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Scruffing a quat is a method used to peck up cat-o'-nine-tails by the tegument on the back of the neck to hold and restrain them . While this is a born behavior that mother cat do with their kitty , expert warn against humans doing it because it causes reverence and stress in our feline friends . More significantly , it can do injuries and even damage the relationship you have with your cat due to the damaging associations with it .
Keep reading to find out why you should never abstract your CT by the nucha of the neck . You ’ll also find oneself a good way to hold your cat .
What is Scruffing a Cat?
A cat ’s scruff is the loose skin located at the back of the neck . Scruffing refers to picking up a guy by this loose cutis . The behavior may have originated upon “ watch [ mother cats ] use their back talk to move their kittens around , ” says Dr. Andrew Koch , director of operations forHeart + Paw . “ The kittens seem to freeze out while being channel in this path , ” Koch adds .
Scruffing is also used among adult computed axial tomography during copulation and for register dominance during a fighting .
When human do it , however , scruffing is an act of ascendence that cat do n’t wish . Restraining a cat in this way claim away their sense of control and could make her frightened , stress , or fast-growing .
Historically , scruffing was mainly used in veterinary clinics during examinations , nail trim and music administration . While this might be an prosperous option for restraining a cat , Dr. Carley Faughn , beast behaviorist atBest Friends Animal Society , says it can result in fear of the veterinarian . And if cat parents do this at home , it can create mistrust between the pet parent and the cat .
Scruffing could also be painful and harmful to the computed tomography . Since the pet is arise off the ground or table entirely by the cutis of their neck opening , it could be extremely uncomfortable , causing them to act out due to tenseness and concern . This could moderate to injury .
6 Reasons You Should Never Grab a Cat by the Scruff
Scruffing is an outdated method that has no place during palm a cat . Here are six cause why you should never scruff a cat .
Scruffing is painful
“ A firm grasp of skin at the base of the neck is doubtless uncomfortable for cats , ” says Dr. Koch . Moreover , freeze their weight by the nape of their cervix can cause infliction .
It causes fear and stress
Scruffing can activate the kindly ( fight or escape ) response that increases feelings of fear and stress , explains Dr. Koch . A visit to the veterinary clinic can be nerve-wracking for cats already ( due to being in a carrier , going for a car ride and being wall by bark dogs ) , and there ’s no indigence to produce more anxiety for our feline supporter . It ’s best to implement veneration - complimentary handling to induce as lilliputian tenseness as possible for the cat .
It leads to negative associations
According to Dr. Faughn , being held in an uncomfortable position and not being able to move can lead to the cat “ associating that environment , person / people , and situation with fear . ” This will make any next sojourn to the veterinary even more unmanageable .
It can lead to aggressive behavior
Scruffing can make fear in a cat . When that fearfulness foil a certain room access , aver Dr. Koch , the Arabian tea is probable to defend themself by biting or grave .
Cats can get injured during scruffing
In addition to scruffing being atrocious , it can leave in injury if the handler is not careful . Cats may react with fear or aggressiveness and this may cause a person to accidentally degenerate a cat . Further , in rare cases , some cat have skin frangibility syndrome , where “ their skin can rip right off the underlie fatty tissue bed , ” says Dr. Koch .
It can hurt your relationship with your cat
Scruffing essentially immobilizes a qat and it is not a pleasant experience at all . This makes felid grow negative feelings for the person doing the scruffing . “ Cats learn best through convinced reinforcement , and this is the opposite of that , ” says Dr. Faughn .
How to Properly Pick Up or Restrain a Cat
If you are wondering how to hold up a cat without scruffing , there is aright wayto do it . The just means , says Dr. Faughn , is to call the guy to you or approach them slow , and clean them up with your arms and hands underneath their front and back leg , fully supporting their weighting .
To lightly restrain a computerized axial tomography at home , Dr. Koch recommends having the computerized tomography in between your legs when “ sit thwartwise - legged and using your hands to gently hold the big cat still while you either look at something or perform nail trims or another at dwelling house procedure . ”
Another good way of life to humanely cumber a cat-o'-nine-tails is to use the towel method , which some people refer to as the “ puss burrito . ” This method acting has been adopted by many veterinary clinic . You wrap a towel around a cat , and gently restrain them , leaving their principal out of the towel .
“ Once the cat is wind , you’re able to safely and calmly manipulate the khat to continue with your procedure , ” say Dr. Faughn .
In a situation where your cat-o'-nine-tails is really stressed out , anti - anxiety medications , like trazodone hydrochloride tablets ; pheromone sprays , such as Feliway ; orcalming treatscan assistant facilitate the restraint .
Pheromone sprays can be used inside a cat carrier or on a towel to help a computerized tomography remain calm during veterinary appointments . Sometimes , a veterinarian may send home an unwritten medicinal drug to administer before bringing the khat to the engagement . If the big cat gets stressed upon arrive at the clinic , injectable medicine can be used to repress the cat without scruffing .
