There's a big difference between scruffing the cat (what that grip is called) enough to pick it up, and squeezing that skin with the pressure of a binder clip...
Also, most veterinarians that handle mostly dogs don't really know how to properly handle cats.
Actually he's right about the difference in grip strength. Its like same you would use the same grip to pick someone up as to pinch them. All tge pressure is focused on a very thin line (of a metal surface) rather than dispersed more evenly around a larger surface area. And you aren't supposed to pickup or carry an adult cat by the scruff, its too much weight to be supported on just the skin. But is highly effective to hold them.
https://www.petmeds.org/petmeds-spotlight/is-it-okay-to-scruff-my-cat/
Anyone whose had any piece of skin caught in a binder clip would know just how hard those things clamp down, which is way harder than anything would ever grip a kitten by the scruff of the neck in such a small surface area, let alone an adult cat. I'm not a vet but I could easily see this cutting off circulation, causing extreme discomfort if not pain, and potentially even leaving bruising behind
I’m here to solve this argument! That scruff is ok to pick up because it is made to let mother cats pick in their kittens without hurting them a lot. (Fangs have small surface area) the scruff doesn’t have many nerves in the area, so they don’t feel much.
For KITTENS to be picked up, not adults. Kittens weigh less than adults, so there isn't the pressure pulling down on the skin. Pick up kittens, yes. Puck up Adult Cats NO.
Have you ever pinched yourself with a binder clip? They hurt and leave marks. Have you ever picked up a kitten? The grip needed to pick up a kitten is noooowhere near the grip provided by a binder clip.
This gif is one step away from animal abuse.
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· 5 years ago
Like @creativedragonbaby said, there aren’t many nerves in that area. Also the “have you ever?” argument is a bit shit. Have you ever tasted cat food? It’s not tasty. Feeding cats cad food is one step away from animal abuse
No, don't use a binder clip on any cat or risk getting the living hell scratched out if you, justifiably. But, holding them firmly, but gently by the scruff of the neck will cause them to go into a calm state and make them more manageable when needing to give meds ect, much like putting a shark on its back. Just make sure you support their weight if they are an adult cat. Kittens you can lift, but you can do serious damage to an adult cat trying to lift them by their scruff
It also depends on the cat. Scruffing has never worked on mine at all, but she was separated from her momma really young, so I think that may have factored in.
No. Not all. Vets have been moving away from this for awhile. There’s a long standing argument that adult cats don’t have the loose skin and have too much body weight to scruff (skin is skin. Picture a paper towel. It will hold a few marbles just fine, but put a rock on it and it breaks. A kitten weights far less than an adult cat, so the body weight is an issue.) but some cats get nervous or plain freak out when scruffed like this. It’s not the worst thing in the world you can do to a cat, but there isn’t much point because there are better ways to calm a cat or make it feel comfortable than scruffing. So wether you do or don’t, swear by it or curse it- there’s some risk and possible discomfort to it and little benefit which can’t be achieved through other means.
It's really more about soothing the animal, and what works with an individual animal than any one "magical" trick. What works for one may not work for the next ten, and vice versa.
Baby kittens are often held by the scruff (extra neck skin) by their mothers. Some cats may develop a response where they instinctually feeeze. A similar technique raising horses involved holding them by the hips when they are ponies. At that point you can over power and restrain them. When they get older they could easily overpower you, but simply pressing the hips with your finger tips will make them think they are restrained and they will generally stand still. Elephants can easily break their tiny chains, but as babies cannot. The chain doesn’t keep a captive elephant restrained physically, mentally they just remember being a baby and fighting futilely and so most have long given up.
I really want to pinch the hell out of that guy for the cat. The poor thing just looks so scared. FYI, thats what that particular response is, thats not the scruff relaxing response, thats the panic freeze and hope it lets go response.
That is going to seriously hurt that cat...
Also, most veterinarians that handle mostly dogs don't really know how to properly handle cats.
https://www.petmeds.org/petmeds-spotlight/is-it-okay-to-scruff-my-cat/
This gif is one step away from animal abuse.
That cat is terrified.