scruffing a cat?

is it okay to scruff a cat on the neck at least 3 times in a row in one day without hurting them? i have to do this everyday for the meantime because i need to give him nutri-cal supplement, he's not taking it on his own.

Grabbing a cat's scruff is completely natural. Many people think it hurts them, and that it's mean, but it's not. That's how mothers carry their kittens when they are young, and they pick them up a lot more than 3 times a day. He'll be fine.

sounds good, thank you.

Hunter
Your cat thinks your mommy when you do the scruff thing

It is ok to grasp a cat by its scruff, but you should not pick them up. You could hurt them.

i think we need some proven something to see if it is bad or not. I was always told it was bad, but didnt belive it... unless they are fat cats...then perhaps yea that could be not too good.

I scruff mine when ever i need to give them something, and they dont mind it at all. Two actually seem to enjoy it...(odd but yet not since mom does it all the time)

and i was watching a thing on tigers yesterday and found this interesting....when tigger cubs are scruffed it actually releases feel good hormognes for them that calms them...

If you don't know how to do it right, you can hurt the cat. If the cat is on a firm surface and you are holding the cat by the scruff to subdue them to adminster meds, it's probably OK. Young kittens instinctually calm down when scruffed by their mom's when carried. If you don't grab them the same as their mom would, it doesn't have the same effect and chances are you are doing it wrong.

I have been reading alot about this lately.
From what I have read and I think, its ok to scruff an adult cat for pilling perhaps or to temporarily immobilize them for a specific purpose (to carry them into their carrier maybe)...

But all I saw on the subject, stated NOT to pick up an adult cat off of the ground.
You can do it while supporting his body weight with your other hand but never just his neck.

Mums do this to kittens who weigh significantly less and they know what they are doing exactly.

Adult cats do not carry Adult cats around in their mouths by the scruff.

You shouldn't even pick up an adult cat without supporting his body and legs underneath his body, let alone pick him up by his scruff..

Cheers

If you first put the cat on a table or something to administer the meds, then scruff him so that his feet are still on the surface it is usually OK and quite calming for the cat. But as said, you should never scruff an adult cat so that his weight is not supported.

If you need to temporarily control the cat to do something essential -- move them, examine them, administer medicine, etc. -- then scruffing is definitely a good option.

I wouldn't use scruffing to replace normal handling, though.

Originally Posted by Nano

If you need to temporarily control the cat to do something essential -- move them, examine them, administer medicine, etc. -- then scruffing is definitely a good option.

I wouldn't use scruffing to replace normal handling, though.

Click to expand...

Oh, of course not. I hope no one does. I scruff Billy when he puffs up, because the last time he puffed up, I ended up with giant holes in my leg and seriously deep scratch marks to accompany them!

i scruff pandy when she's hypo and she goes all submissive, her little feet curl up and she closes her eye's half way

i would never try this with bonnie because she weighs over six kilo's and it would not be good for her.





felicia