Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Putting a cat at ease
• Part 2 of 3: Holding a cat properly
• Part 3 of 3: Putting down a cat
• Tips
• Warnings

Picking up a cat may seem like a simple thing, but there is really only one right way to do it that is also pleasant for the animal and that guarantees that you will not hurt the cat. Before attempting to pick up the cat, make sure it feels safe and comfortable around you. Some cats should be approached in a "more delicate" way than others. This is especially true for cats who are afraid of humans or who have a medical condition such as arthritis. Once you bond with the cat, you can pick it up, as long as you support the cat's body properly.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Putting a cat at ease

1. Approach the cat. If you want to pick up a cat, you must first approach it in a way that lets it know that you are coming. You can do this by speaking softly to him, by making sure he sees you, or by letting him know you're there in some other way.
   • If you pick up the cat from behind without letting him know you are coming, chances are he will get scared, feel unsafe and panic.
   • According to some experts, it is best to approach a cat from the left or right side, as he may perceive it as a threat if you approach him from the front.
   • Never try to pick up a street cat without first carefully considering what kind of cat you are dealing with and how it behaves. Stray cats can be wild and dangerous. In principle, it is best to only try to pick up a cat if you know him or her a little and have experience with the animal in question.
2. Introduce yourself to the cat. It can take time for a cat to open up to you, even if they are your own domestic cats. As soon as the cat sees that you are getting closer, be especially sweet and nice to him so he can prepare to be held by you. Most cats introduce themselves to other cats by sniffing their muzzle, so you should do the same. It is best to gently stroke the cat over its cheeks, forehead and behind its ears, and scratch it under its chin if it is okay with it.
   • Gently petting the cat in this way can help make it feel safe, loved and prepare for pickup sooner.
   • Gentle petting can also help calm the cat if the animal is a little restless. It may take a while for the cat to actually feel comfortable.
3. Make sure the cat wants to be picked up. Most cats are able to let you know in a clear way that they don't want to be picked up. While you can gradually put a house cat at ease and gain its trust by petting it gently on the head, you should never attempt to pick up a cat that is irritated or just not in the mood to be picked up. If the cat tries to run away from you or bites or scratches you, or even starts blowing on you outright, you may want to wait a while before trying to pick it up.
   • It is especially important that you teach a child who wants to pick up a cat to pay attention to these warning signs. You need to make sure that children only pick up a cat that is relaxed and comfortable and that the child trusts. You obviously want to prevent a child from being scratched by a cat that actually doesn't want to be held.

Part 2 of 3: Holding a cat properly

1. Place one hand under the cat's body, behind its front legs, as soon as you are sure the cat is okay with you picking it up. Gently move your hand under the cat's body, just below the front legs, so that you have the support you need when you are about to pick up the cat. The cat may not like or try to resist this right away, so you should quickly use your second hand afterward.
   • It doesn't matter much whether you support the cat with your dominant hand under its front legs or under its rear; it just depends on what you prefer.
   • Some people put the front legs together and then place their hand under those two legs instead of under the back.
2. Place your other hand under the back of the cat. Now place that second hand under the cat's back legs and make sure you support the legs and the bottom of the side sufficiently. It's almost like making a kind of safe crib for the cat with your arms. Once you have your hands in the right place, you can get ready to pick up the cat.
3. Gently lift the cat. Once you hold the cat with both hands, gently pick it up and move it towards your chest. While lifting the cat, try to make sure it comes into contact with the rest of your body as soon as possible. This can help make the cat feel safer as early as possible in the process. If the cat is too heavy to lift from the ground, pick it up from a table or other elevated surface.
4. Hold the cat against your chest. Once you've picked up the cat, supporting it with both hands, you can hold it against your chest so that most of its body is touching your body. The back or side of the cat's head can also rest against your chest.
   • Basically, you are supposed to keep the cat fairly upright, rather than let it hang against your chest with its head and neck down. The latter position is not very comfortable for the cat to make it want to scratch or bite you.
   • When picking up a cat, always make sure its head is above the rest of its body. Never pick up a cat upside down!
   • Of course, some cats like to be held in a different way, especially if it is your own cat and he feels more comfortable around you. Some cats are fine with being held like babies, and there are even those who are fine with sitting on top of you with their back legs over your shoulders.

Part 3 of 3: Putting down a cat

1. Be aware of when the cat no longer wants to be held. Once the cat starts to get restless, move, or even meow or try to escape your grip, it's time to put the cat back down. You should avoid holding the cat against his will, as this will make him feel increasingly uncomfortable and threatened.
   • Some cats don't like to be held for long. So if you feel that the cat doesn't really like it in your arms anymore, the time has come to let it go.
2. Place the cat gently on the floor. Don't just drop the cat to the floor as soon as you feel uncomfortable. Doing so could cause the cat to lose balance or land in an unfortunate manner. Instead, slowly lower the cat until it is on the ground with all four paws before comfortably releasing it.
   • Of course, some cats will just jump out of your arms. So make sure you are prepared for that too.
3. Never grab a cat by the scruff of the neck. Although mother cats grab their kittens by the scruff of the neck, never attempt to grab a cat by the scruff, especially if the cat is three months or older. The cat is too old for that from that moment on, and if you grab it by the scruff of the neck it can really hurt or even cause muscle damage, because the cat is too big to be properly supported by the scruff of the neck.
   • While you or the vet may need to grab the cat by the scruff of the neck to give it medicine or trim the cat's nails, a vet will never lift the cat above the exam table when held by the scruff of the neck.
4. Make sure to keep a close eye on a child when they pick up a cat. Children love to pick up cats, but before they can actually do it safely, you need to take them step-by-step through the process. Most importantly, the child is big enough to comfortably pick up the cat. If the child is very small it is probably better to hold the cat while sitting.
   • When the child picks up the cat, always keep an eye out so that you can warn the child when you notice the cat wants to be released again. That way you can more easily prevent the child or cat from getting hurt.

Tips

• Do not pick up a cat if there is a chance that it will scratch or bite you. If it is necessary to pick up the cat (for example for a visit to the vet), put on a T-shirt or sweater with long sleeves so that any scratching or biting will not hurt or damage your skin. If the cat really bites or scratches you, you can even wear gloves to avoid getting scratched on your hands.
• Some cats just don't like being picked up. Never force it. In that case, you should only pick up the cat when necessary, for example to take it to the vet, and perhaps once a week, so that he / she does not automatically associate picking with the vet.
• Make sure you approach the cat calmly and without sudden movements, otherwise you run the risk of scaring the cat away.
• Always pick up a cat gently with your arms. Never pick up a cat with just one arm under its stomach. This can be very uncomfortable for the cat and can cause it to become restless and try to jump to the ground.
• Approach the cat calmly and slowly without making any unexpected movements. Then slowly squat and let the cat sniff or watch you. If the cat doesn't think you are a threat, it will come up to you.
• Always keep your hand straight behind the cat's front legs.
• Make sure you know if the cat or kitten wants to be held. If a cat starts to hiss or hiss, don't pick him or her up until the cat or kitten is comfortable enough to be picked up.

Warnings

• Picking up a cat by its scruff is strongly discouraged. If you don't grab the cat by the scruff the right way, it could be seriously injured, and so can you, because in that position the cat has plenty of room to turn and bite or scratch you.
• If you get scratched, wash the scratched areas thoroughly with soap and water and use a topical antibiotic. If you get bitten by a cat, do the same and see your doctor, as a cat bite can easily lead to a serious infection.
• Never hold the cat on its back in a so-called baby position unless you know the cat doesn't mind. The cat will feel insecure and trapped that way. He may then panic and end up scratching or biting you. Always hold the cat securely by holding it upright against your body.
• Remember that there is always a risk that the cat will bite or scratch you.
• Never pick up a cat before getting to know it a little bit, and never pick up stray cats or feral cats.