A pet charity has revealed that words containing the letter ‘s’ can seem aggressive to cats.
Mimicking the sound of hissing, using these words, is “like swearing at them”.
PDSA vet nurse Gemma Renwick told The Sun: “Cats pick up on certain sounds and tend to prefer fewer ‘s’ sounds. The ‘s’ noise is similar to a cat hissing, which is almost like swearing at them every time you want their attention.
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“Consider speaking their language and meowing at them.
“Unlike hissing, adult cats don’t really meow at one another but do use meows to communicate with us humans.”
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Renwick went on to warn cat owners of some other common mistakes that can leave felines feeling unhappy.
The vet said: “Hugging and other approaches we may consider signs of affection can actually be detrimental.
“If a cat runs away as you come towards them or they dash off as soon as you let go, it’s a good sign they don’t want to be touched or have their personal space invaded.
“Always let your cat come to you, and you’ll reap the rewards of consensual kitty cuddles,” she added.
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Renwick says that whilst heartwarming to stare into a cat’s eyes, it can come across as “quite threatening,” instead advising slow blinking.
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Similar to dogs, using lasers with pointers for play can frustrate cats when there isn’t anything tangible to catch.
If your cat isn’t using its litter box, it may be a result of citrus-scented cleaning products, which can be too strong for its sensitive sense of smell.
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