I discovered this when I got her, 9 years ago when she was 12 weeks old.. She was not well socialized, and hid under the bed for three days. I needed to catch her, and grabbed her by the scruff. (No lectures--I have never failed to support her weight with my other hand when I picked her up by the scruff, even when she was smaller.) I put her on my lap, and she jumped off and ran away. Then she came back and sat at my feed, so I grabbed her by the scruff and put her on my lap. She jumped off. This went on 7 or 8 times until I realized she liked it!
So now when I want her to calm down, I sit her in my lap and pull on her scruff just enough to take her most of her weight off her front legs. She purrs.
Now, i know kittens have something like at automatic reflex that causes them to relax and curl up when picked up by the scruff by their mothers. My cat also relaxes and curls when picked up that way.
Does the fact that she likes this make her abnormal, or are all cats that way?
2007-10-02 19:48:14 · 8 answers · asked by nobodyinparticular 5 in Pets ➔ Cats
Nearly all cats will like that. That is how their mum carries them around as kittens. That is why they go all floppy when you pick them up that way. It is quite normal.
cheers
2007-10-02 19:56:40 · answer #1 · answered by darklydrawl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is very normal, when kittens are picked up by their mothers from the scuff it sends out a chemical that relaxes the kitten, this goes for adult cats as well.
2007-10-02 19:56:54 · answer #2 · answered by danguy01 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Each cat is different. None of the three I have enjoy being picked up that way, but they do (for the most part) tolerate it.
2007-10-02 20:00:00 · answer #3 · answered by dance_95008 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I curl up and relax when my neck muscles are squeezed. I have been looking at the computer screen for a while, I could go for a neck massage this very minute.
2007-10-02 19:56:01 · answer #4 · answered by orderly logic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats differ, most get annoyed but tolerate it. If yours likes it, good for her; you have a means to control her when necessary (like for giving meds or a trip to the vet).
2007-10-02 19:56:37 · answer #5 · answered by Howard H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mabye she has an irritation around that area and when you lift her by it, it soothes it. Try just scratching her neck, my cat loves that and starts purring. Mabye she just likes that area being stimulated, like some cats like their bellies rubbed or their chin scratched.
2007-10-02 19:56:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like the two of you have a great bonding.i'm glad you support her underneath when you pick her up this way.mother cats do it to their babies,but when they are older and heavier,it can be real harmful to them.
2007-10-02 20:39:27 · answer #7 · answered by stacy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no mom picks them up that way.
2007-10-02 19:53:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋