If we think of the noises that cats make, it is the meows and purrs that come to mind. Many think it’s only dogs that growl. But it is wrong: even cats make a sound that resembles a growl. Let us find Why Do Cats Growl?
Seeing your cat growling isn’t strange. In fact, even cats, like dogs, growl when angry. But not only that, if a cat is nervous it shows signs of anger, so it growls, scratches and bites.
Cats hiss and growl both if they feel disturbed and if they believe they are in danger. Find out how to decipher their behavior.
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Why Do Cats Growl?
Our beloved cats feature a wide variety of sounds that they use to communicate with both humans and other animals. When a cat growls, he wants to express something, but what? Cats communicate in different ways. In addition to body language, you also use a variety of vocalizations. Growling is very versatile and can mean several things.
Growls in The Presence of Other Animals
The cats communicate with sounds and growl even when other animals, want to communicate something to them. Specifically, they communicate that they do not want to interact with them, or if the dog or cat are new entries in his family, he wants to communicate that he is the dominant cat in the house.
Growl at the Food or Toy
You may also notice your cat growling at food or its toy. Sometimes your cat may growl at you even when she has her toy in her mouth. With this behavior, the cat wants to communicate that the food or the toy itself are objects that belong to him and should not be touched by anyone.
Cat Growls When Stroked
If the cat growls when you pet it, it is warning you that you should definitely stop. Maybe the cat doesn’t like cuddling or doesn’t want to be stroked in a specific place. In this case, we advise you to stop touching the cat from the first growl as the cat could scratch and even bite later.
External Distractions
If the cat hisses and growls in a specific direction, check if there is anything it may have seen in that direction. Very often this attitude is directed towards windows or open spaces because, simply, he could have set his eyes on a bird, a squirrel, or some moving object, out in the garden, which may have scared or attracted him.
Birds, for example, are typical prey for a cat. The cat’s blowing, in this case, can turn into a cat technique designed to imitate the chirping of the bird in order to receive it.
The Cat is Offended
Cats are not well known for being sociable animals or at least not as sociable as dogs. However, cats also need affection and one of the reasons why they can hiss or growl can be related to being offended by their owner.
This kind of reaction can happen upon returning from holidays or after a long absence, for example, the cat demonstrates in this way its dissatisfaction with being left alone in the house, regardless of whether someone else has given it to eat in its absence. Blowing and growling are verbal forms of disappointment. Situations like these pass quickly and the cat will return to behaving as before, after making you pay for a while.
Growls While Sleeping
In cats, sleep takes up most of the day. As soon as the velvet paws make noises such as purring, chewing, or slapping, they can growl in the meantime, also in connection with twitching or writhing movements. All of this is just an indication that your cat is probably dreaming in his sleep.
Annoyed Growl
Cats also growl when annoyed. Similar to a “growling person” who is annoyed by others, a cat may express its displeasure or bad mood by growling.
For example, if you wake your kitty while in her beauty sleep, the growl is a possible awkward waking reaction. Your cat may also express this when petting. So it may be that at the moment he just doesn’t feel like your caresses.
Some cats also growl when they know or suspect something unpleasant is going on, such as a visit to the vet. For example, the cat in the video growls because he apparently doesn’t want to give up his toy:
What To Do When the Cat Growls?
If the cat growls at you, you need to leave room for the cat by moving away, to prevent it from scratching or biting you. Then try to understand what is the cause of his behavior, maybe your gesture has caused discomfort or stress in the cat.
If, on the other hand, the cat growls at a new cat that has recently become part of the family, most likely the latter will not have been introduced correctly. In the event that the cat exhibits this attitude towards another cat in the family, with which it has never gotten along, it may be appropriate to seek advice from a specialist.