Mary Allen
Some cat owners grab the cat by the neck to pick up or carry the animal. Read here why you should not use this handle and how dangerous it really is to carry the cat like this.
It’s dangerous to grab the cat by the neck and carry it around like that. Some cat owners even use this method to punish the cat. This is probably one of the biggest mistakes in cat training. You can read here why wearing it on the neck is actually dangerous for the cat.
Copied From Nature
People who grab, lift and carry cats by the neck often justify this by saying that the mother cat also carries her kittens around like this. While that’s true, cats are particularly gentle and instinctively know the right spot on the back of their neck. The kittens are not harmed.
Also, these are juveniles. Grabbing your own adult cat by the neck and carrying it around can have fatal health consequences.
Pain And Stress For The Cat
If you grab a cat by the neck and want to carry it around like this, the cat’s neck can be injured. After all, an adult cat weighs a lot more than a kitten. When lifting, the muscles and connective tissue, in particular, are at risk of damage.
This means a lot of pain for the cat. Also, the cat is stressed and frightened when grabbed by the neck. If carried in this way, the cat may become afraid of people in the future. It is taboo for humans to pick up a cat by the neck.
Lift Cats Properly
With the right grip, the cat can be lifted without pain. Reach under the cat’s chest with one hand. With the other, support the cat’s rear end. Your weight is distributed evenly. This is much more comfortable for your cat and she will certainly be happy to be picked up by you.