A mother cat will carry its kittens by the scruff of the neck. I understand it’s not uncomfortable. But will it hurt my adult (and perhaps slightly overweight) cat to picked up by the scruff?
My cat got herself stuck, and the only way I could reach her was to pick her up by the scruff. She didn’t seem to mind, but my friend says I was being cruel. “How would you like to be picked up by your neck!” I said cats are made to be picked up by the back of the neck so it didn’t hurt.
If the cat was stuck and if being stuck was dangerous or painful and they only way she could be taken out of that condition was by the scruff of the neck then what’s the problem?
Ordinarly, though, it isn’t a good idea. Pick the cat up with a hand or arm underneath for support.
Or have someone with a fear of cats sit down, and the cat will be sure to jump into his or her lap and can easily be lifter from there without you having to stoop.
You caught me. I confess. I made it sound worse than it was. In this particular situation the cat was safe. I could’ve picked her up from underneath, but it would’ve been uncomfortable, inconvenient and maybe a little painful for me. I figured, in balance, if picking her up by the scruff didn’t hurt her it was the simplest thing to do. - I love my cat. I would’ve found another solution if I thought it was hurting her.
How bad an idea is it? Is it uncomfortable? Is it painful? On a scale of 1 to 10?
Thing is, she didn’t seem to mind. If it had hurt she would’ve made a big deal of it. I surprised when my friend suggested that it might’ve hurt her.
it is sometimes used for punishment to let our cat know who’s boss. For a normal cat it is embarassing might be a little uncomfortable (maybe 0-3). Also cats have a natural reaction to calm down and not to resist if scruffed (some curl into balls but most loose that kitten instint). No long term damage should occure.
overweight cats are another story, once a cat is pushing 15 lbs or so you could tear something by scruffing and should support him w/ a hand underneath as well as the scruff.
I think this really varies from one cat to the next. I’ve seen cats that didn’t have much of a “scruff” in terms of loose skin, so picking them up that way would mean grabbing more hair than anything else. That would probably hurt.
Mine seem to have al lot of loose skin back there & don’t seem to mind it at all. Then again they are slightly smaller than the average cat, so the lower weight probably means less pain for the kitties.
Still, I would only do it as a last resort method. If I’m bending down to grab the scruff, why not just go a little further down & do a proper lift?
First: You should always pick up a cat under the arms and supporting the butt. And lift with your knees. (Gotta think safety.)
But just picking an adult cat up by the scruff? No, it’s not going to hurt them. (Except, of course horribly obese cats, but then “scruffing” isn’t your biggest worry.) Obviously you don’t want to be carrying them around for long that way, or bouncing them around. But it’s not going to hurt them just picking them up.
The worst that can happen is you’ll piss them off if they think they’re above a scruffing. Then they’ll usually sulk for a while and you’ll have to make nice to get back on their good side.
And always get as much skin as you can. You don’t want to pinch them instead of scruffing them.
(You can also pick dogs up by their scruffs. Even some really big dogs. Some show dogs are routinely picked up by their scruffs and a handfull of butt or tail. It keeps their coat from getting messed up in the show ring.)
-Rue.
Just once, and done carefully, isn’t going to hurt him. Cats are not as fragile as their grace implies. But it’s not something that should be done on a regular basis.
My 21-pounder certainly could not be picked up by the scruff. But then again, he’s too big to be stuck anywhere, except perhaps in a doorway. :eek: 
Which is why picking a cat up by the scruff of its neck IS a good idea for discipline, as k2dave mentioned. I would never pick a cat up by its scruff unless it had been bad; if Theodore, Cherokee or Happycat does something bad and I want to send them a message, I’ll pick them up by the scruff and move them a few feet while I say “NO!” It’s equivalent to treating them like a juvenile, and they know I’m angry at them. I love my cats, but I’m in charge, not them; it’s not my job to get on their good side.
And always get as much skin as you can. You don’t want to pinch them instead of scruffing them.
(You can also pick dogs up by their scruffs. Even some really big dogs. Some show dogs are routinely picked up by their scruffs and a handfull of butt or tail. It keeps their coat from getting messed up in the show ring.)
-Rue. **
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Boy, I screwed THAT up. Must get coffee.
This is one of the greatest things about ferrets–you scruff them (and they have a LOT of scruff to grab) and they become immediately immobilized. It’s like an off switch. If it weren’t for that, I’d never be able to clip the weasel’s nails.
I pick up my “troublemaker” kitty by the scruff when she hides behind the washer. She’s not crazy about it, but I don’t think it hurts her. Also, I don’t have any fat cats. They eat dry food and all maintain healthy weights. I have one we call “Giant Kitty” because he’s a larger breed than the two girls, but they’re all in really good physical shape.
Used to have a ferret. Hated him.
There’s a syndicated “Animal Doctor” column that runs in the Washington Post, among other papers, and he dealt with this question just the other day. Basically, it’s not an advisable way to pick up an adult cat (it seems there’s some minor potential for neck injury) but it’s acceptable in a pinch.
I’ve done this with my adult cat, especially when a trip to the vet is imminent and he’s managed to get in between the radiator and the wall–it’s the only way I can reach him.
What kind of cat? Or is he just really fat? (I love BIG cats.)
When my beloved Lab mix Bear (rest his soul) was a puppy, you couldn’t pick him up by the scruff of the neck. The problem wasn’t not enough scruff, but too much: If you grabbed his scruff and lifted, his feet would still be on the ground when his scruff was four feet up. 
I think it’s better for little kittens than adult cats. Pick up a small kitten and you notice they’re very light, they don’t have much weight to cause a problem. Adults are a lot heavier (relatively), and you can feel the strain on their skin when they’re hanging there… it might not hurt them but I doubt it’s comfortable, as well as their potential attitude reaction of "Goddam you!! I’m not your subordinate baby!!!:mad: :mad: " Some cats also get pissed off if you pet them too much or on their backs… especially strays who have the “I’m a tough cat” mentality.
You might think of it the same way as when you lay on your back and hold a baby up like it’s flying… it’s not gonna kill ya but imagine being held that way as an adult - not quite the same thing.
He is somewhat fat - just an ordinary silver tabby. But I prefer to call him “portly”. Fierra took a look at him two weeks ago and said words to the effect of “He’s round! That can’t be good.”
He makes his brother, who weighs 14 pounds, look thin.
Use the scruff if no other means is available, or if you don’t mind a pissed-off cat - I once dealt with nasty little siamese (no, they are NOT all like that) who would not enjoy being handled by anyone other than her owner.
If that little darling was one-handed, she would attempt to make mince of one’s forearm (they can twist like you wouldn’t believe).
I, on occasion, used the ‘scruff AND tail’ (while keeping the little bitch straight) on that one.
Of all the cats I’ve handled, only that one needed it.
p.s. - that ‘freeze’ reaction present in kittens is also present in young humans.