Interpreting feline behaviors (Part 1)

Why do cats hiss? In a dvm360 interview, Annie Valuska, PhD, principal scientist for the pet behavior team at Purina, discussed common behaviors that cat owners may typically see and what they can mean. The interview also discussed canine behaviors as well as which companion animal behaviors sometimes lead to pets being surrendered by their owners or euthanized.

In this video—part 1 of 2 videos—Valuska discussed hissing, one of the most common feline behaviors, including misconceptions and what it really means. The second part of this discussion will address another common companion animal behavior: feline tail wagging.

RELATED VIDEO: Interpreting canine behaviors (Part 1)

The following is a transcript of the video:

Annie Valuska, PhD: As well as people think they understand dogs, I think it can be even more difficult for cats. One of the most commonly misunderstood cat behaviors, in my opinion, is the hiss. A lot of people hear a cat hissing, and they assume that that is an aggressive cat. They think that it's an aggressive signal, but actually a hiss is generally just communicating discomfort or uncertainty, a lack of confidence in a situation.

So, you see a lot of viral videos on social media of cats that are hissing at a pet sitter, and a lot of people think the cat is seemingly giving mixed signals, because they're often approaching the pet sitter. They seem like they're very friendly, and then they're hissing, which people are interpreting as not friendly or aggressive. And in fact, the hiss is consistent with those mixed signals. They're unsure about this new person in their home. They might want some human interaction. They might want the food that the pet sitter is offering, but they're still feeling a little nervous, and that hiss is just another way for the cat to express, ‘hey, I'm not feeling too sure about this. I want a little bit more space.’ It's not a sign of an aggressive cat or an aggressive signal.

RELATED VIDEO: Interpreting canine behaviors (Part 2)