Last Updated: 12 months ago
Are you wondering why your cat is hissing at new kittens?
You might if you’ve just brought a new kitten home and your mellow cat suddenly turns into a hissing machine.
Well, you’re lucky, because today we’re going to unravel the mystery behind this cat’s behavior.
Read on to find the answer!
5 Reasons Why Cats Hiss at New Kittens
Cats do not like change. Not at all. For example, my neighbors had a kitten that started coming to my house.
My neighbor was not happy about it, but the little one was very stubborn and practically invited itself into my home.
I named her Tabby for obvious reasons, and we agreed to co-own her. Ronnie was not happy about Tabby and kept her distance as much as possible.
However, whenever they crossed paths by chance, Ronnie would start hissing at the small kitten.
1. Stay away! I mean it!
Can you guess which predators most animals fear in the wild? Snakes. And do you know what snakes do? They hiss.
So, experts think that cats have learned to mimic the sound of a hissing snake when they feel threatened.
When the cat hisses, she doesn’t want to get into a physical fight. If she wants a battle, you’ll know it.
She will be making angry, challenging sounds and puffing up her tail and body to look bigger.
So, your cat is saying, “Back off,” when she hisses at the new kitten you’ve dared to bring home.
Ronnie wants to keep the kitten as far away as possible and deliver a clear message that it’s not welcome in the house.
She probably won’t attack the newcomer unless the kitten approaches her too closely.
2. It’s mine! Don’t approach
By nature, cats are lonely creatures that protect their territory fiercely.
Don’t get me wrong. Cats don’t mind the company of other cats or animals, as long as it’s on their terms.
What they hate is being forced to live with too many of their own kind with not enough room for personal space.
Remember that your home is your cat’s territory.
Ronnie rubs her head on the furniture and leaves scratch marks everywhere because she is announcing to whoever comes into the house that it’s already taken.
So, your cat will consider every new addition to the household an intruder in her territory and will try to chase it away. Hissing is one way to do it.
3. I’m jealous!
So, you’ve just brought a cute new kitten home. Think about the situation from the point of view of your cat:
- She has to share territory and food with the kitty
- You’re paying more attention to the kitten than to her
- The kitty is occupying her favorite sleeping places and getting in the way
What I’m saying is that your cat is going to be jealous of the new kitten, especially if she has been your only cat so far.
It’s not easy to learn to share things when you’ve never had to do it before, right?
On the bright side, hissing is actually better than outright violence or growling because it means that your cat might learn to enjoy the company of the new kitten.
If you have an unneutered male, do not leave him alone with a small kitten under any circumstances.
Tomcats are more violent than females and have a strong territorial instinct. A small kitten is far too young to be able to protect itself from the male.
4. You smell strange!
Sometimes cats might hiss at new kittens because they smell unpleasant or strange.
Let’s say that you’ve just brought the kitten home after visiting the vet.
The little one probably will smell like the vet clinic—a smell your cat is familiar with but which she doesn’t like at all.
So, she is going to hiss at the new kitty because she is bothered by the smell.
5. I’m not feeling well
If your cat suddenly starts hissing at the kitten, there might be something wrong.
Hissing is your cat’s way of warning the other kitten that it’s not in the mood for playing.
If you observe any strange behavior or suspect that your cat might be in pain, make an appointment with your vet right away.
Why mother Cat Is hissing At New Kitten
I’m sure that you’ve seen at least once how a mother cat hisses at her young. Even though it looks heartbreaking, that’s normal feline behavior.
The mother cat is saying, “You’re old enough to take care of yourself.” In other words, she is throwing the little ones out of the nest because she knows they have to learn to be independent.
Do not worry too much about your cat hissing at a new kitten. Instead, introduce the cats slowly and give them time to get used to each other. In time, they will find a way to coexist and might even become friends.
What do you think about the matter? Why cat is hissing at new kitten? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section.
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This was a great read. I have dogs, so I enjoy learning about cat behavior. It’s not too far removed from how dogs act, actually.
This is a very informative post to learn more about cat behavior. We are not planning on getting another cat at this time but if we do, I will check your blog for more information.
We have an 8 year old neutered Tom cat. He grew up with another cat who sadly had to be put to sleep last summer with kidney failure.
Freddie seemed quite upset by the loss at first then settled happily. We missed our cat and took in a rescue kitten 2 weeks ago. She is 15 weeks. Lovely natured and clearly wants to be friends with Freddie.
He hasn’t been rough with her, couple of hisses but has largely stayed away remaining outside coming in for food then getting out again asap.
Worried we have done something cruel to our existing cat and set the little one up for lonely existence.
Oh, wow! I had no idea it has a lot of meanings! This is really helpful!
This is really interesting! I had no idea it has a lot of meanings! This is really helpful!
I remember bringing home a kitten to some of my cats. They were not cool about it at first. Lol!
Did they accept her in time.D
Cats hiss for a ton of reasons all day ahahah but yes, I agree with you on that one. Most of the times it’s the “stay away” choice.
We have three cats. We didn’t experience the territorial reaction though, two of them are the babies
I totally agree with cats not liking change, my boyfriend told me about how their older cat acted when they bought a new cat home a year or so later. That’s why I want to get a pair of kittens so they come in together x
I always wondered why because my cat Salem didn’t like a new kitten we bought. He got used to her eventually and they were friends.
Seems dogs and cats are same. My dog King (when was alive) never liked if any other dog even wagged it’s tail at me. He would start quarreling. I remember a Doberman was there at my neighbor who was kept in the garage of our building and whenever I used to come back from work i used to feed him, one day King saw it. Next day behind my back he had a fight with the dog, my maid complained it to me. He was a lovely yet possessive German Shepherd..
I found this post hilarious. The pictures explain the text so well. Cats can be super funny.
Cats have a language all their own. But all of these reasons certainly make sense about why they would go after kittens, including the jealousy.
Nice cat tips! I can’t have cats because of severe allergies but now I can understand the strays outside.
First I had no idea cats hissed at new kittens. Its gotta be jealously and territorial since its not their baby.
Very interesting! Good point on them being lonely creatures and territorial which makes sense as one of their reasons in their behavior for the hissing when another kitty comes home.
Thank you so much for a very interesting and educational article. I’ve had cats all my life (from childhood to my current age of 80, but I can learn something new every day about these wonderful creatures.