You should never pick up a cat by their neck. Their mother picks them up by their scruff, but once they weigh more than a pound or two, this can hurt them. It's okay to “scruff” them if you need to restrain them, but you should always leave the kitten's body on a surface or support it in your hand.
Grabbing a cat by his neck can lead to anxiety, stress, aggression, and distrust. Madeline Buiano is the staff writer for MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home and pets.
“Bring them close to your body – they're fragile and you don't want to drop them or have them jump out of your arms if they're scared by a noise.” It's also important to never pick up a kitten by the nape of his neck. “We never grab or scruff. The kitten's mom might, but we don't need to,” says Monteith.
It seems to be common knowledge that scruffing a kitten will temporarily calm them as it is the way their mothers pick them up to move them around, HOWEVER... scruffing a cat past 8 months of age isn't a good idea. The heavier they get the more problems this can cause.
THE SCRUFF PRINCIPLE
Cats are animated animals, filled to brim with enthusiasm and energy. Yet, when handle by the scruff, they enter a trance like state. Some may perceive the act of holding a cat in this manner as painful for the cat but it's theorized that skin behind the cat's neck is loose and without feeling.
A simple training method involves praising and petting your kitten when it leaps onto acceptable surfaces while scolding and removing it from unacceptable surfaces. The spray bottle can help train your kitten to stay off specific surfaces.
Scruffing is commonly used where people are fearful that they may be bitten by a cat, and while it may reduce this risk, the act of scruffing and the imposed restraint on the cat can be highly intimidating, may cause fear and panic, and often provokes or escalates defensive aggression.
I've found that resting the three middle fingers my left hand on top of the cat's head and placing my pinkie and thumb under each ear works very well. I'll scratch their head to distract them and increase their happy factor, but can easily apply firmer pressure or even reposition my hand to scruff them if necessary.
Most cats love to snuggle, and they're typically responsive to being held if you introduce them to it gradually. The best way to approach your cat for a hug is to start with a few soft pets, then carefully pick them up. Be sure to secure all four of their legs so that they don't dangle.
Don't Stare at a Cat
You can make brief contact then look away and to the side. Offer the cat long, slow blinks, which translates to "I mean you no harm." The cat may reciprocate the blinks.
Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.
The good news is, despite their reputations for being antisocial, cats love bonding and they do forgive and forget. So, if you're at a loss as to how you're going to rebuild trust and affection with your cat, don't fret.
“The more points on a cat's body that are touching your body, the more comfortable and relaxed your cat will be,” says Mikkel Becker, a cat training consultant. Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck or by the front legs. Picking up a cat the wrong way can cause the animal discomfort or even injury.
Don't Cradle Your Cat on Her Back
There are some cats who don't mind being carried that way but most don't like being placed on their backs and held. It's also a somewhat dangerous position to carry her because all claws will be pointed toward your face.
Some cats can recover quickly from neck and back injuries, however, an injury to the spine can be very serious and long-lasting, even life-threatening, if not treated promptly and effectively.
Pinch-induced behavioural inhibition (PIBI), also called dorsal immobility, transport immobility or clipnosis, is a partially inert state which results from a gentle squeeze of the nape, the skin at the back of the neck. It is mostly observed among cats and allows a mother cat to carry her kitten easily with her jaws.
Key takeaway. Understanding when and where it is safe to pet a cat is important for your safety and theirs. While every cat is different, most felines prefer to be pet on their back, chin, around the cheeks, ears, and on their forehead. Many cats dislike being pet on their tail, tummy, or feet.
Our team of vets agree that using water bottles to discipline cats isn't the best course of action. According to Dr. Dwight Alleyne, “Spraying cats with water can create a negative association with humans. As a result, they may become more anxious or even aggressive over time.”