Have you ever Hissed at your cat??

I just suggested this to someone in a post and now I feel like a crazy cat woman actually admitting I have done this. Has anyone ever done this to their young cat to get them to stop doing something incredibly annoying?? or do I need to worry that I don't have enough human contact in my life that I thought of trying this??

Yes, I do it all the time, but more for doing things unacceptable than annoying. I suggest it all the time too! I'm resigned to the fact that my cats will cat, but scratching the furniture/carpet or clawing at window screens or sitting on tables, desks, and counters when they know they're not supposed to get them a hiss. In fact, when I opened the door today to receive a package from the mail man, Mo ran out into the hallway and I hissed at him to STOP what he was doing. He froze in place, but when I didn't come get him immediately, he dashed around the corner of the hallway (to a dead end). Hissing gets their attention, and it works because they know what it means already.

Often times if I need to answer the door and Mo comes running over to investigate the stranger, he gets a hiss if he's trotting towards the door, and then I pick him up and put him in the kitchen or the living room. Service workers and postal workers hear me hissing as I approach the door all the time, but it's a short and abrupt one.

My boyfriend uses a long, drawn out hiss when Mo yowls at night. It doesn't mean he's in immediate trouble, but more of a "hey, stop that, stupid".

What would categorize me as insane is how much I meow back to my cats. Considering how vocal both our cats are, I do more than my fair share of meowing. It's even more embarrassing when they don't meow back.  

By annoying I do mean bad Behavior...but I do catch myself on occasion hissing at my 1 year old cat just to get her back, for my 16 year old cat who she likes to harass. She never fast enough to catch the kitten with her swats. Glad I am not crazy !!!

yes.  i don't do it as much as i used to, but when samantha and jake were young, i would do it.  

Haha I don’t hiss at my cat, I may try it, but if that stops the cats from harassing the little kitten as you said, I don’t see why you feel crazy doing it? Cats are stubborn sometimes.

There's nothing unusual about hissing at your cat. You're getting across better than yelling or "talking" to them. 

I have hissed at my Amber two maybe three times when she was small. She would grab my arm and bear hug it with claws and teeth. Rather than trying to pull my arm away (resulting in more pain and her hanging on tighter) I hissed. She got the message pretty quick. Other than that I haven't had to since.

I've done it when kittens/young cats have gotten too rough while playing, e.g., giving bunny kicks or using their teeth.

It's amazing how it works!! I guess becuase it comes from us it's an extra large hiss!!!

I have hissed at a stray when they've attacked and they generally back down since I am taller! Same with dogs. I was walking my dog and another approached and started growling at me so I barked back. My dog sat back and enjoyed the show LOL. The other dog backed off. Shouting and screaming means nothing and just frightens them making them worse. Hissing is a non-violent, non-contact and very powerful language that they understand

ha...there was a mobile vet that came to our home once...and the entire time he examined our cats he purred. Then he took me in the garage to show me how to hiss lol

I've tried hissing at my cats, but they either ignore it or look at me like I'm crazy. I must not be doing it right.

After finding this thread, I tried hissing at my kitten (who was getting into cords at the time). It was super EFFECTIVE. I feel silly hissing but hey, if it works then sign me up. 

Well yeah. They don't speak English, so I speak cat to them. Hisses, growls, chirrups, whatever. 

I used to hiss at my last cat, Pumpkin.... She was front declawed..her only defense was to hiss and try to bunny kick her way out of things she did not like. The hissing did work with her. She stopped doing whatever it was..

I have tried it with Artie a few times. All he does is look at me and continue to do what he wants to do..or he ignores me!! Guess I talk to him too much..  

Yup.  I do it when one of them is naughty or acting aggressive toward the other.  It's sometimes effective.  Though often I have to escalate to a loud NO or hand clapping. 

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Uh huh. I have a real specific mama cat hiss (aka you'd better cut that out). Works like a charm.

I've never thought of this! I just tried it, and boy, did I get their attention!

I can't wait to try it when they need to stop doing something. Thanks!

I tried hissing at my kitten to get her to stop doing things when she was younger. She hissed back at me so apparently she is a bit more stubborn and hard headed then most.

I've done it, but Mingo pays no attention. Maybe I don't sound cat-like enough. But I learned to pronounce French "r's" that way.