Let’s Talk Cat Growling — Why Does Your Cat Growl and How Should You React?
As kitty parents know, cats make all kinds of sounds. My little calico lady, Merritt, is fond of trilling, but my large orange tabby dude, Gabby, is fond of the huff (an annoyed, airy snort — does anyone else’s cat do this?!) and the growl. We adopted Gabby as an abandoned older kitty with an unknown past, so it makes sense that he’s got a few behavioral issues and is more prone to expressing his discontent vocally. But I’ve heard a fair amount of cat growling come from Merritt, too (we recently experienced a case of feline non-recognition aggression that caused her to growl away!).
So, what exactly is cat growling and how should you react when your cat growls? Let’s take a look:
What does cat growling sound like?
To me, my cats’ growls sound like a low brrrrrroooooooooooowwww. Gabby sometimes makes what I call a pre-growl or warning growl, which sounds like a creaking door — a slow and low precursor to the full-on growl. “Growling is a deep, rumbling noise that comes from passage of air through vocal folds,” explains Dr. Sasha Gibbons of Just Cats Veterinary Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut. “[It] can sound very similar to a dog growl.”
If Gabby is especially not pleased, he will follow his growl with a big hiss. For those who still don’t know what cat growling sounds like (lucky you!), check out the video of this poor little ticked-off guy above.
What causes cat growling?
Cat growling can be caused by a number of things, like toy aggression. Photography ©Page Light Studios | Thinkstock.
Although Gabby is more reserved than my outgoing lap cat Merritt, he is truly a big, lovable baby around an exclusive, privileged few and, since he had a rough start at life, it’s even more of a triumph when Gabby chooses to curl up next to us, groom us, or lavish us with headbutts and purrs. He does not growl all the time, but he does growl more than other cats because he is more nervous than most cats. Gabby growls mostly when strangers enter our house and especially when strangers try to approach him without properly introducing themselves. I get it — I’d growl too if some weirdo entered my home and immediately thought they were entitled to the same physical contact (in Gabby’s case, head pets, in mine, hugs) I reserve for family and friends.
“Growling is a warning noise,” Dr. Gibbons affirms. “It implies unhappiness from annoyance, anger, aggression or fear. It is a signal to back off. Growling can occur from a variety of triggers. Some cats can be food or toy aggressive and growl to show possession. If a cat is annoyed from physical contact, he or she may growl.”
What about when cats growl at each other? When Merritt was growling at Gabby after he returned from the vet, it was because she simply didn’t recognize her kitty sibling! He smelled like the vet (Shots! A sterile environment! Riding in the car! Other cats!) instead of his usual odor (usually a mix of cat food and rolling around in his dad’s hockey gear). “Cats can also growl in the presence of other cats or dogs in order to establish dominance or signify they are not interested in interacting with the other animal,” Dr. Gibbons explains.
Is cat growling a reaction to pain?
Careful — a growl might mean your cat is in pain. Photography ©points | Thinkstock.
Yes — sometimes. “Pain due to physical ailments, including: urinary tract infections, dental disease, trauma, arthritis and some metabolic diseases, such as hyperthyroidism, can also be causes. So, a thorough exam should be performed to rule out any underlying medical conditions,” says Dr. Jenny Kistler, owner and medical director at Brandermill Animal Hospital in Midlothian, Virginia. “If a cat’s growling is a consistent problem, the cause behind it should be determined, if possible, so that appropriate medical or behavioral protocols can be instituted to make you cat happier or more comfortable.”
The first time we took Gabby to a cats-only vet, they found that he needed six (!!!) teeth pulled (his unknown past seems to have had less-than-nutritious things on the menu, unfortunately). For a minute, we thought we had found the answer to why he was a bit of a curmudgeon! Maybe all those growls were just a reaction to the pain he was in! Maybe the surgery would take away his pain! Although Gabby definitely felt better after his decaying teeth were out, this did not stop him from growling.
How should humans respond to cat growling?
This little guy is upset — but don’t rush to comfort him! Photography ©Ornitolog82 | Thinkstock.
We’ve already established that cat growling is a warning noise, which means — you guessed it — leave your cat alone. Do not try to comfort him or, worse, “do not try to scold or reprimand the cat, especially with physical contact or hand gestures,” advises Dr. Gibbons. “This may be misinterpreted as aggression and the situation could escalate from a warning to physical contact.”
What about cats who growl a lot?
Is your cat growling because he’s overdramatic? Photography ©scorpp | Thinkstock.
I know Gabby has behavioral issues. As much as I instruct guests in my home to please approach him appropriately or leave him alone, there will be people who ignore me and he will growl because he is confused, frustrated and scared. But there are also times when he growls just out of sheer annoyance.
Four years into being his mom, I’m pretty attuned to what growls mean he’s really angry or when he’s being all talk (read: overdramatic). He’s a very vocal cat in the first place, so I understand the difference between a half-hearted growl that means he’s displeased but I can still (cautiously) walk past him or pick him up. And I know when he needs to be left alone to cool off.
“Cats can growl for a variety of reasons and from a long list of triggers,” explains Dr. Gibbons. “It can be difficult to determine which cat growls are simply vocalizing, and which cats would react physically following vocalization, so it is always best to work with a professional (veterinarian or animal behavioralist) if you have concerns with your cat growling.”
Tell us: Does your cat growl a lot or not so much? To you, what does cat growling sound like?
Read more about cat sounds on Catster.com:
28 comments on “Let’s Talk Cat Growling — Why Does Your Cat Growl and How Should You React?”
I have a part Siamese male cat. He LOVES my husband and will jump up and purr while pawing him every chance he gets. I love my my cat but that affection is not returned. I will pick him up and scratch his neck or back and I have about 30 seconds before the growling starts. It’s so predictably it has become a joke around our house. I have never heard him growl or hiss at anyone besides me. He never becomes aggressive, just very vocal; even if he swats at me with his paws, its like he’s playing, his claws are always in, he never scratches me. If he goes to bite he is always very gentle and if I say “ow” he immediately stops, he has never even come close to piercing my skin. He wants to love on my husband and wrestle with me.
My female cat only growls if she sees/meets a male cat. She is ok with females they just sniff and observe each other (at the vet at least). I think she is frightened of males. Does anyone know why this may be?
Help!!!!!!
My Girls are sisters and have been together all the time. In the last month one has been attacking the other. Moose will be sitting on our lap and Tank will walk past and Moose will swipe for her, also if Moose is sitting on the sofa and Tank walks past Moose will chase her up the stairs and growl at her. Why oh Why is she doing this and how can I stop this. Thank you in advance. X
Hi there — This article might be helpful: http://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/stop-cats-fighting
My blue (unknown origin that would need gene test) is a right old growler. This I take to be her expressing opinions. She is very talkative and has a full range of vocal sounds which she employs all the time. However, she is very quick to tell you when she is displeased…anything from mild ‘oh do stop that’ which you may be familiar with if you recall your mother trying to brush/comb your hair when you were young but feeling too old to have her attentions! To, ‘I’m warning you….'(and meaning it!)
A recent UK vet’s TV programme recently featured a lovely farm lady who adopts and looks after lost cats. She had one with similar colouring to mine and was frightened of the growling as this was not the typical response she got from cats. It was no surprise to me and I could tell the growling was just informative not threatening!
My new little tabby growls at the little boy I babysit in the afternoon! I believe it’s because when he would play with her, he would “attack” her with the toys (like I tried to tell him not to do!), so now she just really dislikes him! The funny part, though, is when we’re playing a game, she’ll jump up on the table, next to him! But then if he has to reach near her to draw a card or retrieve a dice, she’ll growl! She will also sit on the back of his chair (without growling) and will even purr if he’s leaning back with his head next to her, but if he reaches back to pet her, she growls! It’s too funny! She’s also never growled at anyone else, and she only growls at me when he is around! I’ve never had a kitty who hones in so much on just one person!
My male, fixed, inside cat of 17 years for the past 3 years likes to scream at the top of his voice and usually at 3,4,5 a.m. He has two spots he sleeps at. Our bed on a small towel at the end of the bed and downstairs. He always has food, water and his litter box is clean. I had him to a vet and they said nothing was wrong physically. I have heard the same scream a few times when he is in my porch when he wants in. But at that time I know he wants me to open the door and let him in. Why this at night. Please help!
Your 17 year old may be experiencing some dementia and nighttime can be disorienting as his hearing/eyesight probably aren’t the same as when he was younger. I have had this with a couple of my seniors. They want some reassurance. I usually just holler out at them to let them know where I am and they stop.
Also besides from your kitty having a senior moment. The eyesight may not be too good at night anymore try adding some nightlights for him. Helped my senior when he would holler as we figured he was scared on his way to potty.
I agree with the others, as our 18 year old cat recently began howling. She started when another cat took ill and it worsened after his passing. We have since adopted two other cats and added a night light to our bedroom. No more howling at all.
I had a part-Siamese male who growled when someone knocked on the door or rang the doorbell. He’d growl at strangers who came in the house on his way to a hiding spot. His two brothers, however, never did this. The ginger boy I have now will growl when he sees an unfamiliar cat or dog. He even growled at my dog when she surprised him once in the yard. However, he’s friendly to a small female raccoon and has never growled at her.
I rescued a kitten from a farm in Iowa. She was about 2 months. I gave the farmer a towel, saying I wanted a female and told him to wrap her in the towel. He gave her to me and I wrapped her up with just her face showing. I spoke softly to her and she growled and hissed the whole way home. She was covered in fleas, so a deflea bath was in order. She definitely didn’t like it, but we wrapped her up again in a warm towel speaking softly, and flea combing her until she was free of fleas and dry. She was purrng loudly by the time we finished, we fed her and put her to bed. In the morning she acted like she was special baby (which she was) and rarely hissed or growled again. I think that we exhausted her and she loved the attention so much she thought she got a good deal. We named her “Metzie” which means “kitten” in German.
Our three maine coons will growl if the see or hear a stranger come to the door. They also growl when UPS or FedEx trucks come up the drive way. They’re great watch cats and sound threatening, but then they go hide under the bed. LOL
My male cat “loses it” when he is suddenly surprised, especially by the female cat. He goes absolutely bonkers, physically attacks her or me or anyone nearby. I have to scoop him up (very carefully) and take him to the bedroom, close the door, turn the lights down low and then let him cool out for a bit. I’ll go in there and pet him, hold him, and reassure him. It takes a while, but eventually he relaxes. Such drama!!
I have four indoor cats, and the littlest one, a female Siamese, will growl at my big male if he tries to initiate play with her. She is plainly saying, “Paws off, buster!”
One of our cats growls when he is sat in front of the door to go out when you are about to open it for him. Annoyance (Im guessing) because the door is not opened immediately he sits in front of it.
A cat I used to have growled whenever someone was coming up the walk to my door. It was a great doorbell.
My little hauspanther Twinkle, who rules the roost here, growls if some cat-brother-or-other walks around behind her when she’s eating: “Don’t you touch my tail!” And sometimes she snorts! She’s just the silliest!
I have two cats, neither are growlers anymore. My younger cat (two years old) used to growl as a kitten when he had a toy in his mouth and the dog looked like she might approach him. He grew out of it, probably because he’s the larges animal in the house now and is no longer afraid she’ll steal his toys. He does huff though! I’ve never known anyone else with a huffing cat! He does it when he’s annoyed, not getting his way (like when I don’t move fast enough to feed him), or being held when he’d rather not be. I think it’s so funny and cute. He’s like a spoiled child XD
My cat Katie that I adopted at her age of 4, makes those little puffs of air that are noticeable. The very first time I heard it, I thought she was hissing. My head swung around quickly and shows relaxing on the floor. I usually hear it 4, 5 times a day and it is charming. I love it. We all call it her “puff”. I asked other kitties in Katie’s blond there are a few others who make that charming puff. If you look at them, you will seethe are perfectly calm and at ease. It’sjust a sweet thing they do.
My daughter moved and was not able to take her cat with her. I am temporarily housing her 1 year old kitty with my 11 year old cat. My cat hates her. She growls all time at her and sometimes at me. It has not been easy living with both cats.
This past March I had adopted an older cat from a local shelter. The first day home I was scratching her under the chin the like most cats like and that was the first time she started growling. Then she would growl whenever I wanted her to get down from a spot she didn’t belong on (and I wasn’t even picking her up, just gently placing my hand on her side and trying to encourage her to get down). She also growled at my 8 yr. old cat every time I tried to introduce them (and my cat just wanted to be friends). After 10 days things escalated to her swatting my cat and scratching me when I went to pet her and I wound up returning her to the shelter. Things might have changed in time, but having to keep this cat locked up all day and during the night while I slept to insure that she didn’t injure my older cat was not a happy situation for any of us.
3 days later I adopted a 9 month old kitten from a rescue group and I’m happy to say that it’s been a much different situation. She does the trilling sounds all day long, she’s a snuggle bunny with me and she and my other cat adore each other.
My sister’s cat growls at me every time I visit them. There is no way I could approach or even touch the cat. As soon as I walk in he gives me his warning growl and I just try to ignore him. It’s a mystery. He is not very friendly with any other visitors either, but me he just hates. I am a cat lover and would like to pet him so much, but I can not. I just have to let him be.
It may be that the cat is threatened by the smell of your cat on your clothes. My cat is like that with a close friend. We found that rubbing the cat with a towel and then rubbing the towel on my friend’s pant legs took care of the problem.
The first time my cat growled was at fireworks going on in my neighborhood. He was about 8 months old and got in the window and growled at the noise. My husband doesn’t believe me because we’ve had cats for 40 years and never had a growler! He is, however, the friendliest and most loving cat. Sometimes when he’s running around the house playing, I’ll hear him growling at nothing!
I have a feral cat, had her ober 12 years. I’ve had her since she was trapped at 3-weeks old. She still doesn’t want to be held, she screams the whole time I pick her up. I want to find out about soup. She loves home made soup. Tomatoes, butterbeans, corn, potatoes, beef, celery seed. She spent eat the beef but she loves everything else. Is this good for her and she goes to Brandermill Animal Hospital. Drs there are fantastic.
My cat Shota, makes a low growl of annoyance when she gets picked up or held too long. She’s pretty and people looooove to try and hold her. I do not allow visitors to touch her if she does not initiate.
If she growls with me when i lift her. I just put her down.
Sometimes though, she growls while being held, so I go to put her down and she growls, so I let go and let her sit on me and she doesn’t leave but still growls! Guess I can’t do anything right lol!
Seriously though, she’s a high anxiety animal, so I do my best but sometimes, cats are just weird.
I have a rescue kitty who loves any and all human attention but detests the two other cats living in the house. If they stand or walk to close to her or even look at her she’ll growl loudly. They never retaliate, just back WAY up so I guess they already understand that all she’s saying is “don’t bother me ever”