Am I hurting my cat?

Question

when I try to pick up my 2 yo. Persian cat he makes this weird meow or cry idk. I pick him up with my right hand right behind his front legs and my left one under his stomach.

Could I be hurting him?It just started today.

or could his stomach be bothering him.

I dont want to hurt him.

Answer 1

You could be causing undo pressure on his stomach when lifting him.  Try putting one hand behind his front legs and the other one under his hind end.  If you prefer, smooth his tail down over his butt first to prevent any possible unpleasantries.

Answer 2

Here's what I do when I pick up my cat, I let him hang over my  shoulder and I hold his back and support his rear end. I do what you do sometimes and it doesn't seem to bug my cat. It might not be you picking him up it might be that hes sick or something, if he continues to show signs of discomfort, bring him to the vet.

Answer 3

well your cats stomach might just be hurting so when you pick him up it is pushing his stomach in and making it hurt worse. maybe if you try picking him up without holding his stomach and he still meows he might just not want to be picked up.

Answer 4

Either he doesn't like the pressure of being picked up with a hand under his stomach (imagine how you might feel in the same situation), he just doesn't like being picked up, or something is wrong with him.

What's normal for him?  Do you pick him up all the time, and he's just started crying?  If so, a vet visit is probably in order to identify and treat the cause of a sore stomach or other area.

If you don't pick him up very often, he's probably just not used to it and perhaps doesn't like it.  Try picking him up with one hand under his rib cage and take his back feet into your other hand.  This feels more natural to them.  I also sometimes just use both hands in my cat's "armpits" for a short lift, e.g. from floor to lap.

If you know there's nothing wrong with him health-wise, and you try other hand positions aiming for comfort, and he still complains, then he just doesn't like being picked up.  If cats aren't constantly handled as kittens and used to cuddling and being picked up, they usually can't be convinced to become a "hold-me" kitty later on.  And all cats are different.  My husband's cat absolutely will not tolerate being held, but my cat asks to be picked up and complains if I take too long.  Just the way things are.

Answer 5

if he keeps crying everytime you pick him up and you believe it might be his stomach, take him to the vet to get it checked out

Answer 6

support his hind end when lifting him.

Answer 7

If this is unusual and just started,  call your vet.  He could just have a stomach ache,  but may also be serious.  If you are really concerned take him in for a professional check up.  Hope he's OK.

Answer 8

One of my cats does this quite often,he doesn't have any health problems. Hes just a grumpy boy who doesn't like to be picked up unless its on his terms. If your worried a simple checkup with the vet could ease your mind.