The Secret Language of Cats: Why Does My Cat Growl?

If you have a cat, chances are you’ve heard him growling at some point. It can be pretty unsettling, especially if you don’t know what’s causing it. You might also be wondering why your usually calm and quiet kitty is suddenly making these aggressive sounds.

In this article, I’ll explore five potential reasons why your cat growls and also provide some tips for what you can do about it.

What is cat growling?

Mammal species, which include cats, commonly use a low-pitched growl “to express an aggressive motivation” (Tavernier et al, 2015).

In other words, if the scary thing doesn’t stop or go away, the cat may go from growling to a hissing cat who may scratch or bite in his efforts to eliminate the threat.

What does a growling cat sound like?

In cat behavior, the growl is a guttural sound that is “harsh, regularly and rapidly pulse-modulated, low-pitched (100-225 Hz)…of usually long duration. It is produced during a slow steady exhalation while the mouth is held slightly open in the same position.”

During a cat fight, the pitch of the growling may go higher, “between 400 and 800 Hz.” (Schötz, 2015).

This video from Meowsic showcases the different types of growls in cats and the contexts in which cats use them.

Why is my cat growling?

It’s important for cat owners to know that, when their cat growls, he’s trying to convey a message.

Growls are extremely useful warnings in the animal kingdom. They signal that the animal is feeling threatened in some way and that their level of distress may increase if the threat doesn’t go away.

The threat may be real or perceived and may involve a person the cat doesn’t like, another animal that the cat wants to go away, a situation the cat is uncomfortable with (e.g. at the vet), or just about anything else.

So, if you hear your cat growling, take the time to figure out what he’s trying to say. Most likely he’s trying to tell you something important.

Let’s now look at five of the various reasons our feline friends growl.

#1. Fear

One of the most common reasons for growling is fear. If your cat feels like he’s in danger, he may growl as a way to try and scare off the perceived threat.

This is especially common if your cat is not used to being handled. He may growl when you try to pick him up, restrain him for some reason, or pet him in a way that he’s not comfortable with.

Our scaredy cat Jethro was rescued from a terrible situation and is still quite wary of us even though he has lived with us for a number of years now. We avoid handling him because it’s so stressful for him.

But on the rare occasions we have to, say for a vet visit, he may still growl at us on occasion. That’s when we know to back off and come back later when he’s calmed down.

#2. Territorial behavior

Cats are very territorial creatures and if another animal or person comes into their territory, they may growl as a way of warning them to stay away.

This is especially common if you have multiple cats in your home. They may growl at each other when one cat tries to enter the other’s territory (e.g. when one cat tries to share the warm spot by the radiator where the other cat is already sleeping), or when a new cat arrives in the home.

We see this with our cats especially in the cold winters when it comes to competition over the best warm and cozy sleeping places! I’ve seen this quite a bit in our male cats.

Another instance would be when mother cats growl to protect their kittens from potential threats.

#3. Pain

Another common reason for growling is pain. If your cat is injured or ill, he may growl when you try to touch him because it hurts.

This is especially common if you try to touch an area that’s already sore or if your cat is not used to being handled (e.g. he may growl when you try to pick him up).

Our rescue cat Oakley has what I can only describe as a dent in his back. It doesn’t seem to slow him down and he runs about and jumps all over the place.

Our vet thinks he may have been hit by a car and, sadly, no one helped him get it treated at the time.

When Oakley sleeps, he goes to great lengths to wedge his belly over your arm or a cushion, which elevates his spine and seems to ease the pressure.

If he’s on your arm and you move too suddenly, however, or touch his back, hind legs, or tail without meaning to, he will often growl and quickly lash out to scratch or bite.

But this doesn’t mean he’s an aggressive cat who attacks without warning. He just reacts if he thinks you might touch this sensitive area that has caused him a lot of physical pain in the past (he takes painkillers from time to time, as needed). It makes total sense.

#4. Anxiety and stress

Another potential reason for growling is anxiety or stress.

This may be due to a change in the home (e.g. new baby, new pet, new kitten, new furniture, etc.), moving house, or even just a change in routine or moving the furniture around and creating an unfamiliar environment.

Our cats have had to deal with a lot of changes in our home over the past few years, including moving house a couple of times, older cats and dogs leaving us for the Rainbow Bridge, younger cats and dogs arriving, and being cooped up inside during the cold winter months.

All of these things can be stressful for cats and it’s our job to make the transitions as streamlined as possible.

#5. Irritation and anger

Finally, some cats simply growl when they’re angry or upset.

If an angry cat is growling at another animal or person, he’s likely using aggressive behavior to intimidate the other creature into backing down or going away.

Of course, every cat is different, so it’s important to pay attention to your individual pet’s body language too.

Cat body language

When your cat is growling, the cat’s body language will reflect how he feels. It all depends on whether he’s mildly irritated or about to blow a gasket, so pay close attention!

If your cat is growling in a threatening way, he may also hiss, spit, or yowl to further intimidate the other animal or person.

This may be accompanied by an aggressive stance, i.e. an arched back with the cat’s hackles (hair on his back) raised, puffed-up tail, ears flattened against his head, and standing sideways on to make himself look bigger and more intimidating.

On the other hand, if your cat is simply growling in annoyance or as a warning, his body language will be more relaxed. His ears may be slightly back but not flat against his head, and his hackles may be raised – but not as much as if he was feeling threatened.

Tail position

A slowly twitching tail expresses irritation. This has the potential to escalate to anger, so if you’re in the middle of a petting session with your cat, this is a good time to stop!

A fully upright tail with the fur standing on end/puffed up expresses extreme fear or agitation.

Ear position

Check your cat’s ear movement. Flattened ears are the sign of an angry or fearful cat.

Eyes

Dilated pupils are a sign of arousal and an indication that the cat is scared or feels threatened.

Mouth                                          

Your cat may open his mouth and bare his teeth in a sign of aggression.

How should I react when my cat is growling?   

Prevention                                          

• If you know what your cat’s triggers are you can make sure you avoid them (e.g. our cat Oakley doesn’t like having his back touched and so we make sure we don’t put him in that position).

Respect and acknowledge the signal

• You can easily stop what you’re doing or move away to allow the cat some time and space to calm down.

Manage the cat’s environment

• If, for example, your cat is growling because he can see another cat outside the window, you could lure him away from there with a tasty treat or a favorite toy to chase, or simply close the curtains.

Should I punish my cat when he growls?

That would be no! Growling is an essential part of a cat’s behavior and communication repertoire. It’s the cat’s way to express how he’s feeling. It can only be to our benefit to understand his signals and act upon them accordingly.

If you do try to punish him, he’ll just get more scared and there’s a risk he’ll become a lot more aggressive than he had planned to or wanted to be.

How can I stop my cat from growling?

Cats are relatively small animals, but they can still make a lot of noise when they want to! Here are a few ways pet parents can stop their cats from growling:

Space

• Respect his space the same way you’d like yours to be respected. If you wouldn’t like someone to invade your personal space, then don’t do it to your cat. He may look all cute and furry but he probably doesn’t want to be disturbed when he’s sleeping!

Controlled interactions

• Interact with him only when he initiates it and stop when you start to see the telltale signs of irritation, such as a slowly flicking tail.

Play

• Use play to change how your cat feels in a particular moment. If you can make him happy and distract him from whatever is bothering him (especially when he’s irritated or angry), then the growling may stop.
  
  Chasing toys and wand-type toys or flirt poles can be helpful for this. Always let the cat “catch” something at the end so his brain can complete the predatory sequence and he doesn’t end up feeling even more frustrated!

Environment

• Set up an environment that meets all his needs.
  
  Good options for this include vertical space (e.g. high shelves or furniture for the cat to perch on out of harm’s reach), cat trees for scratching, hidey holes, treat dispensing puzzle toys, and interactive puzzle feeders for mental stimulation, and chasing games that provide an outlet for the cat’s predatory instincts.

Multi-cat households

If you have multiple cats, you can set up multiple feeding stations, sleeping spots, and litter boxes (rule of thumb is one litter tray per cat, plus one) to reduce competition for territory and resources.

Again, make sure there are plenty of places to hide away or get up to a higher level so the cats have lots of choices where they spend their time and can escape to separate rooms if they want or need to.

The more the cat is in control in his home environment, the safer he feels, and the more calm and relaxed he will be overall. This means he’ll be better able to cope with stressful situations and less likely to react aggressively.

Final thoughts

Cats are very independent creatures and like to be in control of their surroundings. When they feel threatened or that their space is being invaded, they may growl as a warning sign to back off.

It’s important to respect your cat’s space and only interact with him on his own terms if you want to stop him from growling. You can also try to manage the environment he lives in so that he doesn’t feel as threatened and make sure he has plenty of toys and activities to keep him busy and distracted.

If you’re unsure – especially if you think your cat may be sick or in pain, always err on the side of caution and consult your veterinarian.

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The Secret Language of Cats: Why Does My Cat Growl?

Recommended Products

• Cat Fishing Pole
• Cat Tree With Scratching Board
• Da Fish Teaser Wand
• Interactive Puzzle Cat Feeder
• Treat Dispensing Cat Toy

Resources

• Agonistic Vocalisations in Domestic Cats: A Case Study – Susanne Schötz
• Cat Sounds Explained: The Growl [Video] – Cat Lady Sweden
• Feline vocal communication – Chloé Tavernier, Sohail Ahmed, Katherine Albro Houpt, &  Seong Chan Yeon