Is your cat angry or scared: What cat hissing actually means

A sudden hiss from your cat can be startling. One moment, your pet seems calm; the next, it pulls back, opens its mouth, and produces that sharp, snake-like sound. Many owners see this reaction as anger or bad behaviour, but in reality, cat hissing is usually a sign of fear, stress or discomfort. It is a warning, not an attack. When you understand this, it becomes much easier to respond gently and prevent the situation from escalating. Cat hissing is your pet’s way of communicating that something feels wrong and it needs space. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Veterinary Science examined feline vocal communication and found that defensive sounds like hissing are most commonly used in situations involving fear, threat or discomfort, rather than true aggression. This r