With cute faces and fluffy fur, cats are great to cuddle with. However, cats are also known to have fickle personalities: they are also easily afraid of strangers and even ambivalent towards people they know well. To keep your cat from getting frustrated, scared, or hurt, it's important to know how to lift and hold your cat properly.
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Method 1 of 5: Lifting the Cat
Step 1. Know if the cat wants to be picked up
Sometimes cats just don't want to be picked up. You need to be able to read a cat's mood. If your cat seems angry or frightened, you could be scratched when you try to pick him up. As such, there are several ways to read a cat's mood.
- Pay attention to the cat's overall body language. Is he hiding from you and won't come out to play? Like adults, cats need alone time, and if they are hiding, they may not want your attention right now. If he keeps trying to get your attention, such as meowing, snoring, or rubbing your feet, these are all signs that he wants to socialize. Rubbing his body indicates he's trying to leave his scent on you, which is a cat's habit of getting along and signaling that he wants to receive affection from you.
- Look at the cat's tail. When a cat's tail is up, it is calm; this is a good time to try to lift it. If the tail is jerking or swinging back and forth rapidly, the cat is being aggressive. Unlike dogs, cats don't wag their tails when they're happy. A slow, back and forth movement of the tail usually indicates the cat is assessing the situation. If the cat's tail isn't wagging, this is a good time to try holding the cat.
- Pay attention to the cat's ears. If the cat's ears are facing forward, it means that the cat is happy and wants to play; this is the perfect time to pick it up. If the cat's ears are facing back, watch out! This is a sign that the cat is feeling aggressive. When a cat's ears are flat on its head, it feels defensive or frightened. Don't try to pick up the cat when its ears are back or flat.
Step 2. Squat at the cat's height
When you start picking up a cat, you'll scare it if you soar high above it.
Squat down at its height to calm the cat down before trying to lift it up. This also allows him to rub your torso, which transfers the smell of pheromones to your clothes and body so he feels more comfortable when you hold him
Step 3. Place your dominant hand under the cat's torso
The cat's torso is just behind its front paws. You'll feel the ribs with your fingers when your hands are in the right place, and not the soft belly.
Use your free hand to support the cat's underside and hind legs. Place it under the hind legs so that your hands are directly above and behind the paws
Step 4. Pick up the cat
Once your hands are in place, you can lift the cat up to an upright position. The palms and forearms under the cat's hind legs provide a platform for supporting the cat.
Pull the cat against your chest for added support and help him feel more secure
Step 5. Hold the cat by the nape only for emergency situations
Cats have extra skin on the back of their necks (called "scuffs"), which the mother cat uses to carry her young. However, an adult cat's body can be quite heavy so that the nape can be too burdened if you use this method every day.
- If the situation is an emergency and the cat is frightened, you can lift the cat from the nape of the neck, but support the buttocks with the other hand; use a towel to wrap the cat up if it struggles.
- Hold the cat by the scruff of the neck only when you need to move it quickly (for example, if the house is on fire and you need to get out quickly). In these situations when the cat is very aggressive, holding the cat by the scruff will prevent you from getting scratched.
- You can also hold the cat by the neck if you need to administer medication without much resistance from it, or if you need to handle a stray cat.
Method 2 of 5: Holding and Lowering the Cat
Step 1. Support the cat while being held
It is important to hold the cat so that its hind legs are supported. Spread your arms on your torso so that it becomes a platform for the cat to lie on. You can support the buttocks on the inside of the elbows so that the front legs rest in the palms of your hands.
When the cat feels comfortable to hold, you can try holding it in a different way; it all depends on the cat's personality. Some cats like to be held to their chest with their front paws over their shoulders so they can see over your shoulder as they walk; others like to lie on their backs like human babies
Step 2. Pet the cat while it is being carried
When holding your cat in your arms, it's best if your free hand is stroking and stroking it. However, make sure the cat's body and legs remain supported.
Stroking your cat will calm him down and make him feel more comfortable in your arms. It's also a good idea to talk to your cat in a calming tone. Thus, he will feel calm and even fall asleep
Step 3. Hold the cat while sitting
If you want to hold the cat on your lap while watching television, let the cat choose where to sit. Chances are, he will curl up in your lap, or lie between your legs.
This strategy is ideal for children, who sometimes pick up a cat too tightly and drop it when picked up while standing. Have your child sit on a sofa or chair, or even on the floor, before handing the cat over to the child. Make sure you tell your child to immediately release the cat when it struggles or seems to want to get off. Otherwise, the child can be scratched
Step 4. Lower the cat
When you (or the cat) are done cuddling, lower it gently and safely.
Bend over so the cat's paws are touching or near the floor. Place your cat's front paws on the floor and support her hind paws as she steps out of your embrace, and gently release her hands. Most cats will jump out of your arms
Method 3 of 5: Holding the Kitten
Step 1. Start early
Cats begin to socialize as early as 12 weeks old and, after that, it can be difficult to train the cat to want to be held.
- Thus, the early weeks of a cat's life are the ideal time to teach it to love being held by humans.
- Try not to hold the kitten too much in the first week of life as this can irritate the mother and possibly make the mother reject the kitten. However, if the mother isn't bothered by your presence, or just seems to encourage you to watch her kittens, you can hold or pet the kitten several times a day. This is said to help kittens open their eyes and explore early.
- When kittens are very young (about two weeks old), a few minutes a day is enough to stimulate them. Pick up the kittens one at a time, supporting their chest and stiffness. Carry it carefully with both hands, and put it back in the same place.
Step 2. Pay attention to the parent's behavior when caring for the child
Cats can be overprotective, depending on their personality, and it's best not to give them unnecessary stress or make the mother perceive you as a threat.
If the mother seems overly protective, you will still need to hold the kitten in its early life so that it socializes well with humans. Just time your interaction with the kitten when the mother is outside (such as when eating or using the toilet) to reduce her anxiety
Step 3. Hold the kitten at least once a day
This helps him get used to and associate the sling with affection and bonding time.
- Try to hold the kitten for about 5 minutes, and keep the session peaceful and gentle.
- Don't encourage rough play or allow your cat to use your hand as a toy to bite or scratch. This can instill a bad habit of associating hands with toys instead of petting and cuddling, which can make your cat rough and difficult to play with as they grow up.
Method 4 of 5: Approaching Strange Cats
Step 1. Take some time
Like humans, most cats get nervous around strangers and need time to get comfortable with new people. Appreciate your cat's comfort by letting him get to know you a little better before touching or holding him. Taking the time before touching or handling a foreign cat also allows you to assess the cat's personality and whether it is safe to continue.
- If you don't know a cat, think of it as a wild animal. Since you don't know if the cat is friendly or not, or if it can transmit disease, it's best to be on guard until you can be sure.
- If the cat owner is nearby, ask if the cat likes to be touched or held before trying it. Remember, the cat belongs to someone else so you should respect his wishes even if the related cat is very friendly.
Step 2. Move slowly
The sudden movement will scare away even a friendly cat, so be sure to crouch down slowly and speak in a calming tone.
Avoid direct eye contact (which the cat perceives as a threat), and slowly extend your hand toward the cat. Let the cat come to you and sniff your hand
Step 3. Try not to pick up the cat unless you have to
Especially if the owner is not around, don't try to pick up or carry a cat you don't know well. Cats can be stressful and dangerous for you.
- Don't forget that you could be scratched or bitten. Cat scratches and bites are not only painful, they can transmit a number of diseases (eg infection of a scratch/bite wound, cat scratch fever, or rabies).
- In situations where you have to pick up an unfamiliar cat for safety (such as rescuing it from danger), you might try holding the cat by the scruff of the neck. Gently pinch the excess skin behind the cat's neck. Be careful when supporting the cat's body weight with your hands under its bottom, and wrapping a towel around the cat if it struggles.
Method 5 of 5: Train Your Cat To Love Being Cuddled
Step 1. Start early
Cats are socialized when they are 12 weeks old, and after that age they will be more difficult to train.
Cats who don't like being held (such as stray or large cats in shelters) will also not like being held. This means that the first few weeks in a cat's life are the best time to teach it to love being touched/held by humans
Step 2. Use positive encouragement
While some cats don't like being held because of their personality, most can be trained to like being held when they know they're receiving a reward.
- Train the cat to remain calm and still when picked up by saying "hold" and placing your hand next to the cat. If your cat stays quiet, say "smart" and reward him with a small treat or a affectionate comment on his chin or head.
- When the cat is comfortable being still, extend the other hand by the cat's side while saying "hold on," and gently cup the cat's belly as if to hold it, but keep the paws still touching the floor. Again, if the cat is still quiet, say "smart" and give him a treat.
- Finally, actually lift the cat up while saying "hold," and if the cat doesn't struggle when picked up, say "smart" and reward it while holding it tightly to your chest.
- Encourage this new skill several times a day for a few days. After that, try to encourage the behavior in other ways besides giving treats, such as petting the head.
Step 3. Avoid punishment
Cats respond poorly to punishment, which usually becomes the master's weapon of prey and causes the cat to become more aggressive.
- Punishing the cat will make it run away and hide, making it difficult to hold. In addition, punishing your cat will increase its stress response, which can lead to pain, incontinence, and over-dressing.
- Instead, train your cat to use positive encouragement, patience, and his favorite treats.
Tips
- Don't take it to heart if your cat doesn't like being held. Cats are usually socialized at 12 weeks, which means that if they weren't held much as a baby, they probably never learned to like being held. What's more, some cats do have fickle personalities; sometimes cats like to be carried, and sometimes they just want to be alone.
- While holding the cat, try to gently pet it under the chin or behind the ear. Many cats feel calm when this area is rubbed, and this technique helps the cat get used to being held.
- If you try to pick up the cat while it is standing and then sit down, this could be a sign that the cat doesn't like being held.
- Never try to hold a cat that is eating or defecating. You could be scratched or bitten.
- Identify the cat to be approached. Some cats love to be held, and others hate it. Therefore, you should be careful when picking up your cat unless he is sure he will like it.
- When your cat is a baby and scratching a piece of furniture that shouldn't be tampered with, pick him up on the nape of his neck as a gentle way of saying no.
- If your cat is arching its back, don't try to lift it.
Warning
- If you hold the cat incorrectly, it can cause bone or internal organ injuries, so keep an eye on small children when handling the cat.
- If your cat is startled or becomes aggressive when handled, put it down immediately so you don't get scratched or bitten.
- If you are scratched or bitten by a cat, see a doctor. You may need vaccines or medications to prevent infection or disease.
