Research overview: redirected and inter-cat aggression

Aggression in cats takes several forms, and redirected aggression, in which a cat aroused by one stimulus attacks a nearby individual, is among the most disruptive in homes. This overview surveys research and clinical accounts of redirected, inter-cat, fear-based, and play-related aggression, the triggers and arousal dynamics involved, and how misdirected attacks damage relationships between cohabiting cats or between cats and people. It discusses assessment, the role of stress and territoriality, and behaviour-modification approaches such as separation and gradual reintroduction. It links aggression to the cat's evolved social and territorial behaviour. The topic helps interpret and manage one of the most challenging categories of feline behaviour problems.