The clip below seems to show a daring rescue attempt by a cat protecting a baby from the slaps of the father. 


Many animal behaviorists have studied the inner workings of the cat psyche. Cats are social creatures, as noted by Pam Johnson-Bennett of Cat Behavior Associates, and many of their strange reactions arise from this fact. 
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As social animals, our feline friends want just that — friendly bonds with the rest of their colony. When something threatens the social norms of the colony, cats act accordingly. In a response to a query on Quora, neuroscientist Tiberiu Tesileanu writes, "The bond between members of the same pride is strong, so perhaps cats protect us just like they would protect a fellow cat." 

The clip below shows only a portion of the picture. While Dad is likely a common fixture in the cat's life, perhaps it's Mom who feeds the cat. If this is the case, it doesn't come as a shock that the cat defends Mom's offspring. Tesileanu wonders, too, that "maybe cats protect their owners because their owners are the ones feeding them."

From a moral perspective, there's a lot to question in the event shown below. It's clear to us that Dad is not hitting his child, but the cat sees a different picture. It's not unusual for owners to play games with their cats' heads (last year's cucumber craze comes to mind), and it's unlikely a cat would come to the conclusion that it's being played. 

While it's possible something else was happening here, it seems that Dad is acting purely to get a rise out of the cat, which can surely lead to unnecessary stress. Discovering through some serendipitous happening that your cat reacts negatively to certain stimuli comes with the territory of caring for one, but when you re-create those moments to cause a stir, it works against the cat's well-being.

Check out the clip below and let us know where you stand: Are we being oversensitive, or is it cruel to cause an unnecessary stir in your cat's head? Post a comment, and when the clip's over, be sure to share it with your friends on Facebook!