why do cats spit?

Question

I have a little 6 wk old kitten. Whenever he plays, he makes this noise like he is spitting.

Answer 1

Hi there...When a cat hisses, it is a defensive act; in fact, it's an evolutionary strategy of deception based on mimicry (copying), and occurs when one species of animal looks like or behaves like another one. Mimicry is fairly common in the animal kingdom. For example, when burrowing owls are cornered, they produce a defensive hiss that mimics the rattle of a rattlesnake. Non-poisonous viceroy butterflies mimic the poisonous monarch butterfly in color, and as a result birds do not to eat them. And a beetle called the "locust borer" mimics the sound of a bee when picked up.

When your cat hisses at another cat, don't be too eager to intervene. Not only is hissing a defensive strategy; it is also a manner of communicating to establish house rules. A kitten may playfully pounce on an older cat, who will then hiss. Usually the kitten gets the point – that this older cat is not to be messed with.

Your cat may also display this threatening behavior toward you. When your kitty hisses at you, it's best to ignore the behavior and walk away. Your pet will soon learn that this verbal display will get him no attention at all and should be saved for really threatening circumstances – not just silly old you.

Answer 2

Cat Spit

Answer 3

Cats spit out of frustration. It's a popping sound. Had cats for 60 years. Young ones spit easily. Old cats sometimes. One cat I had was a max cat. Short tail he had. Named him Tater Tot. He would spit during playtime. If he could not catch something like a string or ball on a string he would spit. Pull his tater tail 3 or 4 times he would spit. Out of not being able to catch you in the act. He slept by my side every night until his demise.

Answer 4

My roommate's cat does that when he's super into playtime (moving an object around under a sheet for him to chase and pounce on). I'd never seen a cat spit when it wasn't in full on defensive mode before, but his ears are always super up and forward, coat smooth, and he's having a blast.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
why do cats spit?
I have a little 6 wk old kitten. Whenever he plays, he makes this noise like he is spitting.

Answer 6

Call the nearest zoo and ask a feline keeper if the lions, tigers, leopards they have there cough up hairballs. Can you guess what the answer will be????? Cats naturally have a raw meat diet (zoo cats do). When you feed your cat food that is 2/3 corn the digestive juices in its stomach has to dissolve the hair ingested and the inappropriate grain that is the major component of its diet. It can't handle it. All felines of whatever species are very compulsive groomers. On a "natural" diet of meat the stomach acids take care of the hair the cat ingests from grooming and there are no "hairballs". My cats all eat a diet of almost 100% meat. None of them ever throws up a hairball.

Answer 7

my fat tabby cat spits at the dog. It sounds like a little pop of air too. It brings me joy because it is very rare and my dog is 115 lbs. compared to my 20 lb. orange tabby. I think he would like to bark, but he spits. It is definitely a defensive warning!

Answer 8

First of all, he probably didn't learn proper play habits from his siblings...he should have stayed with them longer. Second, the noise is probably either him hissing or sneezing or maybe even coughing. You need to figure out which it is...if you don't think he's hissing, get him to the vet for a check up. It's close to time for his shots anyway, so if he's healthy your vet may be willing to give him his first round of shots while he's there. If he's sick, he'll be able to get the treatment he needs.

Answer 9

Natural instinct to ward of attackers.

Answer 10

it's trying to hiss... practicing kind of.