Fun Fact.

Why Does a Cat Hiss?

Ever noticed that the sound of a cat’s hiss and that of a snake are quite similar? It seems that it isn’t just a coincidence. The cat’s hiss is actually a case of protective mimicry; in other words, that cat imitates the snake to give an enemy the impression that it too is venomous and dangerous. Predators have a great respect for venomous snakes and will often pause long enough for the snake to pass. Supporting this idea is the fact that a cat will usually spit while hissing-another way that a threatened snake reacts. A cornered cat may also twitch or thrash his/her tail in a special way, impersonating the movements a snake makes. It has also been suggested that as long ago as the nineteenth century the pattern of markings on a tabby cat are not direct, simple camouflage, but rather are imitations of the camouflage markings of a snake. A killer, such as an eagle, seeing a sleeping cat might as a result of this resemblance, think twice before attacking.
Taken from “Catwatching” by Desmond Morriss.