Play aggression is a common welfare and relationship problem in young cats, often rooted in inadequate socialisation and insufficient play opportunities.
Play aggression is a welfare concern for both the cat and the owner. Cats engaging in play aggression are often under-stimulated - their predatory motivation is not being met by available play opportunities, leading to redirected behaviour onto the owner. Rough play with hands by owners inadvertently reinforces and escalates the behaviour. The welfare of the cat is compromised by an environment that fails to meet its natural behavioural needs and by the breakdown in the human-animal relationship that severe play aggression can cause. Structured interactive play with wand toys, rotation of toys to maintain novelty, and never using hands as play objects substantially improves welfare outcomes for both cat and owner.