How to pick up and carry a cat

Pick up a cat only when it is calm, and support its chest and hind legs so nothing dangles. Hold it close against your body, and put it down the moment it struggles. Many cats do not like to be lifted, and that is normal. Carry a frightened, sick or injured cat in a carrier or wrapped in a towel when you can.

Does your cat want to be picked up

Cats differ. Some love to be held, and some tolerate it for a moment. Cats decide how they feel about it as kittens, depending on how gently they were handled. An adult who was not handled much early on may never enjoy it.

Read the cat first. See body language and tail language for signs.

Signs your cat is happy to be held: it approaches you, rubs against your legs, purrs or kneads, has relaxed ears and eyes, and holds its tail upright or loosely curved.

Signs to leave the cat alone: flattened or turning ears, wide eyes with big pupils, a twitching or lashing tail, a hunched body, growling, hissing or moving away. A cat that stiffens in your arms, pushes with its paws or grips with claws wants to get down.

A cat in pain may bite or scratch, even if it is normally friendly. If you are unsure, let the cat come to you.

How to pick up a cat, step by step

1. Approach calmly. Walk slowly, speak softly and let the cat see you. Crouch to its level. Offer a hand to sniff.
2. Pet first. Stroke the cheeks and neck. If the cat leans into you, it is open to a lift.
3. Slide one hand under the chest. Place the hand behind the front legs, with your fingers spread to support the chest.
4. Support the hind end. Bring the other hand under the hind legs and bottom. Cats feel unsafe when their back legs dangle.
5. Lift smoothly. Lift in one smooth motion, with the cat facing away from you or turned toward your body. Do not lift by the front legs alone, and do not lift by the stomach.
6. Bring the cat close. Hold it against your chest or hip, with its body supported by your forearm. A cat that feels held securely is less likely to struggle.
7. Keep it short. Hold the cat for a moment, then put it down. Increase the time slowly.
8. Set it down well. Lower the cat so all four paws touch the floor before you let go. Dropping a cat from height, even a short height, can hurt it. A cat can twist in the air, using its righting reflex, but still may land badly. Reward calm behavior with a treat.

How to carry a cat

• Use two hands. One hand supports the chest, the other supports the bottom.
• Hold the cat close to your body. This keeps it from falling and makes it feel secure.
• Avoid the stomach. Most cats dislike being squeezed there.
• Avoid carrying a cat belly up like a baby. Some will allow it, and many will struggle.
• Do not carry a cat through a door that might slam. Close doors and windows first.
• Do not carry a cat outdoors without protection. A frightened cat can leap from your arms, slip out of a grip and bolt. Use a cat carrier, or a cat harness fitted and practiced at home.
• Carry a nervous cat in a carrier. This is safer for both of you, and for travel to the vet.
• For a sick or injured cat, ask your vet how to move it. You may be told to wrap the cat in a towel and put it in a carrier without delay.

Scruffing

Many people think a cat should be picked up by the loose skin on its neck, as a mother cat carries her kittens. See scruff for the term. Kittens go limp because they are tiny and light. An adult cat is heavier, and its skin cannot carry its weight. Scruffing can cause pain and fear. Most cat welfare groups and veterinary bodies advise against it as a means of lifting or restraining an adult cat. A cat that is held down or scruffed may panic and fight.

Use gentler handling. A towel can wrap a cat who must be held. Your vet may use sedation or other tools when a cat cannot be handled safely.

Special cases

• Kittens. Kittens are fragile. Hold them in two hands, close to the ground, and handle them often for short periods in the first weeks. Kittens handled gently by many people tend to grow into friendlier cats.
• Older cats. Many older cats have sore joints. Support the whole body and avoid twisting the spine. A cat that once enjoyed being held may now cry out. That can be a sign of pain, so tell your vet.
• Heavy cats. Lift with your legs, not your back. Ask a second person to help, or give the cat a ramp or steps instead.
• Pregnant cats. Avoid pressure on the belly. Ask your vet for advice.
• Cats with injuries or surgery. Follow the vet's directions.
• Children. Teach a child to sit on the floor and let the cat come into the lap, and to let go the moment the cat squirms. Supervise young children.

Common mistakes

• Picking up a cat by the front legs, the stomach or the tail. Never pull a cat's tail.
• Grabbing a cat that is not looking at you.
• Lifting a cat that is hissing, growling or scared.
• Holding a cat tightly when it struggles. The cat may bite or scratch hard.
• Picking up a cat with one hand while holding something else.
• Letting go when the cat is above the ground.
• Carrying an agitated cat out of a room. Use a carrier.
• Forcing a cat to enjoy holding. Build trust with treats and short sessions.

When to call a vet or get help

Call your vet if:

• A cat that used to like being held now cries, hisses or bites when you pick it up. It may be in pain.
• A cat flinches when you touch the belly, back or hips.
• A cat has fallen or been dropped and then limps, hides, breathes with effort or will not eat. A fall can cause hidden injuries even when the cat looks fine.
• A bite or scratch from a cat breaks your skin. Wash the wound well and ask your own doctor for advice, since cat bites can become infected.

Seek urgent help if the cat is limp, bleeding, struggling to breathe or cannot stand.

Summary

• Pick up a cat only if it is relaxed. Support the chest and hind legs.
• Hold close, keep it short and put the cat down on all four paws.
• Do not scruff an adult cat.
• Use a carrier for any trip outside, and for a scared or sick cat.
• A cat that suddenly dislikes being held may be in pain. Ask your vet.