If your cat has been hissing at you often, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat hiss at me? Likely reasons why your cat hisses at you are because you approach or interact with them in an intimidating way, injury, a problem with their surroundings, or because your cat is not yet comfortable around you.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat will hiss at you and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main reason and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat hiss at me?
Below are likely causes and what would make each of them more likely.
Your cat is fearful of their environment
It could actually be the case that there is an issue with your cat’s environment. This would be more likely if your cat does not always hiss at you but they tend to do it when there are loud noises inside, other pets nearby or when they are stuck in a certain part of the house.
You intimidate your cat
The reason why your cat has been doing it might also be that they feel intimidated. This would be more likely if your cat seems to pull away from you and if they also scratch or bite. In this case, it could be the case that you are not being gentle enough or you are playing with them or petting too boldly.
Your cat wants you to stop touching them
Cats can quickly change their moods and might go from wanting you to touch them in one minute to wanting you to go away in the next. The reason why your cat does it could be that they don’t want you to touch them anymore. This would be more likely if it also shows signs of being agitated when it does it such as by flicking its tail, moving away from you, pushing you away, scratching or biting.
Previous experiences
The cause could also be that your cat was hurt when interacting with humans in the past and it has caused your cat to be anxious around humans. This would be more likely if you got your cat when they were no longer a kitten.
It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it because you hurt it. In this case, the behavior should reduce as your cat gets comfortable being around you again.
Injury
The cause might also be that your cat has gotten an injury. This would be more likely if your cat has started doing it suddenly and if they have been showing other signs of injury such as limping. If it seems like injury could be the cause, the best option would be to take them to a vet.
Your cat does not want to be bothered
It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it because they do not want to be bothered. This would be more likely if your cat tends to hiss when you approach them while they are trying to sleep or groom themselves.
Your cat is not yet comfortable around you
If you have not owned your cat for long, it might be the case that your cat is not yet comfortable around you. In this case, the behavior should reduce as your cat gets used to being around you.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your cat always hissed at you
If your cat did not always hiss at you, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If your cat started doing it suddenly, it might be due to things such as a change in how you interact with them, you got new pets that intimidate your cat, you hurt your cat, or your cat got an injury.
If there is a certain time that your cat hisses at you
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to hiss at you. If there is a certain time that your cat tends to do it, it might be the case that the timing has something to do with it. For example, if your cat does it when other pets are around, it might actually be the case that your cat is intimidated due to the other pets.
How to get my cat to stop hissing at me?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Observe your cats body language
Often cats will give prior warning before they start biting or scratching, it would help to observe its body language and to stop playing with it when it starts hissing or flicking its tail.
Play with your cat differently
If you have been playing with it forcefully, it would also likely help to try playing with it more gently or to play with it in a different way such as by dangling a string instead of touching it.
Be calm around your cat
It would also help to be calm and not too loud around your cat since it could be the case that your behavior has been causing it to get intimidated.
Get help
If it seems like your cat has been doing it due to injury and the behavior has started suddenly, it would help to take your cat for a checkup with the vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular cat and to rule out medical causes.
Why is my cat suddenly hissing at me?
Likely reasons why your cat has started hissing at you suddenly are a change in how you interact with your cat, a change in your cat’s environment, you hurt your cat or injury.
Why does my cat hiss at me sometimes?
If your cat only hisses at you sometimes, it could be due to things such as when you interact with it in a certain manner such as by being too loud or aggressive, your cat does not want to be bothered because it is sleeping or grooming itself, other pets or people being around that your cat does not like or loud noises.
Why does my cat hiss at me for no reason?
Possible reasons why your cat will hiss at you for no apparent reason are the way you approach it, the way you pet it, or a problem with your cat’s surroundings. It could also be because your cat gets bored of you petting it and it decides that it wants you to stop so it starts hissing.
Why does my cat hiss at me outside?
Possible reasons why your cat hisses at you when it is outside are that your cat does not want to be bothered or that your cat does not like the way that you approach it.
Why does my cat only hiss at me?
The reason why your cat hisses at you specifically could be due to you hurting it or because you interact with your cat differently to other people. It could be the case that you are too loud or bold when interacting with it. It would help to observe how other people interact with your cat and what they do differently.