Handling and holding your cat.

Knowing how to handle your cat is one way to quickly build a physical relationship with your new family member. Not only is it important to know how to handle your cat in such a way that it does not feel uncomfortable, it's also important to let your cat feel safe and secure when you touch it so that it doesn't have any unnecessary fear of humans.

If you watch a mother cat, you'll see that she picks up the kitten by holding it by the nape where there is a lot more loose skin. At this point, the kitten will demonstrate one of it's inborn reflexes which is to curl into a seemingly lifeless ball. Like this, the kitten will stay until the mother puts it back down. This reaction continues all the way into adulthood but becomes increasingly more uncomfortable because of their size and weight.

The action of picking up a cat in this way is called scruffing. Sometimes, this method is used when the cat needs to be demobilised but only in absolute emergencies or if there is an immediate need to control the cat.

For the rest of the time, the best way to pick up your cat is by placing one hand under the chest, supporting the backside with the other hand, and then lifting. This is the way the cat will feel most secure and with no limbs left dangling. Holding your cat this way means it is getting total support and is essential if you plan on holding your cat for any length of time.

When you and your cat become more comfortable with touching and physical contact, you can start to try other ways of holding it.

Try to avoid tucking the cat under your arm with it's body and leaving its legs and tail dangling like a ragdoll. This will leave most of the cat unsupported and puts unnecessary strain on the internal organs. Cat's will not cooperate if you hold them like this for too long and if they start to resist, make sure you put them down as it is their way of signalling that it is uncomfortable.