While the hissing noise that some Savannah cats make can be really concerning, it’s actually a fairly normal part of the way that they communicate. Hissing usually means that they feel a little threatened and want some space, but there are a number of reasons that these cats might hiss.
I’ve found a number of veterinarians online who claim that some Savannah cats that are properly socialized never hiss at all. If your cat tends to be very social and affectionate around new people, then you might never hear him or her ever hiss.
Others, however, might hiss or even growl when they meet a stranger. It’s a way for the cat to say that they’re going to protect their territory against whatever sort of threats this new person might bring along with them.
Young Savannah kittens that are regularly exposed to other people and animals may grow up to hiss less, but it’s important to keep in keep in mind that Savannah cats still have the traits of many other domestic cats. They can be pretty fickle at times.
Think of your cat the way that would any other animal, and remember that if he or she is really feeling threatened you’ll want to take the necessary steps to resolve the situation.
Is Cat Hissing Always Bad?
While that hissing noise that Savannah cats make is usually something negative, I’ve found myself confusing so many other sounds for it that I always think a cat is unhappy when they’re really fine. Some cats have really deep voices, just like some humans do, and they sort of come off as though they were always hissing.
Pay attention and see if what you’re hearing could actually be a low purr, which would indicate contentment or perhaps a little interest. If it’s a real hiss, then it might be bad news.
Cats who start to move their ears back, show their fangs or take any other kind of defensive posture are certainly showing that they don’t like what they see.
Since Savannah cats are extremely inquisitive, they might make a number of noises when exploring. If your cat is literally jumping around while hissing, then they might just be trying to learn more about their surroundings and don’t really feel upset at all.
Why Does My Cat Hiss at my Boyfriend?
It’s probably because your cat doesn’t really know your boyfriend yet. Your cat might think that this new strange person is some kind of threat.
Unlike many traditional breeds of domestic house cats, Savannah cats actually have a tendency to take on a slight pride mentality that probably comes from their serval heritage. They’re usually a little more reliant on their owners as a result.
That means they’re also going to be a bit more protective of their owners, so your cat might not want to see your home invaded like that. Take care not to push your cat to get to know someone new too quickly.
I’ve read about situations where that could make a cat freak out. It might even inspire feelings of long-term jealousy, which is definitely not something that you want to do.
Just introduce the two of them over time and make sure not to force things. If your cat doesn’t feel comfortable, then don’t do anything that serves to increase those feelings of discomfort.
That will just make the odds of your cat doing something unpredictable much higher. If your boyfriend doesn’t do anything to make your cat feel any worse, then feelings should start to soften over time.
When the time comes to introduce anyone to your Savannah cat, you’ll want to be sure that they place their hand underneath your cat’s head. Putting it over the top can look really bad to an animal and might just serve to confirm whatever suspicions they might have ended up having.
Is Hissing Between Cats Normal?
Almost every cat expert I’ve come across is of the opinion that domestic cats will usually hiss at feral or wild cats, especially if they at all feel as though their territory is threatened. If your cat is constantly doing this when he or she comes into contact with other domestic cats, however, you might have a cat who doesn’t play well with others.
In some cases, this is a personality trait. Some cats don’t like to spend too much time around other members of their species.
Savannah cats have the added stress of being crossed with servals, which are wild animals. As a result, they have some of the traits of animals that were taken out of the wild.
Treat them as gingerly as you might a wolf dog. If you treat them right and have a good working relationship, then you’ll come to learn when they’re hissing because they feel threatened.
You’ll also want to pay attention to context. Sometimes it might sound like your cat is hissing when you’re scratching them.
If you stop and the cat wants more, than that probably means that they weren’t really hissing to begin with.
Are Savannah Cats Mean?
Savannah cats aren’t really mean, but I don’t think that I’d ever want to call any animal mean per se. They’re just out to do whatever keeps them safe and protected.
That being said, I’ve come across a number of sources that urge people to think long and hard about whether or not they can really care for a Savannah cat. These sources don’t call Savannah cats mean, but they do warn that they can be capricious.
At times, something might seriously startle one of these cats and they might not know how to handle the situation without trying to lash out. That’s why you need to pay special attention to any hissing that they do, because there’s always the risk that a situation could turn into something unfortunate if you don’t take the opportunity to fix things while you have the chance.
