Unfortunately, our pets, whether cats or dogs, cannot express themselves in words. Therefore, humanity has to guess what is hidden behind the purring, meowing or... hissing.
It is quite common for a cat to press its ears and hiss at strangers. Rest assured that the cat does not have psychological deviations, this is absolutely normal!
Cats are creatures that love stability. And cats that live in an apartment and do not see the street have a very unstable nervous system. A visit from a stranger for them is like a natural disaster for a person whose routine is the same day after day. Cats do not like it when changes occur in their usual habitat.
A sudden change in the usual schedule can cause the cat to become aggressive. It can hide under the sofa, hiss, growl at a stranger.
The cat feels fear and believes that the stranger is laying claim to her territory and can stay in her house forever.
There is an opinion that by hissing and growling the cat tries to show its superiority over the stranger. After all, cats do not see themselves in the mirror and cannot adequately assess their size in relation to a person.
There is an opinion that by aggressive behavior towards a stranger, a cat also demonstrates its readiness to protect both its owner and its personal space. It is worth understanding that the cat does not know about the stranger's intentions.
What to do if a cat hisses or growls at guests
The first thing you need to do is tell your guests not to disturb your pet's personal space.
Your guests should not rush headlong to your pet. Remember that your cat is your friend. Do not allow anyone to violate his personal space.
If the pet stops feeling danger, it will come up to your guest to "get acquainted". Believe me, you will notice it.
The second thing you need to do is provide your pet with a cozy, quiet place, inaccessible to prying eyes. Let it be even under the bed or behind the sofa.
Don't try to get your pet out of there, as soon as the cat stops feeling the danger, it will come out on its own. It would be a good idea to provide the cat with toys so that it can distract itself and relieve stress from meeting your friends.
Third. Do not try to introduce the cat to guests against its will. Many times I had to observe when a cat is carried out in hands to guests, and it is against it.
The cat will wriggle and squirm, avoiding the touch of strangers' hands. The cat will let you know this.
Be patient. Cat anxiety is no different from human anxiety. Animals also have certain feelings and fears.
Each cat gets used to strangers differently, one cat will stop being afraid after 10 minutes, another - after 10 days. And there are such sociable animals that will not be afraid at all from the very beginning of the acquaintance.
Be patient with your cat's fears, because the instinct for self-preservation is what has allowed cats to survive to this day.
Earlier we wrote about why a cat loses hair.
Author: Sergey Bogdan
