Todo sobre la AGRESIVIDAD REDIRIGIDA en GATOS 😾⚡ Por qué te ataca y cómo solucionarlo

There are times when some cats act in a completely unpredictable way and can even attack certain people. This has a very simple explanation and is called redirected aggression. Hello, I'm Carlos and I'm a veterinarian. And this guy purring here is called the kachofo. Welcome to the Happy pets and families channel. The key to living with a cat is understanding why they act the way they do. Because suddenly, out of nowhere, the cat, who is completely adorable in every other aspect of its life, becomes a little aggressive and can attack some members of the family. It's not that the cat is bad or has hatred or animosity towards a member of the family, but rather that situations are occurring around it that it can't handle. And of course, it can become a real problem. In fact, there are people who even question whether they can continue living with that animal, that cat, because they say, oh, I just don't trust my cat. I don't know when it's going to react this way. And that's why I don't want to have it around. Well, let's calm down, because there's an explanation for everything and above all, a way to treat it and manage the whole situation so that your cat stops expressing these behaviors. I'm referring to redirected aggression, which is a type of behavior that has been observed in many cats. It's well described in the literature, and you can find it in many scientific articles. Many cats, as I said, sometimes can't manage the stress they feel very well when certain situations occur around them. I don't know. Maybe there's a cat roaming around their neighborhood and it's meowing. And logically, they can't get rid of that territory because they can't go downstairs to fight with that cat. Or maybe there's a sudden abrupt sound that scares them. Or maybe a person they don't expect to enter their home, their territory, and they consider it a pleasant threat. Faced with all these stimuli, which, as you can see, can be very diverse, the cat feels very frustrated. And since it can't confront them, what it does is take out that stress, that frustration usually on a member of its family, because they are the humans who live closely with it. Sometimes this can also translate into aggression towards other cats that live with it. It's a type of aggression that is not planned, that doesn't obey anything specific, but simply an internal feeling of the cat. But of course not. Every time your cat bites or scratches you, you're going to say, hey, that's redirected aggression. That's not always the case. There are other ways in which our cats can also show aggression towards humans who live with them. In fact, if you're even slightly interested in this video, and if we see that it's a topic that catches your attention, we can make other videos about aggression directed towards their humans, not redirected, which is what we're talking about. In this case, the difference is that the stimulus is not directly related to who it's attacking. That is to say, if, for example, I do something to my cat that bothers it or hurts it, even because, I don't know, I have to treat a little wound, it's possible that my cat will defend itself because it doesn't want us to touch it in that area and it will swipe at us. In that case, we know what the stimulus is in redirected aggression. On the other hand, it comes out of nowhere because many times the stimulus goes unnoticed by us. What are the fundamental causes of this aggression, Those that most often make our cats react and manifest redirected aggression? In most cases, cats tend to exhibit this type of behavior after loud, intense noises. In fact, I've already talked to you about this type of behavior here on the channel, and I usually give you the example, which is always the same, of your neighbor, the one next door, playing the trumpet and making your cat nervous. Or, well, there's been a party we which I also sometimes mention with fireworks, which is why they're so dangerous and you have to be so aware of them. It could be anything that makes a loud noise in your house. Well, what it ends up doing is disrupting your cat's normal state, because your cat is a very sensitive animal, which also has hearing, that perceives sounds in a different way than we do, and it doesn't quite understand where that big sound source is coming from that's disrupting all its tranquility. Since it doesn't know if it's something that's a threat that has gotten into its house that it has to get out. And of course, it's something it can't fight against because logically, it won't be able to get to the sound source or because it can't attack that sound source. Well, many times they end up releasing that stress in the only way they can. That's the first, most important cause. The second is interactions with other animals. Well, they're not really direct interactions. It's not that they have the other animal right in front of them, but that they see it and that scares them. And they always try to Defend their territory. Well, what I told you before, they see a cat prowling around the neighborhood or a bird that for example, lands on a window and is very large and that scares them. In this case, the cat's natural instinct would be to say, hey look, don't get involved. This already has an owner. But since in some cases there is a glass in between, in others there is distance and they can't access these animals that are supposedly coming to take what is theirs. Another case of redirected aggression arises other things that can trigger it, such as unfamiliar smells. This is not so clear because it is often difficult to relate this cause to the effect of redirected aggression. But it is also something that must be taken into account. And above all, something that has also been seen to be closely related to these behaviors is manipulations that have been done to the cat. In some cats, if we have handled them for something, we have put them in their carrier, we have taken them somewhere and they have experienced high doses of stress, then not at the same time, but I don't know, after an hour or two, half an hour or sometime. The only way they have to release that stress is through aggression. And be careful. Many cats have different ways of dealing with stress that they cannot control. For example, in the case of artichoke, when a situation occurs that takes him out of his bubble, his well being, where he lives, what he does, as he goes to the scratching post and stays there for a while, like ah, by scratching he releases all that stress. Well, it's his way of dealing with it. In this case he exerts that aggression, if we can say so, through an action that is everyday and normal for cats. In your case, your cat probably also exhibits this type of behavior. It's very common. But what happens? There are some cats that have a series of risk factors, predisposing factors that lead them to manage these types of situations. The way they do that is through aggression. They generally have to do with previous experiences that these cats have had. In fact, it is very common to see that cats that have redirected aggression also have a phobia of other sounds because in the past they have associated them with situations that have not been very pleasant for them. Or some cats that have not been properly socialized have been separated from their mother and litter mates very prematurely. It also often has to do with the fact that the environment in which the cat lives is not properly catified. It does not have everything the cat needs to release the stress that can occur in certain situations in its life. For example, running, climbing on its scratching tree, or scratching directly like a cat does. It is also related to cats that live in houses with few stimuli. These are usually homes where nothing ever happens, since no one ever visits. There's not much noise, and they're always in a state of dead calm where anything that happens outside is noticeable, especially inside the house, and the cat logically reacts. Also, something very curious is that cats that tend to suffer from redirected aggression often live in homes where few people live. In fact, it has been directly related to the fact that there are only one or two people living in the house with this type of behavior. Perhaps because two people make less noise or change the cat's environment less, which is why it's less used to it. In short, cats that have redirected aggression are often telling us that their environment isn't the most suitable for a cat, or that it doesn't meet what cats need. Cats that don't have many things to do during the day at home, that have a house that isn't designed for them, are very likely to get bored. And above all, they don't have escape routes when they feel stressed. Right. But it is very important not only to know that our cat may be displaying this behavior, but above all, to recognize what the warning signs are. Cats that have redirected aggression always display a certain body language before the aggression is triggered. You may have noticed that at a certain moment in your house, your cat suddenly becomes still, presses itself to the floor, lays its ears back and runs away. Well, apart from playing and so on, which it may also be doing at that moment, this is also a sign that there is something that may be disturbing it around it. Obviously you have to connect this with something changing in its environment, a noise or some new stimulus that the cat is not used to. And suddenly, my cat lives in a beach apartment, and as I said before, a seagull lands on the window and starts pecking at the glass, and you see that it becomes scared, as if petrified, and then it starts running all over the house. It. It is possible that the cat is already showing those early symptoms that in the end end up triggering redirected aggression. Of course, vocalizations and growls, not directly towards the person they are attacking, but in general, as if they are letting it out into the air. And something that many cats do is stare with dilated pupils at the source that is causing them stress, or at what they have identified as that source. Well, I have already presented all the possible triggers on the one hand, and predisposing factors on the other. But let's get to what really interests us, which is how we can manage it. Because, well, you may have more or less identified the problem, but above all, what interests us is how we find a solution. First of all, I want to tell you that this, like any type of behavior management in cats, generally takes a little time and above all requires a lot of patience on the part of the people who live with the cat. Another important thing is that if you see that applying the advice I give you and giving it time to work solves the problem, you may need to see a veterinarian who specializes in feline behavior, a feline ethologist. But anyway, with what we are talking about today, we are going to be able to help many cats. In fact, there are many cases, most of them that can be solved just by handling them at home. Although, I repeat, a lot of patience is required. First and foremost, identify what the stimulus is. Okay, it may seem obvious, but it is completely necessary. If our cat is getting nervous because it is seeing a cat that is prowling around its street, then perhaps what we need to do is prevent it from going to that window or balcony so that it does not have that stimulus and so the cat does not react badly. If, on the other hand, our cat reacts negatively to a noise that is being made in our house, then we must identify it and eliminate or minimize it. And if it's a noise that's happening outside on the street at that moment, we have to isolate ourselves a little by lowering the blinds, perhaps taking our cat to another part of the house where the noise isn't as loud, closing the doors so that it doesn't reverberate inside the house. That way, we're going to help the cat not come into contact with what's making it jump. What happens? Well, sometimes it's not so easy to discover the source. I've already told you many times, we don't know what's happening. So in all cases, the most important thing is that our home has a safe environment. I always tell you that your cat has to have areas to hide, areas to explore, and so on. Well, they're part of basic feline environmental enrichment. But in these cases, it's even more important. In other words, you should always leave a bed or a table available for your cat under your bed, because cats often feel much more protected and sheltered in covered environments. For example, an open closet where you put a little box where the cat likes to get in with a blanket or clothes that flies at you because that can make it feel much more comforted. So when your cat is experiencing all that stress, what it will often do is go to that safe environment to calm down and relax more things. Well, we can help our cat a lot if we have also given it or we give it some socialization. Let's see. When cats are very young, it is easier to socialize them. Why? Well, because they have fewer, so to speak, prejudices. That is, they have fewer previous experiences that can make them want to run away from, for example, other humans or other cats. But when cats are a little older, the situation is a little more complex. If you want your cat to get used to the presence of other humans in your home, invite friends and family over. Although you should always tell these people not to approach the cat and to always let the cat make the first move so that your feline companion does not feel invaded. One thing that helps a lot is to always have the same people come to your home, at least initially, so that your cat does not have to worry all day about who comes and goes, but rather that she gets used to the presence of these people. And be careful. This does not mean that you should start organizing gatherings or parties at your home, because your cat may react negatively to noises and this could be fatal to her. So what I am telling you is that one or two people from outside your home should stop by from time to time and pay you a visit so that your cat gets used to their presence and sees that it is not harmful. Because, of course, we always have in our heads that cats are very independent, Cats don't need anyone. But that's completely false. Our cats need to interact with other living beings to know how to interact with them. That's part of their learning other things. Make sure your cat's environment is catified apart from the safe space that you have to create for them. You have to give your cat alternatives to do throughout the day, to have fun, to avoid getting bored, and to avoid lying on the couch all day like a cushion. Cats that are more entertained, that are in more catified environments, suffer less from these types of problems, suffer less from general behavioral disorders. So anything that helps them along those lines will help them a lot. For example, interactive toys. Rotate the toys. Always play with him for at least 30 minutes a day and try to put him at different heights and have several scratching posts around the house, etc. Because that can greatly reduce behaviors that can be destructive towards other people who live with him. And I know I've told you this 80 billion times, but it's key when living with a cat, and it saves us a lot of problems. You may have cats at home and you work outside, and when you get home, you don't feel like doing anything, just eating dinner, showering, and going to bed. But that cat is really missing out on interaction with its humans. That time to be entertained, to do productive things apart from being asleep, that's super important. Of course, if you're wondering, in these cases, synthetic feline facial pheromones also help. Finally, it is very important to avoid confrontation and contact with your cat when you see that aggressive behavior is starting to take place. What am I referring to? Well, if you have already seen that it is showing signs that could lead to an aggressive reaction later on, do not approach it. Leave it alone, and let its stress level decrease on its own. If you have applied the rest of the advice, it will have places to take shelter and refuge, and this will not be a problem at all. But it is also very important that if you see that your cat, for whatever reason, starts running around the house scared of something, do not go near it or try to pet it and calm it down, because you will be putting yourself at risk. And it is more likely that aggression will end up taking place. Most families who live with cats that have these problems always tend to say that their cats have this type of behavior that is a bit strange, that they do not know how to identify the origin, and that after that is when the attacks can occur. The attack doesn't necessarily have to be caused directly by the cat running around the house. It could be that your cat has been running for a while, then has stopped for a while, and you say, okay, he's done it, and that's when the aggression is triggered. In other words, sometimes the attacks are separated in time and quite a bit from the stimulus and what caused the stress. I also don't recommend that you practice any of these strategies that I've mentioned a few times regarding feline behavior, like distracting them or redirecting the action to another point, like approaching them with a stick or throwing them some kind of toy. No, no, leave them alone. Because a toy could be rolling around and catch them by surprise. And that could be precisely what ends up triggering all the stress and aggression. It's very important that you let them get over it on their own. But there are some very, very rare cases which sometimes happen where the cat is in a state of aggression towards a member of the family and won't leave them alone. In these cases, it's important to physically separate Yourself from your cat. I don't care if you take it, if it chases you into a room and you lock it in, or if you lock yourself in and start reading a book. But it's important to put up a physical barrier in between to stop the aggression and for things to gradually calm down. It's enough to keep that separation going for five or 10 minutes, as long as the stimulus doesn't happen again. These cases are sometimes a little more difficult to deal with. And if this has ever happened to you, I would recommend that you go to a veterinary orthologist to have your case taken care of. And of course, well, I think it goes without saying, but I'm going to say it. Never punish your cat and don't mistreat it. Well, never ever. But not in this case either. Don't scold him, don't do anything, because, well, if you give him any voice, in the end, it will generate more confusion, it can increase stress, and this can end up aggravating the problem. And something I want to make very clear. I've said it before, but I want to emphasize it. You don't have to be afraid of cats. It's not that your cat is bad. It's not that your cat is attacking you because it doesn't like you. No, it has nothing to do with it. It's simply a physiological response that the cat is producing because it has had other previous experiences, and that it is producing in response to a stimulus that it cannot and does not know how to manage. It is probably a situation that you have overlooked, that you do not understand very well, that you do not know what is triggering the cat's behavior. But this cat is, or may be, a sweetheart. It will live with you perfectly. And if you help it with its problem, it will probably disappear and you will have a completely harmonious coexistence. It's just the cat's response to a situation that it can't cope with on its own, and you have to help it. Well, I don't know if you knew about these types of problems that cats can sometimes have, but if you want, leave me a comment and tell me what you think. And if your cat is going through this process, also leave us a comment and tell us about its progress, because this could help a lot of people. Also, if you like the video, as always, you can give me a like. And remember to subscribe to the channel if you haven't already. If you share the video, you help us a lot. And if you want to support us a lot, give us a super. Thank you. And before we go, we're going to meet this beautiful feline named Bren, who greets us with his human partner, Andres from Argentina. Milo and Kira greet us from Navarre. Look how tiny they are. When they sent us the photo, they do it from there with their human partner, Annie. And we're going to say goodbye with this rebellious teenager. I'm not the one saying it, but his human companion, Laura. His name is Pacha, and he greets us from Montevideo, Uruguay. Thank you very much for following the Happy Pets and Families channel. And I'll see you in the next video.

It's not that they hold a grudge or that they've gone crazy. Don't say crazy. I don't like it when people say crazy.

Our cats act in a completely unpredictable way.

Okay, I don't think there are many cats. Some cats are easy going. Okay? Sometimes. That's why I didn't say it, because sometimes. And some cats, some of them even attack people. They could even attack people that would be much more fluid.

You're not interrupting me all the time. But the thing is, man, we're all crazy. And they even attack people. Some people can even attack some people. Oh, they can even attack people. Some people. Okay, now say it again, just not so that it's.

No, because by repeating it so many times, I'm already losing everything I want to say. And now you can tell me a little bit. Dear cameraman, director, producer, filmmaker, editor, sound technician and cat kisser. Catch the cat here. Come on. Just.

A moment. Because, like, hello, I'm Carlos and this guy purring is Alchofo. Welcome to the Happy Pets and Families channel.

You didn't say you were a veterinarian. Well, it was more important to introduce the little cat.

Mere has redirected purring. Come here. Come on, Come on. Get up here so people can see you when we say goodbye. Look. Yeah.