2006-09-23 15:10:00 · 17 answers · asked by Maria 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
No, it is very uncomfortable once they reach a certain weight. The reason a mother cat holds the kittens by the scruff of the neck is because when they are held like this, it releases hormones that calm the kitten down and causes it to relax.
BTW, you cant show a cat "who is in control". They do not have alphas!! You can beat your cat all you want to show your "dominance", but all you will do is completely destroy the relationship between you and your cat. Cats have memories like elephants and will remember how badly you treat it.
2006-09-23 15:12:53 · answer #1 · answered by ♫ Violinist ♪ 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I usually don't have to use the "scruff" to pick up my cats and the relaxation and end to any resistance is quite amazing as it is an instinctive reaction that cats seem to have all their lives. When I have to pill my 22 yr old cat or use something to clean off drip from her eyes I always hold her by the scruff.
I may scruff a shelter cat and immediately support the rest of its body with my hip and hands under the front of the body.
Cats don't 'like" to be restrained at all. Sometimes it is necessary.
2006-09-23 22:40:47 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when you see a mother cat pickingup her youngones by the scruff of their neck, it is naturally her way of transporting them....it is an instinct...yet when you go to pick up an older feline, more often than nought, it is the safest way for you to do this without getting clawed. and then you would want to hold it at arms length for your own safety....cats are not dogs and are more independent whether they are hurting or not they normally do not like to be approached in this manner....yet when all is said and done, it will not harm the feline at all, you will notice that the skin in the neck area will gather there when you pick it up, so it will not be pulling too tight from their body and hurting them....
2006-09-23 22:19:38 · answer #3 · answered by namdorg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you do grab them by the scruff of their necks, make sure their feet are on solid footing and only hold them that way for a brief moment. This is for correction, but you won't hurt them this way, only send them the message that you want them to stop a certain behavior. And when you are done, make sure to let them know you still love them by petting them and cooing over them, just as their real mother would do. Just don't pick them up in the air by the scruff.
2006-09-23 22:19:00 · answer #4 · answered by Animaholic 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I still pick up my 2 and 3 year old cats by the scruff - I of course support their back end as well so it doesn't get uncomfortable. I don't believe they LIKE it, but I think they tolerate it like a mom holding an independant kids hand...
2006-09-24 02:08:22 · answer #5 · answered by myaddictiontofire 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have to say no. How would you like it if you were them? It also depends on what you are doing with them. If you are holding them by the back of their necks to get them under control (to bathe them, at the vet, etc) that is one thing. But you shouldn't pick them up that way, especially when they are bigger.
2006-09-24 03:30:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once a cat "grows up," they shouldn't be picked up by the scruff. They weigh too much, and it hurts them. Kittens can be picked up that way because they're so small.
2006-09-23 22:21:23 · answer #7 · answered by krissydahs93 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really. But it is an effective method of calming them down. Just make sure to support their body weight.
2006-09-24 01:04:58 · answer #8 · answered by 14Words 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no! Because would u like to be held by your neck by somebody you dont really know
2006-09-23 22:14:47 · answer #9 · answered by Montez R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I don't think they like it. In fact, they hate it. Wouldn't you? If you do that, your cat won't trust you so easily anymore.
hisssssssss!!
2006-09-23 22:57:22 · answer #10 · answered by Mirage 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋