Is is dangerous to hold a kitten/cat by the scruff of it's neck and for how long is safe ??

Answer 1

It's OK to carry a kitten that way, and to pick up an adult cat as long as you are also supporting the body. An adult cat is too big/heavy to carry around just by the scruff. It's a good way to restrain a cat since they will often go still if held by the scruff.

Answer 2

If you have to hold a cat by the scruff, then also support the body of the cat, so its not just dangling by the scruff. Mother cats actually don't carry kittens by the scruff, they actually put their jaws around the sides of the neck too and carry the kitten that way. If you are trying to deal with a cat that is angry or scared, you're best to only grab it by the scruff for the length of time it takes to drop the cat into a pet carrier cage and close the door.

You don't mention the reason for needing to hold the cat by the scruff. If you're needing to clip claws or do something like that, the best way to do it is wrap the cat in a towel on the floor, bed, or such surface. I've handled thousands of cats and the only times I've ever held a cat only by the scruff with rear unsupported, has been to quickly catch and move an angry, wild, or scared cat to drop it into a pet carrier or cat cage.

Answer 3

In general it is best for humans not to pick up kittens before they are 2 weeks old. From 2 - 4 weeks old only brief handling is recommended, as this often puts stress on the cat and the mother. If you are trying to pick up and hold a young kitten you can pick it up by the loose skin or scruff at the back of its neck. This is how their mothers move them around. If done right, it won't hurt them because they do not weigh much and their neck skin is really loose. Never pick up grown cats in this way because you can hurt them.
Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Purina Cat Chow : Picking up a kitten by the scruff of the neck is not an appropriate way to pick up a kitten. The mother cat carries very young kittens that way when she is moving them from one nest location to another, but those kittens are much lighter than your kitten at home. The best way to pick up a kitten is to support them under their front legs and under their back end. That way they will feel secure and safe and are less likely to struggle.


Pet-opedia : You can pick up small kittens by the scruff of the neck without causing it any pain or injury because it has very loose skin and it doesn't weight very much. However, you should never pick up a larger adult cat in this way because they are much larger and therefore weigh more. The extra weight will cause a significant amount of pressure to be placed on the skin around an adult cat's neck if picked up in this way and can cause injury.


Cat Clinic of Johnson County:
What is the best way to carry a kitten?
The best way to carry a kitten is to cradle it in your hand, against your body. Don´t carry her by the nape of the neck for a long distance.

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I would never hold or pick up a kitten/cat by the scruff of their neck. I would be too afraid that I might injure it badly. A mother cat carriess her young that way and not for very long. Only until she gets them to where she is going.

I think you could pick up a small kitten by the scruff of the neck but why would you want to? You have two hands. A mother cat doesn't have any hands at all and therefore the only way she can carry them is by picking them up with her mouth by the scruff of their neck. She picks them up this way when she wants to move them.

Answer 5

it is not dangerous at all as that is how their mothers carry them.. You can quite safely pick a young kitten up by the scruff of its neck but only for brief moments to move about. I wouldn't pick an older cat up like that as they are too heavy. My kitten is 24 weeks and he is getting a bit big to be lifted like that now....hope this helps

Answer 6

No it's not dangerous so long as you don't hold the kitten in this way for too long. But once the kitten gets a bit older it's body also needs supporting to support it's weight. However adult cats should never be picked up/carried in this way as they are too heavy, and also need their body supporting by holding underneath.

Answer 7

it isn't dangerous. It would be wrong to lift a fully grown cat by the scruff of the neck as you would hurt it unless you were also supporting its body weight. It is fine to lift a kitten this way as long as you are doing it correctly. If you do it right, they curl their bum and tail round and relax, if you poinch a bit of skin, they will struggle and cry. 'Scruffing' is one way to control a cat. They tend to relax if you do it right which is a throwback to kitten days.
What were you planning on doing? Why do you need to do this? You need to get someone to show you how to do it properly.

Answer 8

While most people do hold them by their necks and for the most part it doesn't hurt them; I wouldn't recommend doing it often and for long amounts of time; to pick it up and hold it for a moment is all right but don't keep it held there long; because it will put a strain on the kitten.

Answer 9

No it is not dangerous. That is how their mother carried them. However, you should stop carrying them like when they are about 8-9 weeks old. Around this time, the scruff starts to get smaller.

Answer 10

i dont know if its safe or not but i wouldnt want to hold my cats by the scruff of their necks. mum cats do it to kittens and vets do it coz its easier to handle nervous cats but i wouldnt do it.