The domestic cat differs from the wild one in having a more docile character. He easily makes contact with people and gladly allows himself to be taken care of. But sometimes it still shows a certain wildness in its behavior, which is expressed in the fact that the cat growls and hisses at the members of the family in which it lives. And if at first this behavior even slightly amuses some owners, then with regular and frequent manifestation of aggression in this way, any owner begins to think about its causes and possible consequences. Especially if there is a small child in the family.
Fear as a reason for growling
Hissing and growling associated with fear appears due to insufficient attention to the kitten. If the kitten rarely had contact with people, did not receive proper attention from them, or even suffered insults or even beatings from them, then fear of people will accompany an already adult cat. To understand that it was fear that caused the growling, pay attention to the following factors:
- a cat can rush at its owners in the presence of a certain stimulus, real or imaginary;
- if a pet is “cornered”, it hisses and growls much more intensely;
- aggression is accompanied by appropriate warning postures;
- the pet can connect its paw swings to the growl;
- when the situation comes to its logical end, the animal begins to relieve stress, for example, by licking the fur.
You cannot punish a cat for such behavior, since with such tactics it will always expect bad things from a person.
Frustration
Frustration is a state in which a pet's needs are not met. Scientists believe that this disorder occurs if the kitten is not weaned off cat milk naturally.
As a result, the cat is not able to get its own food. He expects some kind of reward and growls if he doesn't get it. How to recognize this reason:
- the cat hisses at the owner, even if he trusts him;
- the pet growls if in any situation he did not get the desired reward;
- the cat did not receive mother's milk;
- The cat screams loudly and rushes around the door.
This also manifests itself when the owner does not serve food quickly enough, opens the front door, or simply moves away from the pet.
Why does a cat meow when he eats?
Natural vocalization in the form of a loud and inviting meow
happens to a domestic cat when she wants to eat, asks to open the door for her, calls the kittens, meets the owner. When a cat purrs and rumbles, it means that she is calm and content, well-fed, warm and with her owner nearby.
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Predator instinct
Everyone is familiar with the game when the owner plays with a kitten, moving his hand or foot under the blanket. It is at this moment that predatory behavior awakens. Only a person perceives this situation as a game, and the pet learns to hunt with all responsibility. This reason is easy to recognize:
- a cat attacks a person from an ambush;
- When you shout back at the cat, the pet begins to behave even more aggressively.
When this behavior goes too far, it becomes a problem.
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Possessive instinct
A cat's instinct of ownership is much stronger than a human's. A pet can growl if it wants to show itself as the master of the situation. Even if the animal is the only one in the house, it is driven by this instinct at the genetic level.
To understand that it is precisely this reason that provokes the growl, just look at the circumstances under which the pet growls.
If he protects food or a favorite toy, it means that the possessive instinct has begun to play in him. What to do in this situation? First, you need to move away from the cat to a safe distance, since growling and hissing are the last warning before an attack. The cat may bite or scratch you.
Being in a team
If a cat does not like to be in large crowds of people, play with children or roam from hand to hand, it is better to isolate it in the next room. Some animals simply cannot stand large companies and warn not to be touched by growling.
You should not pick up the animal, stroke it, or allow children to play with it, since the cat can also warn of an attack, and its hissing or growling can very soon turn into scratching.
Two cats (cats) in the house: pros and cons
So, there are now two cats living in your house. What are the pros and cons of such a situation? First, let's talk about the disadvantages:
- if your pets remain full-fledged cats, then during the mating season you will be threatened with “fights” of local significance, in addition, the animals will actively mark their territory;
- The consumption of cat food and litter doubles.
And the positive points:
- despite prejudices, cats are emotional animals, and having a friend or girlfriend will make their life much more active and fun;
- your home will receive twice as much fluffy happiness!
If you are mentally and financially ready to have another pet in your home, then do not be afraid of possible problems. Your patience, consistency and perseverance will certainly yield results, and the animals will become friends. And after a while, they will give you many funny and warm stories together.
Other reasons
The cause of aggressive behavior may well be pregnancy. This is a natural phenomenon; in nature, a pregnant cat always protects her unborn kittens. Try to let the animal know that it can trust you. Soon the cat will understand this and stop behaving aggressively. Inappropriate behavior may persist after the birth of the babies, but when the pet understands that the kittens are not in danger, the aggression will disappear.
Illness can also cause nervousness and aggression. When your pet is in pain, he doesn't want to be bothered. This is why a cat may hiss or growl when you pick it up. Don’t guess what disease has afflicted your pet; take him to the vet.
To understand what role illness plays in growling and sudden hissing, take a closer look at the cat’s behavior. He may be nervous, apathetic, eat and sleep poorly, lick his fur, or try to eliminate the cause of pain with his teeth.
Also sometimes the cat’s behavior after anesthesia is inappropriate. This is normal, since the pet does not perceive the surrounding reality for some time and is simply afraid of it. Try to calm the cat down, let him know that you are nearby, speak kind words and pet him.
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Pet injures its own tail
Sometimes it happens that a cat bites its tail, and when trying to prevent it, it begins to hiss and growl. This is dangerous because in some cases this behavior leads to further tail amputation. There may be several reasons for this disorder:
- the owners moved to a new place of residence;
- a new resident has appeared in the family;
- they began to pay less attention to the cat;
- The pet has experienced psychological trauma.
Often a cat may chew its tail at night when all family members are sleeping.
What to do?
When kittens hiss and show aggression, as well as other unpleasant symptoms, then most likely the problem lies in the disease. In this case, you should not delay visiting the veterinarian. The specialist will order examinations, based on the results of which he will prescribe treatment. If a sleeping or awake cat is constantly restless and growls, then this may be caused by stress or fear. It is worth calming the pet, paying more attention to it, petting it. If necessary, sedative medications are prescribed.
How to respond to a growl
It is important to follow a list of rules that will allow you to pacify your pet and eliminate conflict:
- The cat's character is designed in such a way that you are unlikely to be able to pacify your pet right away. Wait a few minutes for the animal to calm down.
- When a certain amount of time has passed and the pet has completely calmed down, try to establish contact with him. Pet him, talk to him, give him a treat.
- If the reason is that the animal is in pain, take him to the vet immediately, as pain may indicate the severity of the disease.
It happens that a cat simply has an aggressive character, and nothing can be done about it. In this case, do not try to change your pet, but adapt to it. He loves you, he just can’t show it with affection and purring. Understand him and accept him for who he is.
Is it worth getting several cats?
If one cat in the house is not enough for the owners, then they can get a second one. This solution has both pros (cats are great stress relievers) and cons (increased maintenance costs). Therefore, you need to think about whether you have enough free time to care for both animals and whether you can support them financially.
Many people get a second pet, thinking that the first one is boring being at home alone while the owner is away. This is not reasonable. It should be understood that representatives of the feline breed are not pack animals, so they do not require company
The owner’s attention is another matter; it must be given to any pet: both dogs and cats.
You should only get a second cat for company if you are away from home all day and cannot devote enough time to your pets.
However, it is important to understand that some pets are not able to find a common language and will constantly conflict, even if the owner does everything to reconcile them
How to stop an animal from growling
If growling and aggressive behavior are inherent in the character of a cat, then it is unlikely to be weaned from it. However, if the reason lies elsewhere, then it should simply be eliminated. If you cannot do this yourself, you need to seek help from a specialist.
Important: you should not shout at the cat or humiliate it, much less hit it; this may not have the effect you expect, and the pet will become even more aggressive.
Preparing for a second cat
Before a second cat appears in the house, you need to prepare the space by dividing it into several zones. Two cats in the house will get along much faster if they do not collide with each other in the resting, feeding and toilet areas.
Rest
The “new” cat should sleep separately from the “old” one, and preferably in a different room. The place where an old-timer relaxes is taboo for a newcomer. Be sure to prepare a comfortable mattress or house that will be located at some distance from your cat’s “bedroom”. It is advisable that there be a door between the seating areas that will need to be closed at night (at least for the first time).
Feeding
Two cats that don’t know each other well and have not yet established contact will most likely be most aggressive near food bowls. Therefore, the new cat needs to be fed from a separate dish, preferably not in the room where the “old” cat is used to eating. Over time, if the cats get along, the bowls can be moved. Cats need to be fed at the same time so that each is busy with its own bowl and does not try to take food from its rival.
Toilet
Be sure to buy a separate litter box for the “new” cat. The filler in the old tray should be dirty by the time the new one arrives. So the likelihood that the “new” cat will go into a clean litter box is higher (if the second cat soils the litter box first, a conflict may arise; the first cat may compromise cleanliness and start dirtying the corners). Over time, if the cats become friends, you can leave one tray.
The second cat should be placed so as not to disturb the old-timer. For your first cat, everything should remain the same. In no case should she feel violated in her rights due to the appearance of another animal in the house.
Kitten growl
The case of the little kitten requires a separate description. The baby has to learn a lot of new things about the world around him, but for now he knows nothing and experiences a lot of emotions when looking at the surrounding reality.
Watch your baby, try to show him that you are there for him, that you support him in everything. Kittens can be afraid of the unknown, while hissing, growling and fluffing their tails. They may try to show themselves capable of attack or defense in order to be taken into account.
However, establish contact with the kitten gradually; you should not immediately shower it with great attention, this can lead to stress, as a result of which mental trauma will occur, and the baby will simply become even more aggressive. This may continue in the future, for life.
Thus, the growling of an animal is a common phenomenon that many owners encounter. Understand its reasons, and the cat will thank you with affection and devotion.
