Where is the scruff on a cat

When addressing their behavior problems, we should address them compassionately and productively. Often when cats are exhibiting unwanted behaviors like destructive scratching or going outside the litter box, they are telling us that something is not right and as their caregivers, we need to listen. This can be due to medical issues, stressors in their environment, them not feeling safe, not enough resources, and more.

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For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. Scruffing is commonly used where people are fearful that they may be bitten by a cat, and while it may reduce this risk, the act of scruffing and the imposed restraint on the cat can be highly intimidating, may cause fear and panic, and often provokes or escalates defensive aggression.

It is, therefore, both counterproductive and compromises the welfare of the cat. There may be very rare exceptions when scruffing is needed as a very last resort for temporary restraint if there is an imminent danger to the cat or to personnel, but scruffing should never be used as a routine means of restraint.

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Kittens go limp due to a flexor reflex. This reflex is only present during the first few weeks of the kitten's life. Mother cats grab kittens by their scruff only in the first few weeks of life to transport them. They do not do this to discipline them, which is a common myth. It's important to remember that we, as humans, are not cats: A mother cat knows the precise pressure to place on the skin at the back of the neck and cats have pressure sensors on their teeth , which explains why they have the ability to carry a mouse in their mouths without making a scratch.

Cats are only grabbed by the scruff on their neck in limited circumstances: by their mother during the first few weeks of life, during mating, during fighting, and when they are being attacked by a predator. None of these situations are helpful to mimic in a home, veterinary, or shelter setting.

This is because scruffing is more likely to cause fear and stress, which can result in aggressive behavior. Scruffing entirely removes the cat's options to retreat and their sense of control. Cats' territorial instincts and common lack of socialization causes them to become stressed in most situations where they are handled by unfamiliar people in an unfamiliar setting. Scruffing removes the option to retreat and a sense of control for the cat, which commonly results in an escalation of stress, fear, and anxiety.

Lifting a cat or suspending their body weight by the scruff is unnecessary and could be painful. There are many different ways of handling and restraining cats that do not involve scruffing or heavy restraint.

Instead, they recommend cat-friendly, low stress, and fear free handling techniques. These methods take a "less is more" approach. The handler assesses the cat's body language and uses restraint methods that allow for the cat to hide. This provides the cat with some sense of control over the situation. The handler keeps themselves safe by using towel handling techniques, distractions like food, brushing, and play. At the veterinarian's office, cats rarely prefer to be examined out in the open on a cold, stainless steel exam table.