tempermental cat

Question
Hi,I have a 1 1/2 year old cat, we've had her since she was 2 months.The cat is spayed and an indoor cat.Jasmine{the cat}behaves very loving with the family living here at home which includes myself,my husband,and our 7year old daughter,jamsmine is also fine around the young children I babysit.The problem occurs when we have company come over she meows and hisses at everybody including us her family.The noises she makes is very scary sounding and getting worse .She has not attacked anyone{yet}.I was wondering if there is anything we can do to stop this it really upsets my daughter?

Answer
Nikki,

This behavior is very perplexing.

Does she exhibit the behavior with all company or is there some number of strangers beyond which she exhibits this behavior?  Does she start out friendly and then turn, or does she exhibit the untoward behavior from the get go?

When cats get very frightened, this is the type of behavior they exhibit.  It could be that strangers just have her totally buffaloed and she feels she is protecting her domain from the strangers (at that point she becomes so invooed with the behavior she cannot readily discern her family from the strangers).

I would suggest putting her up somewhere with food, water, and a liiter pan when you have company and let her back out when the company is gone.

Has she always done this or is this behavior relatively new?  If it is a new behavior a check up by the vet might not be a bad idea to see if she has developed a physical problem.

Good luck & best regards... Norm.