Why Does My Cat Hiss At Everyone But Me – 5 Things To Know!

We all know that cats hiss when upset, but what happens when you find that your cat is hissing all the time? No matter the situation or who the person is, your cat is hissing! You might start to question this behavior with: why is my cat hissing at everyone but me?

Cats hiss at others for various reasons, such as prior abuse, trust issues, aging, pain, and aggression. You can try to manage your cat’s hissing by giving your cat a safe space, rewarding certain behaviors, and taking your cat to the vet with major personality changes, among other things.

Although hissing can be frustrating, it is important to know and understand why your cat is hissing at everyone but you. Keep this article handy, so you can better figure out your cat’s behavior!

Reasons Why Your Cat Is Hissing At Everyone But You

While we would like to see that there is only one reason why your cat is hissing at others, there are several reasons why your cat is hissing at others.

The Cat Was Abused In The Past

People who adopt cats have no idea what a cat’s past is like. 

We all know that people who adopt animals from shelters are doing a good thing, but there is no way to know what a cat has been through. 

Unlike an adopted child, a cat cannot come out and tell you what it experienced before.

Cats may have issues with others who:

• Try to grab them
• Shove them in cages
• Feed them
• Get close to them

While people may not have ill intentions around your cat, your cat does not know that and only knows its past experiences. 

Therefore, as we will see, trust can play a key role in how your cat interacts with people.

The Cat Trusts You Most

You may be the one that your cat trusts most.

This one may be obvious, but as the person who feeds, loves, and plays with your cat, it could be obvious that your cat prefers you to anyone else.

Do you part to further this bond with your cat. Do things like: 

• Let your cat knead you
• Give your cat space if they want to leave or be alone
• Allow your cat to leave when they want to
• Stop what you are doing if your cat hisses, pulls his ears back, or raises his hair

The Cat’s Age Dictates Behavior

Kittens and senior cats are prone to hissing at others when they do not hiss at you. 

Kittens that do not have socialization-honed skills commonly hiss at other people, even if they are not considered feral.

Until kittens are well socialized, they may:

• Scratch and bite, even if they are playing
• Hide from new people or animals
• Spit
• Fight back, whether out of fear or aggression

On the other hand, senior cats can also start to hiss at more people than they used to as an adult cats.

Many people brush this off as the “grumpy old cat” personality, but you should also consider something important that we will cover in more detail: new pain. 

The Cat Is In Pain 

Cats that are in pain may be more prone to hissing. 

Pain, especially pain you cannot visibly see, can cause cats to hiss at people. This can be true for someone who does not know about your cat’s pain like you might.

Take a look at this chart to understand the difference between some internal and external pain that your cat may be experiencing. 

Internal Pain	External Pain
Cancers, like stomach or bone cancer	Broken or sprained limb
Stomachache	Cuts or open wounds
Internal inflammation	Rashes

The Cat Has Aggression Issues

Aggression issues can lead a cat to hiss at everyone but you when fear is involved.

Most people think of aggression as a cat being mean, but aggression can come out when your cat is afraid of new things like people or pets.

In addition to hissing, you can tell that your cat is dealing with fear aggression when:

• It lowers its ears against its head
• Bare its teeth
• Their hair stands on end
• They tuck their tails to or underneath their body

Ways To Stop Your Cat From Hissing At Others

Your cat may hiss and not act on its discomfort or anger, but it can still be a difficult situation for your cat to be in each time. 

Therefore, you might need ways to stop your cat from hissing at others.

Cats are not as easy to train as other kinds of animals, like dogs, but there are things you can do to help your cat:

• Give your cat a safe space where your cat can go if they feel threatened, upset, or uncomfortable
• Introduce your cat to new situations slowly; let your cat see the situation from afar and reward your cat’s good behavior
• Regardless of situation, reward your cat for good behavior but do not reward behavior that you think is negative
• Tell new people not to pet your cat without a proper introduction first
• Take your cat to the vet if you sense that there are other personality changes, like lethargy, increased anger, or more hiding

Again, there is no quick solution for a cat that hisses at everyone but you, but that doesn’t mean that you should give up on your cat!