Who doesn’t jump at the chance to pick up and hold a puppy or kitten? “They are so cute, and they look like little stuffed toys,”
Pick one up incorrectly, however, and you risk causing injury or losing her trust. “It is important to remember that they are delicate creatures who need us to be careful as we pick them up and carry them around,” she adds.
The safest way to pick up a puppy or kitten is the one most comfortable for them. “Slip one hand between the front legs from the front of the body, and slip the other hand between the rear legs from behind,” recommends. “Then lift them as a unit with their spine relatively straight.”
If working with a tiny animal that can fit in one hand, you can slip your hand under the middle of the chest with your fingers facing the head so that the chest cavity fills your palm. “This supports them at the largest part of their torso and helps them feel both safe and secure,” Downing says.
Heights can be scary for baby animals. “Once you have them off the ground, tuck them into your body to reassure them that they will not fall,” she says.
What to Avoid
Puppies and kittens don’t like surprises, “Be careful not to startle a puppy or kitten or pick them up too quickly, as this can cause them to panic and fall, or even turn and bite.”
Knowing which areas not to pick them up by is also essential. “You definitely don’t want to pick a puppy or kitten up by their legs, and even sometimes picking them up by their armpits can be uncomfortable and less secure,” “never pick up by their collar or tail.”
“Also, this will be uncomfortable enough for the pet that they may decide that humans hurt them, and they may actually learn to resent being handled at all, “This can completely undermine the human-animal bond, and fracture the loving relationship between pet and family.”
You may have seen images of cats being carried by the scruff, but this is innaprorpaite and could cause significant harm to the pet. “Carrying by the scruff of the neck is something only the mother cat should do,” advises Bennett.
How to Know If Your Technique Is Wrong
Cats and dogs naturally wiggle when picked up, whose professional interests include preventative care. “But if they are uncomfortable, they may cry out, try to bite or scratch, or even growl,” she says. “They may also try to escape, but that doesn't always mean they're uncomfortable. It just may mean they don't want to be held.” Do not repeatedly attempt to pick up, chase, or grab an animal after she has given you signs that she does not want to be held. This can cause more overt evasive behavior or fear.
