Tables. The first step in keeping your cat off countertops and tables is to remove any opportunity or temptation.

Make sure all your food items are put away or stored in cat-proof containers such as Tupperware or a bread bin. Introducing Cats and Dogs. Dogs and cats can make wonderful companions for each other. Care must be taken when introducing a dog to a cat, however; these are two different species with different ways of communicating and. Petting-Related Biting.

Many cats enjoy being stroked— they purr, knead their paws, and lean into your hand. If your cat is hissing, it could be related to stressors in his life or environment. As mentioned previously, cats will sometimes hiss when being approached or handled by humans. Stevenson notes that cats suffering from arthritis may hiss when jumping off a chair or moving in a way that causes pain to flare up. Koski agrees. But some quirky, comical cats will hiss often to show their displeasure or annoyance, like a human uttering a swear word to themselves, Stevenson explains.

A cat might also hiss when denied a treat he wants. Giving the cat some space and respect will go far to reduce hissing if this is the case.

Home Slideshows. Written by: PetMD Editorial. Published: August 30, Fear-induced aggression. Your cat may feel threatened by new people, noises or other changes in the household. Redirected aggression. Asocial aggression. Cats who were not socialized properly as kittens may be fearful of people and pets. Petting-induced aggression. Inter-cat aggression. Although this type of aggression is often associated with male cats who haven't been neutered, any adult cat may bully others in the household over territorial conflicts.

Predatory aggression. Cats may view other pets in the household — birds , gerbils and guinea pigs — as prey and become agitated when they're near them. However, cats also always want an emergency exit.

Hissing in cats is a commonly misinterpreted behavior. Contrary to popular belief, hissing is not an aggressive behavior, nor is it generally exhibited by an aggressive cat. Hissing is a defensive gesture.