How to Pick Up and Handle Your Cat
When your cat becomes an adult, it will prove to be very valuable if you have spent the time when she
was a kitten getting her used to being picked up and handled? Everyone wants a cat whom they can
Friday movies.
The key is to start early. Hold your kitten with two hands, no matter how small she is,
to give her a feeling of security. No kitten wants to be carried around with her middle squeezed and
her legs dangling in the air.
Get your kitten comfortable with being handled by incorporating gentle touch manipulations into
your petting sessions. Place the kitten on your lap and gently handle each paw. Run your fingers
down her leg, hold her paw briefly, and then very gently expose her little claws, touching the top of
each one. This helps her to become comfortable with having her paws handled so you’ll be able to
trim her nails later. Gently touch her ears and look inside. Pet her as you do this and talk soothingly.
This prepares her for future ear cleaning and necessary medicating. Offer treats or small food
rewards as you touch different parts of her body.
Stroke your kitty along the sides of the mouth (she’ll actually enjoy that) and under her chin (she’ll
really enjoy that). Then gently slide your finger inside her lips and massage her gums. This prepares
her for having her teeth brushed. Offer a treat. Go back to rubbing her under the chin and down her
back, then return to her mouth. Carefully open it by placing one hand over the top of her head and
gently supporting her upper jaw while you pull down on the lower jaw with the finger of your other
hand. That’s all, make it quick, and then let her close her mouth. Offer a treat. Go back to petting, and
then engage in a play session. If you do these exercises on a regular basis, your kitten will grow up to
be a cat who is more comfortable with touch.
If you have an adult cat who isn’t used to being held, you’ll have to go very slowly so that she’ll
never feel confined or trapped. You may first need to get her comfortable with being petted with one or
two strokes, then gradually work up to using slower strokes so your hand stays in contact with her
body for longer periods. Clicker training during each step will help your cat make positive
associations with your touch. If you are not clicker training offer treats or food rewards.
When you pick up your cat, always use two hands. Don’t grab her by the scruff of the neck and carry
her with her hind legs dangling, and never scoop her up with one hand around her middle or she’ll
feel as if her chest is being crushed.
The proper way to pick up a cat is by putting one hand on her chest, just behind her front legs, and
use the other hand to cradle her hindquarters and hind legs. Bring her in close to you so that she can
lean against your chest. Her front paws can rest on your forearm. This method allows her to feel
supported, yet not trapped. This method of holding is for when you have her in a safe location such as
inside your home.
When you put your cat down, do so gently. Don’t let her leap out of your arms. You don’t want to
train her that the only way she can get out of your grasp is to struggle and jump for her life. Let her
down before she struggles and she won’t associate being held with confinement. Your responsibility
as an owner is to stay very aware, since the moment she’s getting restless, then immediately place
her back down. Initially, you may only be able to hold your cat for a few seconds, but as she gradually
realizes that being held is not such a terrible thing, she’ll relax in your arms.
Don’t try to hold your cat in your arms like a baby. She’ll feel trapped because it’s not a natural
position for her.
Make sure your cat sees you before you attempt to pick her up. If you startle her by coming up from
behind, not only will that make her grow more nervous about being touched but it could also cause
you to get scratched.
The other way to hold a cat is the method most often used in veterinary clinics. The following
technique is a good way to ensure that the cat doesn’t leap out of your arms. This method is best used
for unpredictable cats or if you’re transporting a cat in an unfamiliar environment—such as a
veterinary clinic setting. The method involves bracing the cat’s hind end against your side with one
arm, so her rear legs are left free below your forearm and against your hip. The hand of the same arm
that’s bracing the cat comes up under the chest to gently grasp the forelegs. Place one finger between
the forelegs. Your other hand comes over the top of the cat’s head to either gentle pet it or offer gentle
restraint. This method prevents the cat from wriggling away or leaping out of your arms.
