I am not sure how we started picking Mingo up in strange ways. Like this. But he loved it. Loved it. And begged for it. And actually, still begs for it. But it seemed really weird and creepy so we asked the vet and she said don’t do it. So we don’t.
But it makes for a wild photo.
Holding cats by the scruff of the neck creates a sort of sedative effect–it’s why mother cats carry kittens around that way. So when you grab a handfull of their scruff, they go, “Aaaaahh, mommy.”
Similarly, you can assert control over a cat by shaking the scruff of its neck – it triggers the kitten-being-carried-by-mommycat ‘sedative’ response, but I’ve also heard that it’s very stressful. I don’t know which is true, or if it varies from feline to feline.
It’s interesting that Mingo seems to request this treatment, though.
It’s weird, and when we told people he liked to play like this, they got all upset with us like we were torturing him. That’s why we checked with the vet.
Maybe it’s a size thing. Like, maybe once a cat grows up, he’s a little too heavy to hang by the scruff.
That is bizarre. For a grown cat. But that is the best cat blog photo I’ve seen in eons. I think it releases pheromones or something and probably makes them remember their mommie.
But that is the best cat blog photo I’ve seen in eons.
And the thing is, if you look at Mingo’s face in the picture, he’s so happy. Obviously getting enjoyment out of it.
Keeping the vet’s advice in mind, I’d say the occasional, grab-the-scruff and “wheeeee-here-we-go-and-back-to-the-ground” couldn’t be that bad for him.
Vet said we can do it as long as we have a hand supporting his butt.
It’s so weird that you post on this now, because just a few days ago Mary pointed out to me how Eli loves having his neck scruff grabbed and pulled. She didn’t go so far as picking him up — but I’m sure the little freak would love it! Seems like, as with so much about cats, this traces back to the natal scene. They’re such fetishy things.
My year of working at our local Humane Society measures up with what your vet said. We were actually encouraged to “scruff” a cat to keep them calm when handling them, but that we should still support them from underneat when carrying them.
I’ve never seen a cat enjoy being held like that as much as Mingo seems to, though.
It’s a little insane. I’ve started “scruffing” him with his lower feet on the floor so that he gets the sensation without being fully lifted. He seems to like that.