Britannica Sources used in this answer

What does a cat’s hiss mean?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A Maine Coon longhair cat with cream and white fur sits beside a tabby shorthair cat in a garden with green foliage in the background. — cat Two kinds of domestic cats.

When a cat hisses, it is expelling air sharply through its mouth. This sound serves as a warning, indicating that the cat is feeling frightened or angry when it perceives a threat.1