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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

553.0. "what does lifting by scruff of neck do to cat?" by VIDEO::OSMAN (type video::user$7:[osman]eric.six) Wed Apr 15 1987 10:54

Note 501 mentioned a pregnant cat dragging other adult cats around by
the scruff of the neck.

I've lifted kittens often by the scruff of the neck, and an occasional
adult cat that way.

It's quite qurious.  A frolicking squirming kicking kitten suddenly
goes semi-comatose when properly lifted by the scruff of the neck.

Have any of you noticed it ?  It's almost eerie.

Does anyone know what happens to the cat that makes it limp like
that when lifted by the scruff of the neck ?

/Eric
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
553.1programmed in genetically25175::KALLISHallowe'en should be legal holidayWed Apr 15 1987 12:0310
    It's a reflex action that's built into cats so that, when kittens,
    their mothers can pick them up without their struggling.
    
    Problem is, that kittens can stand this sort of treatment better
    than adult cats.
    
    However, it helps to "calm" an unruly cat by doing the neck-lifting
    thing, but not so you support ther cat's entire weight that way.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
553.2The exceptional AbyNZOV03::PARKINSONHrothgarFri Apr 17 1987 00:479
    Yes, it is something that has an amazing effect on cats, calming
    them instantly - every cat I've ever known... execpt Kimi, that
    is! He manages to squirm around and attack you with his back feet.
    The instinct to "behave because Mum's got you" doesn't seem to work
    on him! Of course, he is the most DETERMINED cat I've ever known.
    He is, by the way, an Abyssinian - any other determined Abys out
    there?
    
    It works like a dream on our Burmese.
553.3Aby's fear nothingUSHS01::MCALLISTERMars or Bust!!Fri Apr 17 1987 09:449
    Yep, it doesn't even work for Aby mothers carrying the kitten after
    about 4 weeks. Aby's easily have the most dominant personality I've
    seen, and my household of Maine Coons and others is completely ruled
    by the Aby's.  We had an Aby kitten, now in Virginia, that would
    attack anything that moved, including the floor drum sander we used
    to refinish our wood floors. I was even nervous about that stupid
    sander, but not Macavity.
    
    Dave