How to Hug a Cat

With their adorable faces and soft fur, cats are great pets to cuddle with. However, cats are also known for their erratic personalities: they are often afraid of strangers and sometimes conflicted when it comes to accepting the affections of those they already know. To avoid anger, fear, or injury, you should know how to properly hold and hold your cat.

Table of Contents

Pick up the cat

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Know when your cat wants to be held. Sometimes cats don’t want to be held. Understanding your cat’s mood is important. If the cat is angry or scared, you run the risk of being scratched if you pick it up. Keep this in mind and learn a few ways to read your cat’s mood.

Observe your cat’s body language. Is the cat hiding from you or refusing to come out? Like adults, cats need time to be alone, and if they’re hiding, it’s a sign that they don’t want your attention right now. Is the cat actively getting attention, meowing, whining, or rubbing against your leg? It’s a sign that the cat wants to play with you. Particularly, the act of rubbing against you shows that the cat is wanting to leave a scent on you, which shows affection and wants to be reciprocated by you. ^{[1] X Research Source}
Observe the cat’s tail. If the cat’s tail stands up, the cat is pleased; This is the right time to hold the cat. If the cat’s tail hits the ground or wags back and forth very quickly, the cat may be agitated. Unlike dogs, cats do not wag their tails when they are happy. When the cat moves its tail back and forth slowly, the cat is assessing the situation. If the cat is wagging its tail, this is not the right time to hug the cat. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Observe the cat’s ears. Ears facing forward indicate that the cat is content and happy; This is the right time to hold the cat. If the cat’s ears are turned back, you should be careful, the cat is agitated. When the cat’s ears are tucked close to the head, the cat is on guard and scared. Ears facing back or ears tucked close to the head both indicate that you should not try to hug the cat at this time. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Bend down to the level of the cat. When you try to pick your cat up, she may get scared if you stand too tall.

By crouching down to the cat’s level, you can reassure the cat before being held. This also allows the cat to rub against you, allowing the cat’s natural scent to stick to your clothes and body, making it more comfortable to hold. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Place your dominant hand underneath the cat’s body. You must place your hand directly under the cat’s front legs. If done right, you should be able to feel the cat’s ribs, not the belly.

Use your other hand to support the cat’s bottom and hind legs. Place your hand under the cat’s hind legs, so that your hand is located slightly below the back of the nail. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Pick up the cat. Once you have your hands in place, you can pick the cat up and stand up straight. The hands and forearms placed under the hind legs will form a support for the cat.

Hold the cat to your chest to make it feel more secure and secure. ^{[6] X Research Source}

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Use the method of grabbing a cat by the nape of the neck only in emergencies. Cats have an extra layer of skin on the back of their necks, which mother cats often use to carry kittens from place to place. However, the body of an adult cat is quite heavy, and that part of the skin will be overstretched if you regularly lift the cat in this way. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

In an emergency and the cat is scared, you can grab the cat by the nape to lift it, but support the cat’s bottom with your hands, using a towel around the cat’s body if the cat struggles. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
Only grab the cat by the nape if you need to move the cat away quickly (for example, during a house fire and you need to get out safely). In those cases, if the cat is agitated, grabbing the cat’s nape will help keep you from getting scratched. ^{[9] X Research Source}
You can also hold the cat by the nape of the neck if you need to give it medicine without the cat struggling, or if you need to take care of an aggressive cat. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Hug the cat and put it down

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Support while holding the cat. When holding a cat, you must support the cat’s hind legs. Place your forearm across your belly to support your cat. You can support the cat’s bottom with your elbow, so that the cat’s front paw rests on your hand.

Once the cat is comfortable, you can try holding it in a different way, it depends on the cat’s personality. Some cats like to rest their belly against your chest, their front paws resting on their shoulders so they can see everything as you walk; Some like to be held on their stomach like a baby. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Stroking while holding the cat. While the cat is lying along your arm, you can use your other hand to scratch and stroke the cat. Always remember that you still have to support your cat’s body and legs.

Petting your cat will make her calmer and more comfortable in your arms. Talking to cats in a gentle way is also fun. This way, the cat will feel reassured and may even fall asleep.

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Hug the cat while sitting. If you want to cuddle your cat on your lap while watching TV, let the cat find a place to lie down on its own. Your cat will probably choose to lie on your lap, either lying between your thighs or curled up on it.

This is great for young children, as young children can hold the cat too tightly or drop it if they hold it while standing. Ask your child to sit in a chair, or on the ground, before giving the cat to him. You must remind the child to let go of the cat immediately if the cat struggles or shows signs of wanting to go away. Otherwise, the child may be scratched by the cat. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Put the cat down. When you, or your cat, are tired of playing together, put the cat down gently and safely.

Bend down so that the cat’s paw touches or is close to the ground. Place the cat’s front paw on the ground and support the cat’s hind paw when it comes out of your arms, and gently release your hand. ^{[13] X Research Source} Cats will also probably do this on their own by jumping out of your hand.

Holding a kitten

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Let’s start this early. The process of getting used to the outside world of cats will begin at 12 weeks old, and after that, it will be more difficult to train the cat to get used to being hugged.

Thus, the first weeks of a kitten’s life will be an ideal time for the kitten to get used to being held. ^{[14] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
Avoid holding the kittens too much during the first week after birth, as doing so will upset the mother and possibly neglect the kittens. ^{[15] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source} However, if the mother cat is not bothered by your presence, or seems to want you to accept the kittens, you can You can hold or pet the kitten briefly, several times a day. That action has been shown to help kittens open their eyes and enjoy exploring sooner. ^{[16] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
When kittens are very young (one or two weeks old), exposure to them for a few minutes a day is quite a lot. Gently pick up the kittens one at a time, supporting the kitten’s chest and legs. Hold them carefully with both hands, and put them back in place.

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Observe the mother cat while holding the kitten. Depending on her personality, the mother cat can also watch the kittens very carefully, and you should not stress the mother or make her see you as a threat to the kittens.

If the mother cat is too protective of the kittens, you should still hold the kittens early to let them get used to humans. Schedule time to play with the kittens while the mother is out (for example, when she is eating or going to the bathroom) to reduce her anxiety. ^{[17] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

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Hold the kitten at least once a day. It will form a habit, and the kitten will associate being held with a time to bond and show affection. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Hold the kitten for about five minutes, and make that time peaceful and gentle.
Discourage your cat from playing aggressively or treating your hand as a toy by letting her bite or scratch it. This can create a bad habit. Cats will associate your hands with toys instead of cuddling and holding, so a hot-tempered cat will become even more difficult to play as an adult. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Approaching a strange cat

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Get used to it slowly. Like people, most cats will feel insecure in the presence of strangers, and it will take time for them to get used to a new person. Respect their comfort by letting them get to know you before you touch or hug them. Taking this slowly will also give you more time to get to know your cat’s personality, and assess whether it’s safe to hold them.

If you’re new to the cat, treat it like a wild animal. Since you don’t know if the cat is friendly, or if the cat has a contagious disease, it’s best to take precautions until you know for sure. ^{[20] X Research Sources}
If the cat’s owner is there, ask if the cat likes to be touched or cuddled before holding the cat. Remember, cats are the sole property of their owners, so you should respect their owners’ wishes, even if they don’t allow you to touch their friendly kitty. ^{[21] X Research Source}

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Move slowly. Sudden movements will scare the cat, so bend down slowly and talk in a soft voice.

Avoid direct eye contact (cats see it as a threat) ^{[22] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source} , and slowly extend your hand toward the cat. Let the cat come close to you, sniff your hand for reassurance.

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Avoid picking up your cat, unless you have to. Especially when the cat owner is not present, you should not try to hold or hug a cat you are not familiar with. This can be stressful and dangerous for your cat.

Remember that you may be scratched or bitten; that’s not only painful, but it can also expose you to many diseases (for example, an infection from a scratch or bite, a cat scratch fever, or rabies). ^{[23] X Research source} .
If you have to take care of an unfamiliar cat (for example, saving it from a dangerous situation), you can grab the cat by the nape of the neck. Gently grasp the nape of the neck just below the cat’s skull, but make sure to grab it firmly. Remember to support the cat’s body weight by placing your hand under the bottom, using a towel to wrap the cat if the cat struggles. ^{[24] X Research Sources}

Train your cat to get used to being held

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Let’s start early. Cats begin to get used to the outside world at 12 weeks of age, which means that beyond that age, cats will have a harder time getting used to being held.

Cats that are not often held as children (for example, those that were raised harshly or were born in a cat breeder) will not enjoy being held as adults. As such, the first few weeks of a kitten’s life are a good time to teach cats to get used to being held. ^{[25] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

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Use positive measures. While some cats don’t like being held due to their nature, most cats can be trained to accept it, if they know they will be rewarded afterwards.

Train your cat to be calm and not move when picked up by saying the word “still,” and placing your arm next to the cat. If the cat stays still, say “good” and reward the cat with treats, patting her head, or scratching her chin. ^{[26] X Research Source}
When the cat is comfortable with sitting still, place another hand on the cat’s side when saying the word “s still”, gently place your hand under the cat’s belly to simulate a hug but still let the cat’s paws touch the ground. . If the cat stays still, you say “good” again and reward the cat with food. ^{[27] X Research Source}
Finally, actually pick up the cat when you say “quiet”. If the cat doesn’t struggle when held, say “good” and reward the cat while holding the cat to your chest. ^{[28] X Research Sources}
Practice this new skill with your cat several times a day for a few days. Then, try doing this again in other ways than feeding, like rubbing your head.

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Avoid penalties. Cats do not respond well to punishments. Punishments often backfire and make cats more rebellious.

Punishing the cat only makes the cat run away, making it even more difficult to hold the cat. Furthermore, punishing cats increases stress responses, leading to illness, urinary incontinence, and excessive hygiene. ^{[29] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
Instead, train your cat with positive methods, be patient, and use foods your cat likes.

Advice

Don’t blame yourself if your cat doesn’t like being held. Cats usually learn to socialize from 12 weeks of age, which means that if the cat is not held often as a child, the cat will not like to be held as an adult. Moreover, some cats are inherently erratic, so sometimes they prefer to be held and other times prefer to be left alone.
When holding your cat, gently scratch the chin or behind the ears, or just scratch the bone near the cat’s tail. Many cats find that very comforting, and by doing so, you help the cat associate the enjoyment of being hugged.
If you’re going to pick up the cat while it’s standing, and the cat quickly sits down, that’s a sign that the cat doesn’t want to be held.
Never pick up a cat that is eating or going to the bathroom. You will probably get scratched or bitten.
Understand the personality of the cat you are dealing with. Some cats like to be hugged, some don’t. That’s why you should be careful when holding a cat, unless you know for sure that the cat likes to be held.
When your cat is young and loves to scratch your furniture, you can pick them up by grabbing them by the nape, which is a gentle way of rejecting the cat.

Warning

Improperly hugging a cat can injure a cat’s bones or internal organs, so keep an eye on young children when they hold a cat.
If your cat panics or becomes agitated when you hold her, put her on the ground immediately, or she will bite or scratch you.
If you are scratched or bitten by a cat, treat the wound immediately. You may need vaccines or medications to prevent disease or infection.

Steps