Do Cats Hiss When They Play – Is It Normal Behavior?

If you’re the cat owner with more than one cat, then you’ve seen your cats play. Sometimes they get a little crazy, and you may not be sure if they are playing or fighting. Once you hear hissing, you start to question things, so you ask: do cats hiss when they play?

Cats do not usually hiss when they play. When cats start to become vocal during play sessions, that means that they may be fighting, not playing.

Since cats can’t talk like humans, they have other ways of expressing what they are feeling. In certain situations, you might start to hear hissing. If you want to know more about why cats start hissing during a play session, then keep reading!

Why Do Cats Hiss

Cat hissing is like a dog growling; it is a warning sign that you should take seriously.

Every cat owner has heard their cat hiss at least once. Even the calmest cats have hissed at one point, though not every cat will act upon the hissing.

Hissing usually means that something is wrong, and that is the way your cat can vocalize his discomfort to you. 

Some people do not take cat hissing as seriously as a dog growling, but I am here to tell you that you should. Hissing is, in essence, the same thing as growling. 

By hissing, your cat is telling you that he is either mad, upset, angry, or even aggravated, and you should listen. 

Again, your cat may not attack you, someone else, or another animal, but it is a potential that you should not overlook. 

Do Cats Hiss When They Play Fight

If you pay close attention when your cat is play fighting with another cat, you’re not going to hear much noise.

Cats do not usually hiss when they play fight.

Of course, you’ll hear your cats hitting the ground and potentially crashing into things, but there won’t be much if any, hissing or growling.

Cats are generally quiet when they are playing with each other.

Once you start to hear hissing or growling, you should keep an eye on your cats. This means that your cats may start to move from play fighting to fighting. 

Your cats still might not be aggressive; one cat might have just gone too far with playing, and the other cat is telling him that it is becoming too much.

Do Cats Hiss When They Play With Dogs

Even though cats are almost always going to be the smaller animal when it comes to dogs, you might think that he will hiss, but that is not true.

Your cat should not be hissing at your dog when they are playing together.

If you hear that your cat is hissing during a play session with your dog, here are some things that could have happened to make your cat upset:

• Your dog bit your cat, even if it was playful
• Your dog stepped on your cat or one of his feet
• Your dog is too rough
• Your cat does not want to play
• Your dog is annoying

Dogs and cats can indeed play together happily, but when you start to hear your cat hissing or your dog barking, you may want to think about separating the two out of caution. 

Why Does My Cat Hiss When He Plays

Your cat shows either you or your other cat that the play session is going too far.

As I mentioned, hissing during playing is not always a sign of an aggressive cat, although it could be. 

Here are a few other reasons why your cat might start hissing when he plays:

• Your cat got hurt when playing
• Your other cat is getting too rough
• Your cat is telling you or another cat that he is tired
• He doesn’t like how you or another cat is playing
• He is done playing

When a cat starts to hiss and walk away from a play session, you should let him go. He is finished with the session, and you may only upset him by trying to pull him back into what you are doing. 

Why Does My Cat Hiss When He Plays

Cats can hiss while they are playing by themselves, which should alert you that something bad has happened or will happen.

You may find it strange that a cat would start hissing while playing on his own, but that could happen too.

Your cat isn’t technically going to be upset with another cat, but he could be. If he wants to play alone, then another cat can aggravate him and cause him to growl.

My cats will growl or hiss in my house if they are playing on a carpet and their nails get stuck on one of the carpet loops. It can suddenly hurt your cat, and they hiss as a warning. They don’t know it was the carpet that hurt him!

Keep an eye on your cat if you hear him hissing, but it might not be something that you can easily fix!

Are Cats Hissing Always Bad

A hissing cat will not always attack or become aggressive, but hissing is not a good thing. 

Some people think of a cat about to attack when they hear or see a cat hissing.

Hissing, however, does not mean that you are about to be attacked.

Even so, hissing is not a good thing. Cats use hissing as a warning to you, and you should listen to your cat’s warning because it could eventually turn into aggression.

Cats aren’t able to communicate with us and tell us what is wrong, so they must use hissing to show that they are unhappy. 

As a cat owner, you should heed the warning and give your cat the space that he is trying to ask for. 

Do Cats Hiss When They’re Happy

Cats do not hiss when they are happy. 

Hissing is not a positive thing that cats do.

Hissing is not like tail wagging, which some people see as good. Depending on the cat’s demeanor, a wagging tail could be a good thing that shows that your cat is happy to see you. Your cat could be kind of like a dog.

On the other hand, hissing is never a good thing. A cat will not hiss to show you that he is happy. 

When you hear a cat hissing, know that he is not happy.

Is My Cat Playing Or Fighting With Me

If you’re not sure if your cat is playing or fighting with you, listen to the noises that your cat is making.

Sometimes it can be challenging to know if a cat is fighting or playing, especially if your cat has a streak of craziness.

There’s an easy way to know what your cat is doing. You need to listen.

If your cat is generally quiet and not hissing or growling, then there’s a good chance that your cat is playing.

Conversely, if your cat is starting to hiss, grumble or growl at you during your “playing” session, then your cat is probably verging on fighting.