Page 218 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)

216 C ARE AND BEHA VIOR

HANDLING YOUR CAT

Cats are notoriously choosy about who they will allow to touch them,
let alone pick them up and pet them. Some cats simply don’t like being
picked up and will struggle to get free. There are right and wrong ways
to handle a cat—learn how to do it properly and your cat will enjoy the
opportunity to get closer to you. If he’s comfortable with being held, it
will be easier for you to groom him and check for injury or illness. A correctly held kitten

STRESS-BUSTER Start early
There’s something about The best time to get a cat used to being handled is when it is
cats that makes us want to
stroke them. Research has a kitten. Early and routine contact from about two or three
shown that petting cats is weeks old helps kittens not only to develop faster but also
good for reducing stress in grow into more contented cats that are happy to be handled
humans—and cats like it too.
by humans. If you have children, teach them to be gentle and
to treat the kitten with respect. Mistreated and mishandled
kittens will grow into nervous cats who keep their distance
from people and who are difficult to train. Cats have long
memories, and they will avoid children who handle them
too roughly or pull their tails.

How to pick up a cat
A very young kitten can be picked up by the scruff of his
neck, like his mother does, but he will need more support as
he gets older and heavier. When his mother stops picking him
up like this, so should you. From then on, the correct way to
pick up your cat will be to approach from the side and place
one hand flat against his ribcage, just behind his front legs.
Use the other hand to support him under his hindquarters.

CARRYING YOUR CAT
Don’t cradle your cat on
its back when you pick
him up—this position is
unnatural to a cat and
will make him feel
vulnerable. Instead, try
to hold him as upright as
possible. Put one hand
under the “armpits” of his
front legs, place the other
under his rear, and hold
him securely.