All About Hissing

Hissing: It’s not “mean." It’s communication!

  • Cats are not being “aggressive” when they hiss. They’re expressing, “I feel uncomfortable or scared, and I want this to stop.” And that’s ok.
  • Cats hiss to avoid physical contact. They’re saying, “Please go away, I don’t want to fight.”
  • In multi-cat homes, the cat that hisses most often is the one that feels the most stress or bullying. So please don’t get upset with your cat for hissing.
  • Respect the hiss by giving your cat space.

To prevent hissing among cats, ensure plentiful and spread-out resources like food bowls and litter boxes. Also, provide vertical territory for them to easily get away from each other.

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Just a few short years ago, cats and dogs were killed in staggering numbers in this country simply because shelters didn't have the community support or the resources to save their lives. That number is now less that half a million per year, but there's still work to do to ensure a bright future for every dog and cat in America.

Best Friends operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and is committed to saving the lives of homeless pets by working with shelters and passionate people like you. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill in 2025. Together, we will Save Them All.