As with anything in our ever-changing world, we know so much more about training and working with cats now, and it’s up to us to advocate for best practices when we’re thinking about how we live with our cats. Let’s talk about “scruffing” or grabbing a cat by the nape of the neck, to move, hold, punish or control a cat.

Here’s what we know:

  • The “flexor reflex,” causing cats and kittens to go limp when picked up by their scruff, stops within the first few weeks of life. A mother cat may bite down on a kitten’s scruff and move them only when they’re very, very young.
  • A cat in the wild might be grabbed by their scruff during mating, fighting, or during a predator attack; all of which are stressful events in a cat’s life.
  • Scruffing any cat beyond the first few weeks of life may result in a cat who seems calm and relaxed, but what we’re actually seeing is something very different.
    • The cat shuts down because they feel they have no control, and shutting down is the safest option for them. Lack of behavior is behavior, and should be given appropriate attention. What you see as calm and relaxed could be, and likely is, a cat who’s given up because they feel they have no other option.

What results can we see from scruffing cats — especially repeated scruffing?

  • Fearful, defensive behavior
    • Cats are prey animals who can move quickly to a state of fight or flight; both responses can lead to fearful, defensive behavior when they feel they’ve lost control.
  • A lack of trust in humans
    • Removing choice and safety from interactions leads to lack of trust, socialization and an increased fear response
  • Handling sensitivities
    • When lack of control and pain are associated with handling, cats can respond by biting or swatting during seemingly “normal” interactions.

What can we do instead?

  • If you need to move your cat from an unsafe situation, try wrapping them in a large blanket or towel. Covering their head and legs, if they’ll allow that, will reduce the stimulus around them and help them to feel safe.
  • Work on training with your cat
  • Work with a Fear Free Certified veterinary clinic trained to handle cats in less invasive ways

Check out this great article from Pamela Johnson-Bennett on scruffing for more information.