Why Do My Newborn Kittens Hiss At Me

Your older cat may have a period of time when it tries to establish a hierarchy with the new kitten.

Why do my newborn kittens hiss at me. When kittens are first born they are completely helpless their eyes are closed their ears are folded and they can t stand keep themselves warm or eat on their own they rely on mom for everything. But then how to use the mouth and make noises quick and. Learn more about newborn kittens in our kitten guide. At first the small kittens will hiss at each other the way they see their mother doing.

Your older cat may hiss and swat at the kitten when the newcomer does something unfavorable. Cats typically hiss as a warning koski explains. Many cats are frightened when they first come home from the shelter. Sometime the babies and momma have drastically lowered immune systems and can easily catch cold or have sinus or respiratory infection.

Cats need to have order and a new member in the home must know where it ranks. Hissing means that said kitten has gotten a sniff of a scent that is not familiar to it. They feel threatened when a cat feels threatened they will arch their backs raise their fur to make them as big as possible and hiss at the threat. Some don t do well with change and need time to adjust to the unfamiliar sights and smells of a new home.

Hissing is not necessarily an indication that your cat is aggressive but it is a sign that your cat may attack if he continues to be provoked if you notice your cat hissing when you or your family members attempt to handle him he likely feels threatened in some way. At first their hisses will be soft. With time though they become not only strong but also vocal enough to make loud hisses. This is because kittens are born before their bodies are fully developed.

Not only does hissing convey aggression a warning to stay away but it also establishes social order between cats. Allow your cat to establish a hierarchy. Kittens have to leave mama looks at her kittens and realizes they re nearly adults and decides it s time for them to wean from her so she ll let out that mama hiss and a growl that says ok kiddos. It s a defense mechanism.

They will also hiss at their mother playfully. There s too much activity and change for this kitten. Every cat is different. Time to move out and find your own places she does know when they re ready to become more independent.

When a cat hisses at a new cat or kitten she is expressing a form of territorial aggression.