Our kitties are creatures full of mystery. One moment you’ll see your furbaby kneading your stomach, head butting or rubbing up against you, and the next, they act as if they don’t know who you are.
They may go from purring little sweethearts to suddenly despise the sight of you.
What causes the switch to flip in behavior from purring, snacking, snuggling kitties to growling ones? Why do cats growl?
Cats have various vocalizations that they use to communicate, and growling or hissing is a common way in which cats express themselves. A cat who growls, spits, or hisses indicates a clear sign they are agitated, angry, or afraid of something.
Although we cannot speak fluent meow, let’s look into trying to understand why cats growl.
- 1 Why do Cats Growl – What actually is Kitty Growling?
- 2 7 Reasons That Cause Cats to Growl
- 3 A Footnote on Why Cats Growl
Why do Cats Growl – What actually is Kitty Growling?
Growling is a raspy, harsh, guttural sound that your sweet kitty produces for various reasons. A cat performs the sound with its mouth slightly open. As the cat slowly exhales, air escapes causing the vocal folds to vibrate.
It can start with an “mmmm” vibration and then turn into a long throaty sound. Sometimes it may sound like a short grunt; other times, it may remind you a bit of yowling.
This all depends on your cat’s vocal cords, mood, and the reason for their growling. It’s usually preceded or followed by hissing. It can also be combined with other sounds like moans, yowls, howls, and hisses.
Many beg the questions, ‘Is this your house cat’s roar?’ ‘Why do cats growl?’ ‘Is he growling in pain, out of anger, or feeling territorial – or is she just being dramatic?’
Let’s squizz through some reasons why our domestic cats growl.
7 Reasons That Cause Cats to Growl
Cats have different senses to humans, so when you see your adorable kitty hissing into thin air, it may not be a ghost they are seeing. Even though your cat seems to be merely staring into thin air, there are things that our human senses cannot pick up. It can also be a clear warning to ‘step back.’
Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of why cats growl.
1. They’re Warning You to Back Off
As with many pets, you’ll notice their body language when they are trying to give you a warning sign. Bristled fur, ear movements, tail position, teeth, etc., are just some of the warning signals your pet is trying to say, ‘back off now.’
Growling, accompanied by their body language, such as bristled fur, is a sure warning sign. Some cats often growl and use caution flags to protect their territory from other animals on the other side of the windowsill perch.
Others may growl to warn off their owners because they want personal space.
When your cat behaves offensively, they are essentially attempting to look like the ‘tough guy’ to intimidate or threaten. Suppose your kitty is growling at you; it’s a sign for you to scram and get out of their way. In this case, don’t try to touch or stare at them — instead, leave the scene.
2. Your Kitty is Feeling Afraid
Not all growls are signals of aggression or for territorial reasons. Cats can get scared and start to growl out of fear. Our felines may bristle up their fur, tail erect or low, back arched, whiskers back, and produce scary wild sounds out of fear.
Kitties are also fearful of unfamiliar environments, people, or other pets. If she’s afraid of a person or other pet, you should provide a space for them to escape. If she feels trapped, she’ll likely retaliate.
If your cat thinks something or someone poses a threat, it could be growling out of despair. In that case, try to calm your kitty down. It could also be a way of warning you of the possible danger they perceive to be nearby.
3. They’re Showing Dominance
When your cat is growling, it might be that they want to express dominance caused by the inborn territorial sense they have.
If you introduce your kitty to a new pet in the same room, you can expect to hear a bit of growling and hissing. This can because your cat feels a bit awkward with a new pet being in her territory.
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4. Felines are Possessive Creatures
Felines are inherently possessive creatures. If you take something that’s theirs, they’ll likely growl or hiss at you.
For example, adult mother cats are protective of their kittens. If they feel something is threatening their babies, they’re likely to growl at you to warn you to back away from their kittens.
Growling can also come over food or objects like their favorite cat toy. This often indicates protectiveness over their possessions.
5. They Could Be in Pain
Cats can growl when they feel physical pain, similar to how they would meow or cry out of pain.
Injury, diseases, or other physical ailments like arthritis, dental disease, or urinary tract infections can lead to your feline friend growling. It typically occurs when someone is trying to touch your kitty where it hurts.
If growling is unusual for your cat or the growling persists, you should get a veterinarian to evaluate their health.
6. Your Kitty is Feeling Stressed
Felines can stress or panic from an array of circumstances. They can stress out when they’re afraid, in pain, or even lost. If your cat battles with stress, you should assess their environment to determine what triggers anxiety in your kitty, such as noise.
Respectively, each cat responds to situations differently. You should observe your cat’s behavior and ensure that they are in a comfortable environment.
7. They’re Feeling Angry or Annoyed
The worst type of cat is an angry one. Vengeful, unpredictable, and agitated — who knows what damage your feline can do when they’re in this mood? Cats growl at objects, animals, and even people when they are irritated.
When your cat feels angry or aggressive, they will often pull their ears back, their pupils will constrict, and their fur stands on end. Growling can be a sign that may lead to an actual physical attack on the perpetrator — if they do not back down.
If you notice your kitty growling, don’t be surprised if she hisses and spits too.
If your cat continuously snarls and their expression changes, it’s best to somewhat back away and give them time to cool off, rather than try to pet them. If they go from moderately annoyed to full-time-bare-teeth raging, leave the room and give them space.
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A Footnote on Why Cats Growl
Felines are curious, often misinterpreted, animals. Cats continuously try to communicate with us and the world around them. There’s a lot to learn and interpret from your kitties vast vocabulary of chirps, meows, purrs, and growls.
However, growling, spitting, or hissing often indicates a cat who is feeling annoyed, aggressive, agitated, or frightened.
Cats are sassy pets, and growling may be a means of communicating distaste for something. If you find yourself in a situation where your sweet kitty does end up growling, you should leave them alone.
Note: You should not punish your cat when they are growling. Instead, try to pinpoint the reason behind why she’s making those sounds. Punishing your pet will only stress them out or further anger them.
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