Deactivating a cat

January 9, 2016 • 2:30 pm

This video shows a brilliant idea: calm a cat down at the vet’s by using a clip to make it think it’s being carried. It apparently activates the cat’s “go-limp” reflex—a holdover from its kittenhood—without hurting it.

Try this with your cat (don’t hurt it!) and let me know if it works.

h/t: Dennis

29 thoughts on “Deactivating a cat”

      1. LOL- whoops,you’re right, Diane. I do try hard NOT to scuff my cats, but sometimes can’t avoid it when they insist on lying directly underfoot. But scRuffing I do do often and deliberately, usually preceding a good long strettttcccchhhh.

    1. It is true that picking up a grown cat by the scruff is not a good idea, they are too heavy. But holding the scruff, with the cat on a table or supported, still works on many cats to control them.

  4. “Scruffing” is a common method used calm down ferrets, an animal that can be quite active, especially when they are in need of attention such as nail trimming.

  6. It’s true. When we rub Theo’s scruff, he flops down for even more rubs. Our Vet also said that one can distract a cat by tapping on its head with fingers. That distracts them. That has been successful too.

  10. Our vet taught us this method for use during cat nail trimming sessions at home. We don’t use a clip but gently grab the scruff of the neck. Our cat Houdini goes limp (and loses his famous ability as an escape artist) but his nonstop bleating like a pissed off goat during the trimmings informs us that he is not pleased to have his claws dulled.

  11. Orson is unimpressed by any attempt to scruff him. Which is OK because he’s a complete marshmallow for most things except being put in his carrier. He doesn’t mind having his nails clipped, and only needs the minor bribe of being petted and snuggled.

  15. Cats, ferrets and rats (IIRC) apparently has a “scruff” reflex. I am an ape, I have a cling reflex I think, a scruff reflex in reverse.

    Now which lineages have evolved one or the other?

  16. So, the scruff reflex keeps then from moving, but does it do anything to actually calm them? Or are they just experiencing a potentially frightening paralysis on top of what ever stress they are already feelin?.

  17. I have 2 diabetic cats that need insulin. I have to “tent” the skin on the scruff with one hand & administer the subcutaneous insulin shot into the “V” formed from the tenting. They don’t mind at all. Of course, I have a small plate of diabetic canned food in front of them to distract them!

  18. I Wonder if all species of Cat have this.? I,m thinking of Big Cats, I can’t see any reason that they shouldn’t, mind you I wouldn’t like to attempt it on a Tiger.lol Could all Animals have some kind of switching off mechanism,? similar to Tonic Immobility in Sharks which puts them into a trance like state, saw a Film of an Orca doing exactly that to a Great White before it drowned it.

  19. Jackie (DSH, feral, 11 yo): works.
    Schroeder (Jackie’s bro, 11 yo): works.
    Bjarki (Norwegian Forest Cat, 5): works.
    Bill (Maine Coon, rescue, 15?): meh.
    Tomas Cabeza de Vaca (DSH, rescue, 10): OMG Call 911 I’m O positive I think he severed artery (thump) …

  20. To give my cats shots, our vet would put him on a table similar to the one in the video, facing the wall, and then slide them quickly towards the wall. Then get concerned about the wall and they don’t notice the shot. Seems to work well.

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