this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2024
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

A clamp (padded, preferably) on the scruff of the neck will temporarily brick a cat.

Try this only with familiar cats with whom you have rapport.

Don't leave them for too long. A few minutes at most.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

That’s where the term “catatonic” comes from, or so I’ve heard, and it’s a reflex because mother cats carry their babies by the scruff of their neck. From what I understand it’s totally harmless.

Someone who actually knows these things can correct me if I’m wrong of course.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

As the owner of various cats over 50 years it does nothing to adult cats. It will hurt an adult cat because their weight is too much for the skin to hold. As a kid I tried it many times because I heard the myth and it only made my cat more angry.

I don't believe kittens are affected other than being physically unable to do anything. Sort of like if you were put in a half-Nelson hold. You wouldn't be catatonic, just unable to fight back.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

As an owner of a less cats over less years, this is absolutely a thing and is sometimes referred to as “disabling” or “deactivating” the cat. You can do it at home with a clothes pin.

You don’t pick them up.

Here’s an example from what looks like a professional setting. https://youtu.be/T9TmmF79Rw0

This is regarding parent comment about:

A clamp (padded, preferably) on the scruff of the neck will temporarily brick a cat.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

You don't pick an adult cat up by the scruff! But -- at least for some videogenic cats -- they will instinctively relax.

My cat relaxes, but then my cat gets all loungy anytime I interact with him.

Pet tax: He is one with the universe in a box.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

You're wrong.

Catatonic syndrome was a diagnosis first used by a German psychiatrist in the 1800's. Before that it was described by ancient Greeks.

It's a category (also a word that has nothing to do with cats) of major depression and schizophrenia.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Scruffing a cat poisons it into a coma?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

That's what the conversation was initially about. My mistake.

The rest of my comment stands.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Why would you try that with any cat, especially one that you're close to? The fuck.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

But he only said he scruffed them (if I am reading it right), not that he grabbed them by the scruff, is this apparently something that is considered abusive or something? If a cat claws at my leg and I pinch there to make it stop that is absolutely not the same as grabbing them there. I would never actually try lifting them that way.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It doesn't work on all the cats, though. ~~Also, I heard that it's not painful for a cat to be lifted that way, but~~ I would prefer not to.

Edit: I was wrong