wake up, it's 1984

My six year old just got really mad about something and then hit the three year old. I told him that if he was frustrated, maybe he could hit something else, like the couch. Three year old pipes up, through his tears, "Or the cat!" "No, no, not the cat." I say. He looks confused, "But can we yell at the cat? You yell at the cat when he scratches the door." I am under constant surveillance.