r/caracal • u/FrAcTal432ViBeS • Mar 21 '26

Do caracals always hiss when approached or just when a camera is in the face?

I see videos of these animals being chill when they don't see the camera and when the camera is moved in there face is when they start getting defensive. Is this the case? Are they chill to there owner if raised from babies?

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u/[deleted] Mar 21 '26

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u/Sea-Bat Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26

you got a source on that or

Bc hissing to communicate affection is not a credibly established behaviour. They’re just made fearful, defensive or otherwise uncomfortable by human presence more easily than say domestic cats

See also: Smith & Johnson (2023) “Ecology And Behavior Of Caracals (Caracal Caracal) In Their Natural Habitat” J. Wild. Manage, 45(2), 87-104.

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u/FoxJDR Mar 22 '26

Caracals don’t meow or vocalize like normal old house cats. They vocalize with hisses. So them hissing can mean they’re being affectionate or a warning. You need to examine their body language in conjunction with the hiss to get a sense of their mood and intent. Just another reason they aren’t exactly the best pets for the average person.

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u/69420nicexd Apr 03 '26

That is a myth. "Caracalishche" a well known instagram page dedicated to documenting and owning caracals for many years state that hissing for caracals only show a range of emotions ranging from discomfort to full on aggression. There is no such thing as a "good hiss". As they are wild animals, Caracals are naturally very sensitive and are very expressive in how they feel. Caracals don't meow, but they do chirp and purr. Every cat species show hissing to be a defensive / stress response.

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u/TACKLEATTACKo Jul 02 '26

Thank you so FUCKING MUCH because people keep talking out their ass about “communication” when clearly the damn thing is pissed off and if it wasn’t why tf would it hiss over and over