Why it happens
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Fear
A hissing cat is above all afraid: of a stranger, a dog, a noise or a sudden movement. At the same time it arches its back, puffs up its fur, flattens its ears and bares its teeth to look bigger and more dangerous.
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A warning before self-defence
Hissing comes before a swipe of the paw or a bite. The cat is giving a chance to avoid a clash, so there is no need to punish it: a cat punished for hissing may attack without warning next time.
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A new animal or a visitor
A new cat, a puppy or a visitor carrying a strange smell makes a cat uneasy. Hissing in the first days is normal and fades when the introductions are slow.
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Pain
A cat that hisses when you touch a certain part of its body or pick it up may be in pain. Suspect it all the more if it used to enjoy being stroked and held.
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A strange smell
Sometimes a cat hisses at its own person or at another cat in the home when they come back smelling of other animals or the vet's. Once the smell fades, it goes back to normal.
What helps
- Give it space Stop, do not stare straight into the cat's eyes and do not reach out to it. Let it retreat to a safe spot and decide for itself when to come back.
- A safe hiding place A cat needs somewhere to hide: a covered bed, a box or a high platform on a cat tree. Leave it alone there, even if you would love to pick it up.
- Visitors and children When visitors arrive, let the cat choose whether to come out and say hello. Ask guests and children not to chase or pick up the cat, but rather to drop a treat on the floor and wait.
- Slow introductions A new animal should live in a separate room first, with the cats getting to know each other through smell and a closed door. The page on cats fighting sets out the steps.
- Calm, not punishment Speak softly, move slowly and do not scold the cat. When it comes over and sniffs your hand of its own accord, offer a treat: that teaches it your company is safe.
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When to see a trainer or behaviourist
If the cat keeps hissing at and attacking family members or another animal, or fear stops it eating or using the litter box, contact a qualified feline behaviourist. Until then do not force meetings, do not pick the cat up against its will and do not punish it.
When it is a question for a vet
See a vet if the cat has suddenly started hissing when you touch or lift it, if it hisses at its own people, hides, eats less or limps, especially if it is an older cat. A sudden change in behaviour can mean pain or illness.