My Bestfriend

Cats are often perceived as independent, shy, or aloof animals. They are known for walking through the eye of chaos without even twitching a whisker of concern. But these are wrong impressions; cats can be extremely friendly companions, if you just let them be.

Carrying a cat in your arms like a baby or feeling their warmth beside you on the couch can be very relaxing. But just picking them up and petting them can be a bad decision, unless you enjoy being scratched and bitten.
Felines have an inherent distrust for predator species such as humans, and they try to minimize any contact with people they do not perceive as trustworthy. They relate to humans differently than more social animals like dogs, enjoying some time on their own each day and if they feel like spending time with their humans, it must be on their own terms. If you want to pick up your cat, you must make sure that the pet feel safe and secure.

My friend Shaun Olmstead, a pet advocate, shares the dos and don’ts of feline handling:

Never pick up a cat by the scruff of its neck. There’s no problem when mother cats carry their young this way and it’s safe for owners to handle kittens in this manner since they are still very light. But picking up an adult cat by the scruff is not recommended as it can be very uncomfortable for the cat and put strain on its neck muscles. They can retaliate by scratching and biting.

The best way to pick up a cat is for the owner to put one hand around its body under the front legs, then scoop up the back legs with the other hand. The cat should be held securely but not too firmly, and its hindquarters should always be supported. Do not leave the back legs dangling, as this is uncomfortable for the cat.
Some cats are happy to be cradled like a baby, but not all. If your cat shows signs that it doesn’t like this, don’t force it. And when any cat has had enough and wants to get down, don’t force it to stay, but put it down gently on the floor.

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