Redirected Aggression in Cats: Why It Happens and What To Do

Cats are well-known in the pet world for their chaotic behavior, such as random activity periods (also known as “zoomies”) after using the litter box, mischievously swatting items off tables, and rolling around after eating catnip.  

At times, these behaviors can be silly and make us laugh. But what’s more concerning is when our cats suddenly and without obvious warning scratch, bite, pounce, or growl at us or other pets at home. 

What makes an otherwise loving cat act this way? The cause could be redirected aggression. 

What Is Redirected Aggression in Cats?

Cat redirected aggression occurs when a cat is startled or scared by something but cannot respond directly to it.  

For example, your cat may hear a loud noise, see an unfamiliar cat outside, or walk into a room where a strange visitor is sitting. This can make your cat feel threatened and, if they can’t access the stressor directly, they may attack, hiss, or growl at a family member or another familiar pet in the home.  

Signs of Redirected Aggression in Cats

A cat experiencing redirected aggression may show body language including:  

• An arched back 

• Dilated pupils 

• Flat ears 

• Raised hackles 

• A puffed-up, thrashing tail 

When in this distressed state, your cat may lunge at an unsuspecting victim and begin biting, scratching, or swatting at them.  

This can all occur very quickly, and it may not always be obvious what triggered the attack in the first place. It can look like the aggressive cat is targeting the other individual out of nowhere.  

Causes of Redirected Aggression in Cats

Cat redirected aggression can have a number of triggers, including: 

• Sudden loud noises, such as thunder, construction, dropped objects, alarms, clapping, barking, or vacuums 

• Seeing an unfamiliar cat or dog outside the home 

• Seeing an unfamiliar person in the home 

• Being in a new location, such as a veterinary office, groomer, or boarding facility 

• Unpleasant smells (such as citrus, vinegar, peppermint) or unfamiliar smells, such as the odor of a vet clinic on another pet 

Treating Redirected Aggression in Cats

When your cat is acting aggressively, it can be helpful in the moment to remove them from the situation and allow them to decompress somewhere quiet with dim lighting. Keep them there for as long as they need to calm down.  

This space should be private, free of overstimulating sights or smells, and stocked with your cat’s necessities, such as a litter box, food and water bowls, toys, bedding, cozy hiding spaces, and elevated perches (if they enjoy vertical spaces).  

Running a calming pheromone diffuser, such as Feliway Multicat, in the space and/or spraying Feliway Classic Calming Spray on their bedding can also help your cat return to a more relaxed state.  

Especially if your cat exhibited redirected aggression in response to seeing another cat outside, it’s best if the space does not have any windows to prevent them from becoming agitated again.  

It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days for cats to recover from a redirected aggression episode. If your cat acted aggressively toward another pet at home, you may need to slowly reintroduce them, just as you would when bringing home a new cat or dog.   

It’s also recommended to see your primary veterinarian if your cat has shown redirected aggression, especially if it’s the first episode you’ve observed and you aren’t able to identify the cause. Aggression of any kind in cats can sometimes be related to medical issues, such as pain, hormonal problems like hyperthyroidism, or neurological conditions. 

Preventing Redirected Aggression in Cats

The best way to control redirected aggression in cats is to identify the underlying cause and remove it, if possible.  

For example: 

• If your cat is reacting to animals outside the window, keeping blinds down at times when other animals are present can help prevent redirected aggression episodes.  

• If your cat is anxious around new people, setting up a safe space for them to relax while company is over may help.  

• If redirected aggression seems related to certain smells, identifying which scents your cat reacts to and eliminating them may be helpful.  

In many cases, though, it may be difficult to completely remove the inciting cause of the redirected aggression. When the stressor cannot be removed completely, it may be better to work on counterconditioning your cat to react less strongly.  

This can include gradually exposing your cat to the stimulus and rewarding them with favorite treats, toys, or petting as they remain calm.  

For noises, this may involve playing the sound at the lowest volume possible that does not produce a reaction in your cat and slowly increasing the volume over many sessions—over weeks to months—until they can tolerate the full volume with minimal reaction.  

For things like the smell of veterinary clinics, this may involve gradually lengthening visits to the vet’s office to build confidence in that environment.  

While it may be possible to manage redirected aggression in some cats without additional aids, other cats may do best when counterconditioning techniques are combined with calming products and possibly prescription anxiety medications that your veterinarian can select.  

In addition to calming diffusers like Feliway, there are supplements your cat can take by mouth that may help manage anxiety and aggression when given consistently. Examples include Purina Calming Care probiotic powder, Vetoquinol Zylkene capsules, and Nutramax Solliquin chews.