According to a behavioral specialist in cat, this action can make the animal suffer and not only …
Cat owners often tend to wear their companion as they see fit, without really wondering whether or not it suits the animal. By habit or for lack of information, some raise them by the front legs, hold them under the armpits, or even, make them swing as if they were real babies. If these gestures seem harmless, they can actually be uncomfortable, even stressful, for the cat. One of them is also particularly not recommended, and yet it is many times used as a means of punishment. It is a question of carrying her feline by the skin of the neck, as would a cat mother with her young.
Contrary to what some owners think, their cat does not understand this gesture as a “no, you must not do this”. As the behaviorist explains, Katia Guillet, author of the book “55 received ideas on cats” (Opportuncun editions), “It is not because the mother pussy did it that you have to do it. The message will not be received as you wish. Quite simply because you are a human and that the cat will not make any particular association (if not negative) compared to this taking.” Clearly, this is not the right communication code.
If your cat does a stupidity, for example scratching the earth with your flower pots or rummaging through your bag by overthrowing all the content, it is not to get upset, and it is not a “stupidity” as we can hear. In reality, “It is a great curiosity, a desire to explore, play or even adapt to our interior (…) It is not used for scrapering them”, underlines the specialist. It is better to find solutions, such as close and store your bag in a wardrobe, toast your flower pots, etc.
In addition, it is not suspected, but from a certain age, carrying his cat in this way can hurt him. If the cat cats grabs her little ones with the skin of the neck, it is above all to be able to transport them for a while. “When the latter become adults, this area, grabbed in this way, will be more painful than anything else”warns the expert in her work.