Best way to pick up a pet cat that doesn't want to be moved?

Our cat is a feisty tortoiseshell and there are times when for whatever reason she has to be moved from wherever she’s decided to settle down in the house.

Although me and the cat are best mates her normal tactic is to roll over on her side and resist with 18 claws and a mouthful of sharp, pointy teeth. Of course for someone as tough as me this is like being attacked by a packet of toothpicks but even so I would like to know what’s the best way to pick up a recalcitrant cat without distressing it?

BTW she can’t be lured by the promise of food 😉

chuck a towel over it and hold on tight?

Stealth is your best tactic. And winter motorcycle gauntlets.

My cat is a big old cuddle monster, but if she ever does get stubborn a squirty water bottle fixes that, and she runs a mile at the sound of any aerosol.

water pistol

Full motorbike gear or a shovel.

Shovel. Flatten it first.

scruff of the neck. My little cat is the same and it’s the only way to move her at times and re-associate dominance.

one of those plant mister things.

towel would be my suggestion, after a while she’ll get the idea when you approach with said towel…

Taff – Member
scruff of the neck. My little cat is the same and it’s the only way to move her at times and re-associate dominance.

LOL, your cat must be a push-over (I resisted the obvious pun), any number of mine over the years, including a half-feral stray, would not let you anywhere near the scruff of the neck once annoyed.

Definitely water. If the water pistol doesn’t work, try a pint with ice.

Yep scruff of the neck, tight too, you won’t hurt poor purdy as the skin is loose there.

Motorcycle gaunlets remind me of when I used to have parrots, which btw are as hard as nails.

Have you tried reasoning with her? Her behaviour clearly isn’t acceptable, but she may not be aware of how much it upsets you.

With a shovel and a bin-bag.

Put on your khaki shorts and MTFU.

Shrink wrap it to a pallet, then…

Stoner, the Hurt locker suit guy is a fail… fingerless gloves wont cut it with kitteh…

FF to 53sec’s

Thanks for the replies well most of them anyway 🙂

Quite like the idea of a towel will give it a go cheers

Our cat is a feisty tortoiseshell and there are times when for whatever reason she has to be moved from wherever she’s decided to settle down in the house.

Although me and the cat are best mates her normal tactic is to roll over on her side and resist with 18 claws and a mouthful of sharp, pointy teeth.

God knows how many cats my family or I have owned over the years…but this is not behaviour I have ever experienced…maybe you need to find the reason for it? I’ve only ever known cats to scratch and bite when they are being playful.

Cats are emissaries sent from hell.

but this is not behaviour I have ever experienced…maybe you need to find the reason for it?

I haven’t experienced that with any cat I’ve shared a house with either, but I put a lot of it down to luck – I have had some exceptionally friendly cats.

Cats are awesome! I for one welcome our kitty overlords.

It’s all about trust with them though, a blanket or pair of gauntlets won’t reassure them as to your intentions.

I used to have a cat that was all teeth and claws whenever a cat box was presented, but I found the best way was to put the box behind him and gently push his face backwards so that he reversed in before shutting the door.

I’ve only ever known cats to scratch and bite when they are being playful.

Our cat probably is playing – the same way it plays with mice, birds and other cats 🙂

I thought the scruff of the neck thing was the way to do it – they automatically go into limp mode (as it is associated with being picked up by their mother when kittens).

I always found that it took a very strong grip using finger ends/nails to trigger the reaction though.

by the tail

Its not the indiscriminate violence that worries me about cats. I can live with our little sod, unprovoked, sinking its teeth into my arm. That’s fine!

It when it just sits there and stares at me that I really worry 😯

Ours does that too…he waits until I’m asleep before he starts licking my hands. I think he’s using sleep deprivation to torture me.

Get the vacuum cleaner out

LOL, your cat must be a push-over (I resisted the obvious pun), any number of mine over the years, including a half-feral stray, would not let you anywhere near the scruff of the neck once annoyed.

She is evil in all ways!

How to deactivate a cat:

TAZER

Love my cat, he’s a big softy though and loves being picked up. A good friend of mine told me one of the funniest cat stories i’ve ever heard though.

Him and his missus were up in bed ‘between the sheets’, the crown jewels flapping up and down all over the place. Unbeknown to them their 1yr old cat had snuck into the bedroom and was in a playful mood. The first thing the missus knew about it was when my mate tensed and screamed – she thought he was experiencing a particularly powerful climax. Sure enough the cat had attacked his bollox, teeth and claws being deployed to full potential!

Cats, don’t you just love them!

@Stoner – that ‘deactivation video’ 😯

@Stoner – that ‘deactivation video’ 😯

+1

Got to try that bulldog clip this evening, though I can’t see mine falling for that sort of voodoo.