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Mom Cat Hissing At 4 Month Old Kitten (Normal?)

If you have a 4-month-old kitten and notice its mother hissing at it, it may concern you and lead you to learn why, and what, if anything, you should do…

Why is the mom cat hissing at its 4 month old kitten?

A queen might hiss at her 4 months old kitten as a method of establishing dominance. They might even bite them or get them on the back and wrestle. But, it is unlikely to get to the point of one of them getting injured.

Another sign that will help you figure out that it is a dominance play is that none of them will be screeching in fear.

Hissing at kittens is, besides a way to impose dominance, also a way for queens to discipline their kittens. And to teach them manners.

Is it normal for a mom cat to hiss at its kitten?

It can be perfectly normal and natural for a queen to hiss at her kittens. Just like your mother has certainly given you a stern talking to when you were naughty, queens discipline the kittens by hissing at them. This can happen for many reasons.

Because kittens are unruly, frustrating her when she is weaning them, or it is time for her to eat, and don’t want to be bothered.

Sometimes, though very rarely, the hissing at the kittens can be a symptom of anxiety and stress. Though the cause of this can be related to kittens themselves, it can be also caused by hormonal imbalance or a too sudden change of a routine.

Should I try to prevent the mom cat from hissing at its kitten?

No, most of the time the queen is just teaching her kittens how to properly behave. Most often the reason is that they did something they should not be doing. For example, biting too hard while play-fighting, either her or another kitten.

By hissing at them she is teaching them to not do things that she doesn’t allow. These lessons are very important for kittens because they are their early socialization of them, teaching them how to properly behave.

Could a mom cat hurt its kitten?

It’s possible, but It is very uncommon for a mother cat to hurt her kittens. Hissing and roughing them up is just her teaching them a lesson, either how to behave or how is the top cat in the house. But, you still should keep an eye on them and be wary that things can get out of hand.

Especially because there are chances that your queen is hissing for some other reasons.

She could be suffering from anxiety and stress, and if so, she could become too aggressive toward her kittens and hurt them.

What can I do to keep my mom cat & kitten happy?

If your queen is not too aggressive, you shouldn’t do anything. But, if she is and the kitten is distressed or injured by her behavior, you should look for a way to calm her down and make her more friendly toward the kitten.

Sometimes queens can be aggressive even towards their kittens because of the anxiety and stress, and in such situations, you should look for a way to make her more amicable and calm. If mommy isn’t happy, her kittens won’t be either.

How do I get my older cat to stop hissing at my kitten?

One way to make an older cat stop hissing at a kitten is to use the FELIWAY Multicat Diffuser, which is a great solution for both reducing tension and fighting between cats, but also a good way to relieve them of the anxiety and stress of living together. Especially if the anxiety is caused by such an arrangement.

It stimulates the queen’s nursing pheromones, making both cats feel protected and sheltered. And so, has a calming effect and encourages positive interactions between them.

How long will my cat hiss at my kitten?

The older cat will hiss at the younger cat for maybe up to a few weeks, without any intervention. In the case of a queen, it will last only until kittens learn how to behave and what kind of behavior is not desirable to their mother.

When it comes to an unrelated pair, a cat and a kitten, it will last until they get used to each other and learn to live together. If they are properly introduced to each other, it can last just a few days.

How do I know if my cat is too rough with a kitten?

The best way to tell is by the body language of the older cat. If their ears are pulled back and it is growling and screeching at the kitten it is the body language of aggression. It means that the older cat is intended on hurting the kitten unless it yields or runs away.

But, this type of behavior you are very unlikely to see, and they are very likely just start getting along well enough, eventually.

Could a cat dislike a new kitten in its territory?

Yes, cats are both territorial and generally solitary animals that like to get into a certain routine. Another cat in the household disrupts practically their whole world. The first thing they will do is to force their dominance on the “intruder” and will continue doing so until the newcomer accepts their will.

But, you should keep a close eye on your cats, so that things do not get out of hand. Generally, the younger cat will run away when it had enough, so they are safe from each other while they are interacting. But it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Is there a chance that your cat & kitten are just not compatible?

It’s possible but unlikely. most cats can practically get along with each other when they set the boundaries between them. Though cats are solitary animals in the wild, they still find a way how to leave with each other.

Both outside and inside the households.

At worst, they learn how to tolerate each other and how to respect each other’s routines and personal space. But most commonly, they do learn how to live with each other happily.