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All rights reserved. Ballantyne recommends using a handy, everyday tool, like a towel. While Dr. Grandin observed that animals who were gently contained on all sides were comforted by the feeling. For routine procedures like medicating or nail trimming , waiting an hour or so can make the whole process go smoother. Whatever you do, scruffing a cat will make matters much worse! Yes if done lightly seems to provide some discipline. I never carry a cat by the scruff. Simply hold them by the chest with front paws back and a light grab of scruff.
They might bite or kick with back legs but they will give up if you ignore it. They, like any other, learn who is the alpha. There is nothing wrong with scruffing a cat as a temporary restraint.
My cat has no problem with me scruffing her. I agree. I like her sleeping next to me in embed. I slept for two hours tonight before she woke me up. My cat used to do ok at the vet until one of the vet technicians scruffed her neck rather roughly scaring her something fierce. Since this incident, I have to be the one to hold her for the vet or she absolutely freaks out.
Just saying, a bad experience for my cat with being scruffed. When administering meds, cleaning ears and eyes, etc. This calms them down and you only have the head and to some extent, the paws to deal with. You can keep him pinned down this way, but work quickly!
I do this as well when putting flea stuff on them. My cats are so use to it now when I get down my knees over them they do not struggle. I gently push their head, they lower it, and I put the stuff on them. I make it quick too. If I am to long than they start to get bothered by it and let them up. Pingback: Brie Goes to Riverside at home in my head. This is absolutely incorrect. Now there is a difference between scruffing a cat to catch it for immediate control, and scruffing a cat to hold it to trim nails, carry, etc.
Our cat is a swatter, he has been re-homed multiple times due to his aggression, he is not calmed if he is covered and it stresses him out. Have to give your cat medication, use Gerber baby food. Have to put into the carrier?
Cover them gently with a towel and pick them up. Have to give bitter pills or pills of any kind? They have long necks and it helps ensure the pull went ask the way down. I totally agree with the gel caps, but I use the meat flavored Gerber baby food in lieu of water. Much less likely it will be aspirated, and the thicker consistency helps the capsule travel down the throat more easily. I use applesauce myself, as I have always had trouble with pills, and water just does not help pills go down the same way something thicker does.
Awesome advice, though. I had to work all that out myself, as no vet ever suggested anything of the sort, and I think this advice should be spread as widely as possible to spar millions of cats unpleasant pilling experiences. So good job! How do you use it? How do you get the cat to take the gel cap?
Do you offer the baby food with the gel cap? Do you offer the baby food after the gel cap? Pet Mom. There needs to be a distinction between carrying a cat by the scruff of the neck and scruffing a cat. They are NOT one and the same. Carrying an adult cat solely by its scruff is not only inhumane but dangerous to cat and human. The flesh at the back of the neck alone is not enough to support the weight of an adult cat of any size.
This WILL freighten a cat and may cause it even in the scruff position to lash out at the offender. In extreme cases it could also rip the flesh of the cat! Let alone possible dropping the poor cat. An adult cat should always be fully supported on its bottom while scruffing the loosest part of the back of the neck while being carried.
While other cats may have a reverse reaction and be startled by the sudden flow of endorphins. To test this before engaging in a full scruff simply pinch the back of the neck gently, only if the cat is not already giving you signs of aggression. If a cat does not respond well. A towel may be the better option. However this article is misleading in that it gives the sense that all cats love being burritoed. A cat on the defense may not appreciate being ambushed by a towel and may bite and attack the towel and whoever provided it in the chaos of protecting itself.
Not all cats like hiding thier faces either very much the opposite. Some cars will immeduately become defensive if you try to cover their face. You really just have to know and read your cat. Be confident. We use fear-free methods including the e-collar as mentioned and towels sprayed with Feliway for hiding.
If the cat is really fractious or fearful, we will use sedation. Gabapentin given at home along with Feliway has made many of our fearful cats much happier patients. The cats are happier as our their owners and those of us working with them. It is safer to sedate a cat than to fight with them. I strong recommend Fear-Free Certification or other similar programs for those who believe that scruffing and stretching are not causing fear or are more effective than fear-free methods.
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