Cat Behavior Experts Say Ambushes from Under Furniture May Be Play, Not Aggression

A cat hiding under a table before suddenly swatting or biting someone who walks past may not be acting aggressively. Animal behavior specialist Jackson Galaxy says the behavior can be part of play.

In a TikTok video, Galaxy recreated the situation and explained that the cat is not necessarily trying to hurt its owner. “That’s called play aggression, not aggression,” he said, stressing the importance of distinguishing the two behaviors before treating a pet’s reaction as an episode of violence.

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That’s called play aggression, not aggression.

The furniture can become part of the game, allowing the cat to wait for the right moment to surprise someone passing by. Galaxy recommends giving the animal another way to release that energy. “So go and play with your cat,” he said.

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So go and play with your cat.

Mieshelle Nagelschneider, a feline behavior specialist and author of The Cat Whisperer, also emphasized the role of play. In comments to Modern Cat, she compared it with exercise in humans, saying it regulates a cat’s mood, activates neurological processes, trains its body and releases stress.

She explained that feline play often follows the pattern of a hunt, which helps explain why cats may leap at people who pass. “Once they catch the prey, cats like to let it go so it can run away and hide, allowing them to search for it again,” Nagelschneider said. “This catch-and-release behavior is repeated again and again, for the same reason cats sometimes push their toys under the sofa.” The article advises observing the context and intention before interpreting a surprise attack as aggression.

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Once they catch the prey, cats like to let it go so it can run away and hide, allowing them to search for it again. This catch-and-release behavior is repeated again and again, for the same reason cats sometimes push their toys under the sofa.