Why Do Cats Hiss Like Snakes

Have you noticed how a cats hiss sounds very similar to that of a snake.

Why do cats hiss like snakes. Along with hissing cats may let out a guttural growling sound when feeling especially defensive. You may not be far off the mark. A cat hissing is a form of protective mimicry a defensive tactic.

It is completely normal. The sound is intended to scare the antagonizer into changing their conduct or. The warning hissings indicate that the cat is a bit scared and does not want to get involved in a mess.

Mimicking another species is a survival tactic among animals. A few of the most common reasons behind the cat hissing are as follows. Cats like to hunt for fun.

If theyre attacked by a cat and wont be able to escape a snake will become defensive and will resort to hissing tail shaking rearing up and striking. Cats usually strike first when hunting or facing confrontation with animals or humans and they seem to be as bold as lions and snakes. It is also thought that snakes hiss as a way of telling hello to other animals.

The answer comes from Desmond Morris a well known British zoologist. This snake-like sound is the product of the air thats forced through the arched tongue and mouth. Some experts think that cats hiss to mimic a snake and scare off attackers.

A snakes deadly distinctive noise gets hair-raising notice from most species from humans to horses and everything in between. Where humans can use speech to communicate cats must rely on their body language to tell both us and other animals how theyre feeling. The cats hiss sounds very like a snakes hiss.