Don't punish the cats for hissing or growling as that can form a negative association about the other cat, as well as you. Allow the cats to see each other once there has been no hissing for a couple of days.
Cats hiss at people because they feel intimidated or don't recognize the person's smells. They might even pick up the smell of another animal on your friend! If this happens, tell your friend not to approach your cat or try to pet her. The best action is to ignore your cat.
Hissing and Vocalization
Most cats don't vocalize when they are playing and having fun. If they begin to growl or hiss, make sure to separate them and give the cats a time-out for a while, until they settle down.
Give your cat some space
If your cat hisses and growls, he's telling you to back off. Make sure that you and other members of your family listen. The simple act of stepping back and letting your cat be can reassure him and show him that he can establish his own space in the house.
“Cats don't forgive, and once they realize a person is causing them anxiety or hurt, they keep away.” So says John Bradshaw, an anthrozoologist at Bristol University and author of “Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet.”
Contrary to popular belief, hissing is not an aggressive behavior, nor is it generally exhibited by an aggressive cat. Hissing is a defensive gesture. It is almost always exhibited by a cat that feels victimized, antagonized, or threatened in some way. Hissing is often a way to avoid a physical confrontation.
Do not punish your cat for this behavior problem. Never yell at or hit your cats as this will not help and will only make your cat fear you or become even more aggressive. Instead, consult with a professional.
When you are petting your cat and she suddenly bites, scratches, or hisses at you, she is likely exhibiting petting-induced aggression.
You will most likely just irritate them. They usually look at you like you're crazy. The kitty may hiss back or not.
"If cats aren't getting enough play, it can affect their wholemodus operandi, and their usual habits can change," says Wilbourn. "They can become destructive and aggressive because they have all of this bottled-up energy."
Most often cats will start hissing at you because they are annoyed and are trying to tell you to back off. However, a hissing cat could also be telling you that they are in pain and need your help. So if you're petting them or lifting them when the hissing sound starts, check to see if they have any signs of injury.
A light tap on the nose or top of the head has been advocated for owner directed behaviors such as play biting, hissing and swatting. However, even these mild forms of punishment can lead to retaliation, fear and an increased level of aggression in some cats, and cannot therefore be universally recommended.
“Generally, hissing is the last warning you will get prior to physical contact such as a swat, or a bite. So find ways to de-escalate the situation. Stop making direct eye contact, back away, don't try and touch or pet this cat.” Bennett recommends giving the cat time to settle down, and providing an escape option.
This study shows that cats respond functionally to their owner's emotional stimuli when their owner showed “anger” or “anxiety”, and their stress levels were higher as compared to when they were shown “happiness”.
Cats Aren't Mind ReadersF
Scolding might make sense to you, but that doesn't mean it does for your cat. In fact, pets often have no idea what just happened or why you're yelling at them.
Growling, hissing or spitting indicates a cat who is annoyed, frightened, angry or aggressive. Leave this cat alone. A yowl or howl (they sound like loud, drawn-out meows) tells you your cat is in some kind of distress—stuck in a closet, looking for you or in pain.
Cats tend to hiss and growl to show you that they are unhappy, worried, angry, or feel threatened. Sometimes hissing or growing is a reaction to pain. Hissing can vary in severity from a silent facial expression to an angry “spit.” Your veterinarian will need to give your cat a thorough check to rule out a pain cause.
House soiling, aggression and scratching are the most common cat behavior issues. Most of the behaviors that people consider issues (e.g., chewing, biting and scratching) are actually normal cat behaviors. Unfortunately, they are unacceptable to many of us.
Our team of vets agree that using water bottles to discipline cats isn't the best course of action. According to Dr. Dwight Alleyne, “Spraying cats with water can create a negative association with humans. As a result, they may become more anxious or even aggressive over time.”
No. Here's the problem with spraying a cat with water: The only thing the cat learns is that when he sees the water bottle, it's time to run. “Run whenever you see this bottle” is not a particularly useful cue to teach, and running to escape punishment is not a positive way to interact with your cat.
When dominating a cat, don't be rude to the cat. Don't mock the cat while doing it. Just be firm and loving as a cat-mom, and you will get across the message that the cat's not rejected. Time, patience, honesty, confidence and consistency are the best ways to establish enough trust that you can dominate a cat.