{"id":449322,"date":"2024-01-19T01:52:47","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T06:52:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=449322"},"modified":"2024-09-13T01:44:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T05:44:54","slug":"why-does-an-adult-cat-go-limp-when-you-grab-their-scruff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/lifestyle\/why-does-an-adult-cat-go-limp-when-you-grab-their-scruff\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does An Adult Cat Go Limp When You Grab Their Scruff? Vet-Verified Reasons & FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nRelation Between Limping and Scruff<\/a>
\nPain Related to Grabbing a Cat by Their Scruff<\/a>
\nScruff Grabbing Ethics<\/a>
\nSigns A Cat Doesn’t Want to Be Picked Up<\/a>
\nCorrect Way to Pick Up a Cat<\/a>
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When mother cats want to move their kittens, they gently bite the skin on their necks to lift them. The kittens almost always react the same way: They go completely limp. There’s even a scientific name for this inert, lifeless state: the flexor reflex. However, this nerve-triggered response disappears after the first few weeks of a kitten’s life. So, why does an adult cat also become completely immobile when you grab their scruff?<\/p>\n

According to feline experts and veterinarians, a cat that “freezes” when you pick them up by the scruff of their neck is experiencing a learned helplessness response<\/strong>, which should not be confused with their being relaxed and content. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: The cat is likely feeling pain and fear.<\/p>\n

Here’s why “scruffing” a cat is not considered to be an appropriate way to pick up or hold a cat.<\/p>\n

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What Does It Mean When an Adult Cat Goes Limp When You Scruff Them?<\/h2>\n

A cat that becomes still when you pick them up by the scruff of the neck is showing a submissive response. This state is called learned helplessness, which basically means the cat doesn\u2019t try to move because “they don’t believe their actions matter.” This sentence may sound a little too anthropomorphic, but it’s a scientifically recognized phenomenon in both animals and humans.<\/p>\n

Here are a few more definitions:<\/div>
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