When people hear a cat hissing they usually try to stay clear of it. Hissing usually comes just before a fight with another cat or scratching and biting a human. Cats sometimes hiss at people as they walk past. One of my cats Cassie is most unusual in that she will be purring and rubbing at your legs then will suddenly hiss then purr again. She is the only cat I have ever met who can hiss and purr at the same time!

If your cat starts hissing at you for no apparent reason, try distracting her by calling her name. If this doesn't work, very carefully put your hand out in a non-threatening manner while talking softly to her. Try to find out why she is hissing. Is she in pain? Hungry? Hurt? Anxious? Frightened? Some cats that have been teased in the past are always unsure if they are safe. They may just be 'lashing out' to get in first. If this is the case you need to spend time making your cat feel safe and wanted.

Cassie is like this. After she was spayed she became very fearful of everyone. She had previously been a normal kitten we had had from birth so this behavior was quite unusual. Even her mother Tikki reacted badly to her when she came home.

It took me many months of just talking to her each time I saw her, then starting to stroke her as I walked past. Overall, I suppose it took about a year before she trusted me enough to jump onto my lap. At first she would only stay for a minute or so but with gentle stroking and a soft voice, she slowly gained confidence and now sits on my chair waiting for me to sit down and would sit on my lap most of the day if she could. In fact, she complains if I have meetings or work too long on the computer. I still can't pick her up but she no longer hisses at me when I try.

If your cat hisses at regular visitors, try asking them to get down to the cat's level and stroke her before coming into the house. If you are there while this is happening, your cat will start to get used to new people. By experimenting, you can work out if it is the people or the door bell that frightens her. If it is the bell, try muting it a little if possible or perhaps spend some time ringing it yourself and letting your cat see it's nothing to be frightened of.

Remember, cats hiss because they are either frightened or because they are trying to scare someone away. By spending the time helping to understand your cat and to help it, you will find a wonderful friend in your pet.

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Kathy Robinson has been writing articles on cat problems and the care of cats on her website http://www.CatProblemsResolved.com for a number of years. Why not download your free copy of The Joy of Owning and Caring for a Cat when you sign up for her free Cat Care Newsletter at http://www.catproblemsresolved.com/660