 Unlike cats and dogs, bears seldom truly growl and instead the fear-moans of a trapped or treed bear are often mistaken as a threatening growl.When bears are being intentionally aggressive, as in when hunting or when threatened, they will tend to remain silent, or make short blowing noises.Felines such as leopards and tigers also growl to signal territorial aggression, eliciting anti-predator responses from animals such as elephants.