Why does my cat hiss at me when I pet it? You may have touched it in the wrong place
Ferenczi Deborah
2023. June 10 - Photos: Getty Images Hungary
Ferenczi Deborah
2023. June 10 - Photos: Getty Images Hungary
The strange and perhaps inexplicable habits of cats have always attracted people's attention. One such characteristic behavior is hissing. It sometimes happens when you pet or hug a cat and this can scare us, since we know that hissing is a sign of anger or fear. But it can also mean something else! We'll tell you what else they express with it.
Cats instinctively observe and evaluate their environment, as well as the people who live with them. However, as an ancient predator, they perceive certain things as a threat, and when they do, they often hiss. However, they do this not only when they feel in danger. After all, as animals known for their independence and sovereignty, they do not like to be interrupted or restricted in their activities.
If people get too close to them, or if they feel they don’t have enough room to move around comfortably, they will still hiss, scaring off the disturbing individual. In addition, it may also happen that the cat hisses because it is being petted too much or in places that are uncomfortable.
The latter statement does not, of course, mean that all cats hiss when petted. Many cats especially enjoy human touch and enjoy being petted. But when it starts to hiss, it indicates that it is not feeling well and wants to retreat. It is important to understand and respect the boundaries of animals in order to treat them properly. If your pet is hissing, you should let it decide how comfortable your presence is for it. After all, due to their nature, they are independent animals who like to be free. If we respect this, we can build a more harmonious relationship with them.
Hissing of a cat is a much more complex and subtle signal than simply expressing anger. Cats express a wide range of emotions with it, including worry, curiosity and pain. When it hisses, it usually does so because something is bothering or causing discomfort to it. This could be, for example, that it feels physical pain when you caress it.
Another reason could be that the cat is stressed or excited, and hissing is a kind of defense mechanism. It does this to scare you and protect itself from further petting. Understanding how cats hisses can help people better understand the metacommunication of these mysterious creatures.
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