Picking up cats

I was recently advised by one of the assistants at my vet's office that
picking up an older cat by the scruff of the neck was very painful for them.
However, when I asked the vet about it a few minutes later, she just
admitted that she didn't know if it was bad to do that. My first vet
enouraged me to pick them up by the back of the neck and said it was a way
to get their attention and let them know you were serious.

Naturally, this conflicting information has gotten me confused and I don't
know if I am doing something very bad by picking my cats up by the scruff.
They don't cry or bite or scratch when I try to pick them up that way but
they don't seem to be crazy about it either.

Is it possible that it is okay to pick up kittens by the back of the neck
because the fur and muscles are looser but that they tighten up in older
cats, causing them pain? If that is true, it might help reconcile the advice
I've received: perhaps it's okay to pick up cats by the scruff if they are
still young - up to 2 years perhaps? - but not a good idea after that.

Since the professional advice I have received has been so contradictory, I
thought I'd ask here to see what other experienced cat owners feel on this
issue.

--
Rhino

On Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:11:36 -0500, "Rhino"
wrote:

I was recently advised by one of the assistants at my vet's office that
picking up an older cat by the scruff of the neck was very painful for them.
However, when I asked the vet about it a few minutes later, she just
admitted that she didn't know if it was bad to do that. My first vet
enouraged me to pick them up by the back of the neck and said it was a way
to get their attention and let them know you were serious.


I don't know about picking them up with their full weight dangling.
I've been told that gripping them tightly by the scruff triggers the
same response as when their mothers picked them up as kittens and they
become passive. Once they calm down, I keep a tight grip on the scruff
and then lift with the other hand.

It worked for me over a number of years when I worked in animal
rescue. It especially worked when I used to play Santa Paws and have
pictures taken with people's pets.

Rhino wrote:
I was recently advised by one of the assistants at my vet's office that
picking up an older cat by the scruff of the neck was very painful for them.
However, when I asked the vet about it a few minutes later, she just
admitted that she didn't know if it was bad to do that. My first vet
enouraged me to pick them up by the back of the neck and said it was a way
to get their attention and let them know you were serious.

Naturally, this conflicting information has gotten me confused and I don't
know if I am doing something very bad by picking my cats up by the scruff.
They don't cry or bite or scratch when I try to pick them up that way but
they don't seem to be crazy about it either.

Is it possible that it is okay to pick up kittens by the back of the neck
because the fur and muscles are looser but that they tighten up in older
cats, causing them pain? If that is true, it might help reconcile the advice
I've received: perhaps it's okay to pick up cats by the scruff if they are
still young - up to 2 years perhaps? - but not a good idea after that.

Since the professional advice I have received has been so contradictory, I
thought I'd ask here to see what other experienced cat owners feel on this
issue.

--
Rhino



Thinking about this logically, I would say it depends on how heavy the
cat is. IMHO you should leave it up to the mother cat to lift her
kittens that way. And if you pick up the mother cat, put your one hand
under her bottom and the other around her body -- if she will let you.
Happy Mew Year. MLB

On Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:36:31 -0500, wrote:

On Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:11:36 -0500, "Rhino"
wrote:

I was recently advised by one of the assistants at my vet's office that
picking up an older cat by the scruff of the neck was very painful for them.
However, when I asked the vet about it a few minutes later, she just
admitted that she didn't know if it was bad to do that. My first vet
enouraged me to pick them up by the back of the neck and said it was a way
to get their attention and let them know you were serious.


I don't know about picking them up with their full weight dangling.
I've been told that gripping them tightly by the scruff triggers the
same response as when their mothers picked them up as kittens and they
become passive. Once they calm down, I keep a tight grip on the scruff
and then lift with the other hand.

It worked for me over a number of years when I worked in animal
rescue. It especially worked when I used to play Santa Paws and have
pictures taken with people's pets.

Yes, t've done the same thing. I ALWAYS take virtually ALL their weight
under their hindquarters, with my other hand.

I don't think you should EVER pick up and adult cat by the 'scruff': you
can tear tissue, internally.

Kittens weigh so little, so it's safe for them...and the momma kitty has
no other way to transport them.

But an adult cat, suspended by a few square inches of skin and
muscle....I'd be surprised is something DIDN'T tear, sooner or
later....or the FIRST time you did it, with a full grown cat!

A very good question that I can't remember ever seeing asked here
before, too.

Suddenly, without warning, Rhino exclaimed (12/30/2010 2:11 PM):
I was recently advised by one of the assistants at my vet's office that
picking up an older cat by the scruff of the neck was very painful for them.
However, when I asked the vet about it a few minutes later, she just
admitted that she didn't know if it was bad to do that. My first vet
enouraged me to pick them up by the back of the neck and said it was a way
to get their attention and let them know you were serious.

Naturally, this conflicting information has gotten me confused and I don't
know if I am doing something very bad by picking my cats up by the scruff.
They don't cry or bite or scratch when I try to pick them up that way but
they don't seem to be crazy about it either.

Is it possible that it is okay to pick up kittens by the back of the neck
because the fur and muscles are looser but that they tighten up in older
cats, causing them pain? If that is true, it might help reconcile the advice
I've received: perhaps it's okay to pick up cats by the scruff if they are
still young - up to 2 years perhaps? - but not a good idea after that.

Since the professional advice I have received has been so contradictory, I
thought I'd ask here to see what other experienced cat owners feel on this
issue.

--
Rhino



I've scruffed cats for control when needed, but would never pick up an
adult cat by the scruff without supporting that weight with my other
arm. A kitten is much lighter than a grown cat. I imagine for an adult
it's quite uncomfortable.

jmc

Rhino wrote:
I was recently advised by one of the assistants at my vet's office
that picking up an older cat by the scruff of the neck was very
painful for them. However, when I asked the vet about it a few
minutes later, she just admitted that she didn't know if it was bad
to do that. My first vet enouraged me to pick them up by the back of
the neck and said it was a way to get their attention and let them
know you were serious.
Naturally, this conflicting information has gotten me confused and I
don't know if I am doing something very bad by picking my cats up by
the scruff. They don't cry or bite or scratch when I try to pick them
up that way but they don't seem to be crazy about it either.

Is it possible that it is okay to pick up kittens by the back of the
neck because the fur and muscles are looser but that they tighten up
in older cats, causing them pain? If that is true, it might help
reconcile the advice I've received: perhaps it's okay to pick up cats
by the scruff if they are still young - up to 2 years perhaps? - but
not a good idea after that.
Since the professional advice I have received has been so
contradictory, I thought I'd ask here to see what other experienced
cat owners feel on this issue.

My vet, who has been scratched many times before, routinely picks up the
cats by the scruff of their necks. But only for the few seconds it takes to
put them in a cat carrier. I think time is the important thing here. If you
had to carry the cat across a football field, or somewhere that took some
real time, then you wouldn't want to carry it that way. I don't pick up my
cats that way, because they know me and won't scratch me. A few seconds
being carried like that won't hurt any cat.

I do not advize picking up cats over a year old at all, unless they are in
some kind of trouble. In that case, it might even be advisable to pick them
up by the scruff of the neck, asserting that you are the cat's mother....and
your owner probably knows that is a lie.

In the vast majority of situations, let them come to you. If they like your
scratching them before the ears, behind the ears, and the occasional
full-body stroke, then they will come back for more.

When I picked up my stray, she would not put up with a full-body stroke
until about a week had passed, and she still does not like being picked up,
although she will tolerate it, sometimes.

The one I've had since she was a baby will let me pick her up, and if I do,
then it will be a long time before she approaches me for attention.

So, as a rule, do not pick up a cat unless it is in trouble: Wait for your
owner to seek you, or give it a stroke wherever it is.

"Bill Graham" wrote in message
...
(...)
My vet, who has been scratched many times before, routinely picks up the
cats by the scruff of their necks. But only for the few seconds it takes
to put them in a cat carrier.
(...)

I do not remember the last time I used a scruff.
1. I put my right hand under a belly.
2. Lift until rear paws are off ground.
3. Put my left hand (from the far side) under
rear paws.
4. Then I move my right hand to secure forepaws,
instead of belly, bouncing a cat a bit.
5. If the cat resists, and I insist, then I tighten my
grip on rear paws, ready to hold them upside-down
if front paws escape.

To drop them in a carrier, the easy way is to set the carrier facing
upwards, then the cat goes in feet first. Again, no scruff necessary. I did
it with a black stray about three years ago. He fought like hell when he
realized he was going to be in the carrier until morning.

She would normally prefer falling to extending her claws to my shoulders.

Most of my scratches in the last year came from a cat that once liked to
literally jump on my back. She was very good at this; no claws. But she did
it a few times at too much distance from my fridge, and perhaps when she was
angry. I got angry and obstructed the top of my fridge with bottles. I am
actually sorry to see her stop jumping on my back: She will sit on top of
the fridge, and she is no longer willing to walk onto my shoulders.
_______
Cats like to lit'rally get high.

Rhino wrote:
I was recently advised by one of the assistants at my vet's office that
picking up an older cat by the scruff of the neck was very painful for them.
However, when I asked the vet about it a few minutes later, she just
admitted that she didn't know if it was bad to do that. My first vet
enouraged me to pick them up by the back of the neck and said it was a way
to get their attention and let them know you were serious.

Naturally, this conflicting information has gotten me confused and I don't
know if I am doing something very bad by picking my cats up by the scruff.
They don't cry or bite or scratch when I try to pick them up that way but
they don't seem to be crazy about it either.

Is it possible that it is okay to pick up kittens by the back of the neck
because the fur and muscles are looser but that they tighten up in older
cats, causing them pain? If that is true, it might help reconcile the advice
I've received: perhaps it's okay to pick up cats by the scruff if they are
still young - up to 2 years perhaps? - but not a good idea after that.

Since the professional advice I have received has been so contradictory, I
thought I'd ask here to see what other experienced cat owners feel on this
issue.

--
Rhino



Dont do it with cats that are 4mths old or more. There is to much weight
for their necks to bear. It can also cut off their air-supply. A full
grown cat can get quite frightened.

Tim

"Rhino" wrote in message
...
I was recently advised by one of the assistants at my vet's office that
picking up an older cat by the scruff of the neck was very painful for
them.
However, when I asked the vet about it a few minutes later, she just
admitted that she didn't know if it was bad to do that. My first vet
enouraged me to pick them up by the back of the neck and said it was a way
to get their attention and let them know you were serious.

Don't pick up any cat older than 10 years old, by the scruff of their neck.
My cat, as a young cat, didn't object, and yes it got her attention. It's
what the mother cats do with their baby kittens. But notice that I said
"baby".

My cat as an older cat, would cry when picked up by the scruff of her neck.
Yes, it hurts older cats. Cats get arthritis. Their skin gets less flexible.
Their muscles are thinner.

Easiest way to understand this is to ask yourself: Can you bend over and
move as easily as you could do when you were a child?