Is it okay to pick up my cat by the scruff of his neck?

Behind its neck, a cat has a lot of loose skin called the scruff. It can be gathered up and grabbed onto, almost like a handle. Mother cats use the scruff to gently transport their offspring when they’re small, and also to discipline them for unacceptable behavior. Baby kittens are used to being handled by the scruff when they’re little and don’t weigh much.

But you should never pick up a grown cat by its scruff. Adult cats are too heavy, and being picked up that way can be painful and possibly even cause injury. To pick up your pet without hurting it, use both hands – one hand firmly behind its front legs, supporting its chest, and the other under its rump, firmly supporting its abdomen and lower half.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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