Lifting a cat or suspending its body weight by its scruff (the skin on the back of its neck) is unnecessary and potentially painful. And it's certainly not the most respectful or appropriate way to pick up or handle your cat.
TLDR: Just support a cats butt if they are above 8 months of age, and only do it when it is absolutely necessary. An older cat (Especially the elderly) can easily be injured if scruffing without support.
“Cats don't forgive, and once they realize a person is causing them anxiety or hurt, they keep away.” So says John Bradshaw, an anthrozoologist at Bristol University and author of “Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet.”
For many cats, minor misdemeanors seem to fall in the short-term memory category so it is likely all will be forgiven within a few hours to days. Kittens have a relatively short memory and can appear to be more forgiving than older cats.
Scruffing is painful: “A firm grasp of skin at the base of the neck is undoubtedly uncomfortable for cats,” says Dr. Koch. Moreover, suspending their weight by the nape of their neck can cause pain.
Cat scruffing takes away their sense of control: This increases their fear and stress, potentially leading to aggression. Scruffing is uncomfortable and may even be painful for the cat. Scruffing could also damage your relationship with your cat.
It is a common myth to use scruffing to discourage bad behavior in your cats. As stated above, mother cats do not scruff kittens to punish them, and it causes fear and stress. When training your cat, using fear and punishment is not recommended for a variety of reasons.
As kittens, cats relax each time their mother carries them by the scruff, thus allowing themselves to be carried around easily. The laidback Ragdoll cat goes limp when picked up because they have retained this reflex that reminds them of their kittenhood. Most cat breeds lose this reflex as they enter adulthood.
Every cat is different. While some cats enjoy being kissed, others will not. Some will feel love, while others will not see kissing as a sign of affection. There are better ways than kissing to show a cat affection that they will understand.
Scruffing entirely removes the cat's options to retreat and their sense of control. Cats' territorial instincts and common lack of socialization causes them to become stressed in most situations where they are handled by unfamiliar people in an unfamiliar setting.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
A simple training method involves praising and petting your kitten when it leaps onto acceptable surfaces while scolding and removing it from unacceptable surfaces. The spray bottle can help train your kitten to stay off specific surfaces.
For years, scruffing a cat – grabbing the loose skin around the neck – has been touted as a safe and humane way to restrain your pet. Thought to mimic the way that a mother cat would pick up her kittens by the scruff, this restraint method has been used by vets, groomers, and pet owners.
In addition to being petted, do cats like to be held? Sometimes. Most cats love to snuggle, and they're typically responsive to being held if you introduce them to it gradually. The best way to approach your cat for a hug is to start with a few soft pets, then carefully pick them up.
Animal abuse, or animal cruelty is the crime of inflicting physical pain, suffering or death on an animal, usually a tame one, beyond necessity for normal discipline. It can include neglect that is so monstrous (withholding food and water) that the animal has suffered, died or been put in imminent danger of death.
Of course, your cat may understand that the change in your volume means something is different, but yelling may scare your cat or call too much attention to negative behaviours. Yelling may cause your cat to feel stressed and anxious, which can cause additional misbehaviour.
If you leave the house for a quick errand or two, it's unlikely your cat will even notice that you're not home. A quick pet and a snuggle can remind your cat that despite your absence, you've got kitty on the brain!
Don't Stare at a Cat
You can make brief contact then look away and to the side. Offer the cat long, slow blinks, which translates to "I mean you no harm." The cat may reciprocate the blinks.