How to lift up a cat in your hands?

Question

Can I pick up a grown up cat holding the skin on it's neck(upper side)?

Same for kitten?

Answer 1

I always stand behind my cat (i.e. facing the same way she is when she's sitting down). I put right (dominant) hand under her rib cage, lifting up gently, while sliding my left hand under her but to support her back end as it comes off the ground. Once she's up, I can then cuddle her on my front and move my right hand around to support her back.

She's gotten to know now that if she wants up, she needs to have her back to me. This make for an interesting 'dance' where she faces me to meow, turns to be lifted, then turns to meow again if I don't respond right away, around and around until I pick her up (I don't tease her on purpose, but she doesn't understand that sometimes my hands are full...).

Answer 2

No, you must support the adult cat's rear quarters/hind legs or you will hurt the animal.

Little kittens that are carried that way by their mothers can be carried that way by people, but after about 3 months old you should always support both the front of the cat in one hand and the rear end in the other.

Thanks for asking!

Answer 3

always put  your hand down under the belly then lift the cat when it is full grown  as the body weight is much more and cannot be sustained by  neck fat  

Answer 4

You should really only hold a kitten like that (and don't often hold a kitten like that).  A cat is too heavy.

Pick up your cat under its belly.

I hold my cat like a baby, but thats because she thinks she is a human baby.

Answer 5

You shouldn't pick it up like that. Always support the rear. They are a lot heavier then when they are kittens. I only ever pick my cat up with the scruff of his neck (i still support his rear as well) when he has been naughty, for e.g picking on my other cat, urinating in the house. Because i know he doesn't like it and it stops him from scratching me (which he will always try when he is in trouble lol).

The best way is like some one else described. Pick up by scooping under the ribs and cradle it's rear in your other arm. Holding it close to the body.

Answer 6

In general it is best for humans not to pick up kittens before they are 2 weeks old. From 2 - 4 weeks old only brief handling is recommended, as this often puts stress on the cat and the mother. If you are trying to pick up and hold a young kitten you can pick it up by the loose skin or scruff at the back of its neck. This is how their mothers move them around. If done right, it won't hurt them because they do not weigh much and their neck skin is really loose. Never pick up grown cats in this way because you can hurt them.

One of the safest ways to pick up a grown cat or a kitten, is to approach the animal from the side. Take one hand and place it palm up (or 4 fingers up) on the belly right behind the front legs. Then take the other hand palm up, cross over the cats back and place it under the cats belly in front of the hind legs. Then pull the whole cat close to your body.This gives the cat a lot of support and makes it feel secure.

Never pick up a cat by its tail or by its legs. It is dangerous to the cat (possible dislocation) and the cat can easily scratch you.

Don't let young children (under 6) try to pick up cats or kittens, as their jagged movements are likely to startle the cat and they risk getting scratched. It is much better for an adult to pick up the cat and let the child stroke its back.

Answer 7

You can, but you shouldn't.  That method is only meant for the mom cat to do, because she doesn't have fingers, or walk on two legs.

Slide one hand under the ribcage of the cat, then cradle the rear end, with tail down, in your other hand, and lift up.  This makes a safe, secure hold, so that the cat is not afraid of falling.