How to pick up a cat
If you’ve lived amongst cats your whole life, picking up a cat probably comes naturally. You don’t have to think about all the steps involved; you just do it.
But cats are slithery little beings, and if you’ve never held one, it might be unclear where to start. A person might be afraid of cats, or afraid of hurting them. Some cats, who would rather not be handled, can give a tentative picker-upper good reason to worry that they’re not doing it right.
But this post isn’t just for first-timers. I actually learned a few things myself while researching this blog about how to pick up a cat. You might, too.
Only pick up a cat who wants to be picked up
Some cats don’t enjoy being picked up or held. Some cats love it, but let’s put those cats aside for a moment. Don’t pick up a cat who doesn’t want to be picked up, or doesn’t want to be picked up right now.
There are emergencies, like the time I dropped and shattered a big drinking glass on my kitchen floor. If you have to scoop up a cat to protect her from harm, then do it. Hopefully, after a lifetime of respectful interactions with your cat, she will forgive you this one transgression.
But in general, you don’t really ever have to pick up your cat, and you shouldn’t, unless he also agrees that he should be picked up.
He’s my cat. Why shouldn’t I pick him up if I want to?
I know: you pay for the cat food. You pay the rent. He’s your cat. You should be able to pick up your cat when you want to, right?
Well, I’d say no.
To me, the only relationships worth having are those built on mutual respect and trust. To have a genuine connection with another, even a non-human other, you must first earn that respect and trust.
It’s worth it. Believe me.
Also – and this is a pretty big “also” – you might get bitten or scratched if you try to pick up a cat who isn’t in the mood. Cat bites and scratches, however innocent they may look, can wreak serious havoc on the human body. Read this post about cat bites and scratches to learn more.
But my cat is scared! I just want to pick her up to console her!
It is very tempting, especially on the part of loving cat guardians, to want to pick up a cat to hug him when he is scared or stressed, such as after a veterinary procedure.
But hugging to soothe or console is a primate thing only. All primates, from chimpanzees to snow monkeys to humans are hard-wired to console each other by hugging.[1]
Cats and humans are not the same species. Most cats want to hide when they feel scared or stressed. They do not want to be picked up and hugged.
Dog guardians often find hugging their pets irresistible. But throwing an arm around a dog has a very particular meaning to dogs. When one dog puts an “arm” (really a foreleg) over another dog it’s called “standing over,” and it’s a sign of dominance or aggression.
Some dogs put up with their impolite humans and their weird hugging behavior, but some dogs show signs of anxiety when hugged.[2]
The bottom line is that a stressed-out, scared, or anxious cat probably does not want to be picked up. It will only make you feel better, and it may make your cat feel worse.
How do you know if your cat wants to be picked up?
Even though cats don’t speak with words, they do talk to us.
Cats who want to be picked up will let you know, in no uncertain terms, with body language:
- The cat approaches you, or at least, does not move away from you.
- The cat appears relaxed around you.
- The eyes are “soft,” meaning partially closed, not wide open.
- The tail is upright, maybe with a little curl at the end, like a question mark.
- The cat may head-bunt.
- The cat may do a little hop, as if to say, “I’d like to go up now.”
The best time to pick up a cat is when he wants to be picked up. If your cat is “asking” to be picked up, you can oblige.
How do you know if your cat doesn’t want to be picked up?
There are cats who love to be cuddled. There are cats who adore sitting on your lap. These cats may crave attention and petting, but that doesn’t mean they want to be picked up.
How do you know if a cat you’re about to pick up doesn’t want to be picked up? Here are some signs:
- The cat tries to run away or hide when you reach for him.
- The cat’s body is stiff or tense.
- The cat ignores you when you reach for him.
- The tail is twitching or puffed out.
- The ears are flattened back against his head.
- The cat is growling or hissing.
- The eyes are wide and the pupils are large.
How to pick up a cat
Before you pick up any cat, get consent.
You should never leap out from behind and grab an unsuspecting cat. Make sure she knows you’re approaching, and offer a little scritch on the cheek or a gentle stroke of her back to gauge whether she welcomes your touch right now.
If she walks away, she’s letting you know, politely, that now is not a good time for whatever you had in mind.
There is more than one proper way to pick up a cat, but there are two basic tenets of cat-lifting to adhere to:
- Use both hands to pick up a cat.
- Support the cat’s hind end.
Here’s one simple way to pick up a cat:
Step 1
It’s easiest to start when your cat is standing, rather than lying down.
Crouch down next to your cat, facing in the same direction. These instructions assume you’re on the left side of your cat’s body, but you can reverse them if you’re on the right side.
Step 2
Place your left hand on the underside of the cat’s chest, just behind his elbows, and start to lift.
Step 3
Slide your right hand down over his tail to that curved spot along the backside of the cat’s hind legs, right before you get to the hocks (the “elbows” on the hind legs).
Lift and stand.
Step 4
Pull the cat’s body close into yours, so that she feels secure.
As you move the cat towards you, you will probably need to slide your right hand under the cat’s feet, so that he is standing on your hand.
Alternatively, you can slide your right arm over the cat’s hind end so that you are pressing his back end against your body with the crook of your elbow. Your arm becomes the seatbelt.
Reach around to support his back paws with your right hand.
How to put a cat back down after picking her up
Most cats will only want to be held for a minute or two. You will be putting the cat down almost as soon as you picked her up.
Don’t let the cat just jump from your arms. You need your cat to feel secure and comfortable for the entire picking-up experience. Also, a cat who is leaping from your arms may inadvertently dig a set of hind claws into your hands or body.
Lower the cat all the way to the floor or onto another stable surface. Release the cat when all four paws have made contact.
Can I pick my cat up by the scruff of the neck?
Mother cats occasionally need to move their newborn kittens. Very young kittens cannot walk immediately after birth and for the first few weeks of life.
Young kittens are born with loose skin at the back of their necks, around their shoulder blades, that a mother cat can use as a kind of handle when lifting them with her mouth. Young kittens also have an inborn “scruffing reflex,” which causes them to curl up and go limp when their mothers carry them by the this loose skin, also called the scruff.
But kittens lose both the reflex and the loose skin within a few weeks after birth. By the time the kittens are two months old, most mother cats will no longer scruff them.[3]
Humans should not scruff cats or kittens. If you need to pick up a kitten, use both hands, just like you would with an adult cat.
Picking up an adult cat by the skin at the back of the next is painful to the cat and can cause muscle damage.
If a scruffed adult cat seems to freeze when you pick them up this way, it is because they are experiencing a very high level of fear and/or pain – not because they are relaxed and comfortable.[4]
Note that the only time an adult cat will be grabbed by the scruff in nature is during mating, or when caught by a predator. You do not want to represent either of these scenarios to your cat.
How to pick up an aggressive or nervous cat
If you are new to cats, you probably shouldn’t be picking up an aggressive or nervous cat at all.
For everyone else: you should only attempt to pick up a nervous or aggressive cat if it is absolutely necessary. It can be extremely dangerous for you, and it will be extremely stressful to the cat.
You should wear long protective gloves and you should do the picking up with a thick towel or blanket.
Approach the cat from behind – not because you want to sneak up on the cat, but to approach from the correct angle to get the job done.
Quickly place the blanket or towel over the cat’s head and body.
In one swift movement, scoop the cat up with both arms, folding the blanket underneath the claws as you go.
Place the cat directly into a carrier. You can use the blanket to cover the carrier to help reduce the cat’s stress.
Can I train my cat to allow me to pick them up?
It’s best to train your cat to allow himself to be picked up while he is still a very young kitten, preferably before he is seven weeks old. Kittens have a very short socialization window during which their brains are open to new experiences. After this window closes, at that seven-week mark, cats are less likely to be open to new experiences of all kinds.
If your cat is older than seven weeks, and doesn’t enjoy being picked up, it is unlikely that she will ever grow to enjoy it.
You may, over a very long period of time, be able to get your your cat to tolerate more handling for practical reasons (such as grooming or the administration of medications), but your cat will likely never learn to enjoy being picked up.
Don’t work on training your cat to be held just because you wish to be able to cuddle her.
What not to do when picking your cat up
- Don’t interrupt a cat who is sleeping or eating to pick him up. If a cat is resting in his special hiding place, or on an elevated area, this is also not the time to pick him up.
- Don’t let his hind legs dangle.
- Don’t squeeze your cat too firmly. She shouldn’t feel trapped.
- Don’t hold a cat too long. If he’s squirming, put him down.
- Don’t interrupt a cat who is playing or hunting to pick her up.
- Don’t lift the cat from his belly. Place one hand on the chest and one on the hind legs.
- Don’t surprise a cat. Make sure he knows what you’re about to do, and he’s completely on board with being picked up.
Love Pinterest? Here's a Pinterest-friendly pin for your boards!
Dawn LaFontaine is a lifelong animal lover who always seems to have a little pet hair in her keyboard. Her blog, Kitty Contemplations, helps cat guardians better understand and care for the special beings they share their lives and homes with. Her cat-products business, Cat in the Box, sells beautiful, well-made, and award-winning products that she designed to meet the biological needs of cats.
_______________
FOOTNOTES
[1] Steve Dale, CABC. “Hug Your Dog? Maybe Not.” Fear Free Happy Homes, 14 Apr. 2023, www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/hug-your-dog-maybe-not/.
[2] Heimbuch, Jaymi. “Why Dogs Don’t like to Be Hugged.” Treehugger, Treehugger, 21 July 2021, www.treehugger.com/why-dogs-dont-like-to-be-hugged-4863898.
[3] Buiano, Madeline. “Scruffing a Cat: Why You Shouldn’t Do It, According to Veterinarians.” Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 20 June 2023, www.marthastewart.com/1541721/scruffing-cat-why-you-shouldnt-do-it.
[4] “Is Scruffing the Best Way to Handle an Upset Cat?” Tufts Now, 14 Aug. 2019, now.tufts.edu/2019/08/14/scruffing-best-way-handle-upset-cat.