01/04/2025
If you have dove into a consultation with us, you've heard us say:
"Please don't punish the hiss. A hiss is a form of communication.
A defensive behavior often used to avoid conflicts and displayed when your cat is afraid, uneasy or feels threatened."
Your cat needs to be able to express themselves. But what about other behaviors? Biting, clawing, growling, chasing, meowing, yowling, spitting, stalking, staring....
While some may consider these behaviors a reflection of a cat being "dominant", there is a list even longer of what it is more LIKELY to be.
We get it. It can be hard to imagine that our cats might be:
- unfulfilled/bored (with all the toys they have)
- stressed (with such a care free life)
- overstimulated (but they were seeking petting/attention)
- frustrated (what is there to be frustrated about?)
- fearful (when they sleep all day under the bed)
- communicating (even though we feel like we know them so well)
- sick or in pain (even though they've seen the vet)
- redirecting (why take it out on someone else?)....but it happens EVERY SINGLE DAY. Cats who just need us to listen to what really is at the core of their behaviors.
Even though cats have a complex social structures, behavior is NOT ALL BASED UPON who is "in charge".
The truth is...cats feel many emotions but because they don't talk like we do it can be hard to know what they are trying to tell us. We naturally think as humans, not as cats. So what do you do when your cat is displaying these behaviors? How do you find out the why and the how to make it better?
FIRST. Talk to your vet first to see if a medical work up is needed and what their thoughts are on the behavior. From there, they might offer you a plan of action or refer you to a behavior specialist. Don't give up on understanding why your cat does the things they do. They need you to PUSH for answers, for understanding.
