Why Cats Hiss

Posted by Jennifer Copley Jun 25, 2008

Cats hiss and spit at those they want to drive away – other animals or people. Young kittens are capable of hissing even before their eyes have opened. Thus, the behaviour is innate rather than learned. Hissing and spitting is a threatening gesture designed to trick the watcher into subconsciously associating the cat with a dangerous snake. A hissing cat flattens its ears, creating a face shape much like that of a poisonous snake. Often, the cat’s fur will stand on end and it will arch its back to make itself appear bigger and thus more capable of inflicting damage.

Cats aren’t the only creatures that use mimicry this way. There are many non-poisonous insects that have markings similar to those of poisonous species to trick potential predators into thinking that it would be far too risky to take a bite. Insects may also mimic less tasty species or faster moving species that are difficult to catch. Some butterflies and fish have markings that resemble eyes in areas other than their heads to trick predators into biting the wrong spot so that the prey can escape. For mimicry basics, see the University of Arizona’s Information Sheet.

For more on cat behaviour, see:

• Cat World: A Feline Encyclopedia by Desmond Morris
• Treating Aggression in Cats
• Why Cats Refuse Food
• Purring Helps with Healing