[BritChipmunk]

do you guys try picking up your cat by the scruff? I never tried before last weekend because it looks like it hurts my cat but when I was at the shelter, they claim that it soothes cats since it's how their mothers carried them.

so this weekend I tried it and almost immediately sherlock started closing her eyes. it was adorable! I tried picking her up but I think she was too heavy so all I could lift was a little bit before I was scared I was hurting her and let go.

 

[jonsgirl]

if its a little kitten I dont think there would be a problem as long as its done gently, but I always pick them up with one arm under their front legs and the other arm supporting their back legs, no matter how old they are.

I'm interested to hear more opinions on this though, as I have never heard if it can be harmful....

 

[Shye]

I noticed that they did it at our vet's office when they were cutting her nails. One person held her by the scruff and back legs and the other cut her nails. She actually looked calm and like she was enjoying it.

 

[sentimentalgirl]

I heard it calms them down. BUT I also remember reading (I don't remember where!) that it's not good for the cats. I'm sorry but I don't remember why it's not good. I think it should be ok with kittens because their mom carries them that way. Maybe it's different with adult cats because of their weight? Maybe they feel pain?

I hope someone will be able to tell us more. Personally, I hold them the same way jonsgirl does.

 

[Padunk]

I'm not so sure either, I don't really do it because I can't tell if it hurts them or not.

As far as how I carry them... all kitties ride on my shoulder.

 

[Empath]

The back of our walkin closet/storage area under the stairs contains boxed Christmas decorations and such. Kiwi, as a kitten ran in as we opened the door. Of course asking her to come out meant she was going to go deeper, which she did, up and over the boxes. Unless we moved the boxes out, we were going to have to work one handed. One hand was enough, since I could reach back, grab her by the scruff of the neck, and lift her over the boxes. Knowing that was the way mother cats carry their young, I knew it was harmless. Still, given I choice, I lift them with two hands while supporting and balancing her weight.

Today, I wouldn't likely lift her in that manner if there were any other possible alternatives, simply because she is heavier. With the additional weight as she approaches full adulthood, the lifting might not be harmful or painful. However, in order to lift her by the scruff would require placing a lot more grip in order to secure her. The grip might well be painful; I just don't want to take the risk.

 

[Lilly]

I always have heard that it does not hurt them, and alot of people pick them up this way.

However it seems like it would hurt ..... hmmm? :?

 

[RarePuss]

I've never tried the scruff... i always pick up by holding under front legs and their butt... seems to work

 

[Superkitties]

As kittens it's fine to scruff them and just lift them that way, since they're small. The scruffing by the mom kitty is to render them immobile while she's shifting them around, and is not meant to continue on to adults. When they get to adulthood, if you do scruff them, you must support their hind area too, you just can't lift them up by their necks.

I do the same thing RarePuss does to pick them up.

 

[ci]

Actually it wouldn't hurt them if you held them up at the scruff if you had another hand under their buttocks to support their belly weight. It can be comfortable if you did it that way, and it soothes them to an extent they don't wiggle too much (especially if you're taking them to the shower!)