how do you pick up a cat?

Question

every time i pick up my kitten, her nails keep on digging into my skin. i'm not sure if its because they're just scared or if i'm just holding it wrong. please help me

Answer 1

you want to make sure you support her back. picking up a cat is like the same thing as picking up a baby. The cat will let you know when they are unhappy with the way you are holding them. You want to make sure you distribute all of her wieght evenly.

Answer 2

You pick up a kitten gently. If you are right handed, you put your right hand palm on her rib cage just behind her front legs and cup your hand, so that her rib cage is in your hand. When she is just off the ground, her hind legs will dangle. You take your left hand and gather her hind legs, bending them gently until they are up against her body and you are cupping her hind legs and back side in your left hand and her rib cage in your right hand. When you have her all the way up to chest height and your legs are straightened, continue to support her backside, probably now with your right hand and let her upper paws drape forward over your left arm, or else cradle her. Be gentle and move slowly. When you get her up, let her look around a little at her new vantage point.

If she still claws you, the safest way to pick a cat up is the same way their mommy did it when she decided to move the nest: by the scruff of the neck with the body dangling. As long as the cat isn't really, really obese, this is very safe.

But before you do all this, you should trim your kitty's front claws -- just clip the points off them -- and she won't be able to dig her claws into you.

Answer 3

You can pick them up by the scruff of the neck - but I can tell you my cats don't care for it much. When you pick her up hold her close to you and support her back legs. With cats digging in claws is a safety thing - they know they have a hold on you so they won't be dropped.

Please don't get her declawed - when you declaw a cat it's like if someone snipped off our fingers at the first knuckle - she will get past the claw digging and as long as she has a scratching post and you teach her that is the only place she is allowed to claw she will leave your furniture alone.

destroyed

Answer 4

Cats have claws, they're hard to avoid

Best thing to do is make sure you're holding her as securely as possible so she feels safe and comfortable. Pick her up with one hand under her front legs (in her armpits) and scoop up her back end with your other hand. Quickly place her against your chest and hold her with her back end well supported. You can put your arm right round her so she feel secure if she likes that.

Your kitty probably is nervous if she's young - just persevere with this method and she should get used to it!

Chalice

Answer 5

Make sure it is well supported, do not leave legs hanging. Some cats like to be held like a baby, and some like to be kind of sitting up, with support from the bottom. Also, some cats just don't like to be picked up at all.

Answer 6

Agree with the above. You can also try clipping its nails, but be very careful not to cut into the vein in the nail. You can pick up a good pair from any pet store for about $8-$10. Or you can take it to an animal groomer and they can do it for you.

Answer 7

Make sure that the kitten is fully supported, cats (especially kittens) don't like it when their feet aren't supported. When you pick her up use one hand to support their chest and support their back end with the forearm of your other arm, cradling the cat against you.

Answer 8

Put your hand under their chest, supporting their weight under their ribcage with your hand. Use your forearm to support the weight of their back end so they legs do not dangle or perch because that freaks them out like you're not holding them safely.

Answer 9

like you pick up a baby put its head over your shoulder and support its bottom legs

Answer 10

hook your arm under her stomach and grip her back with the other arm be careful she might nail you but this way might prevent that