Cats are notoriously independent creatures, yet they still need to be held and cuddled from time to time. One of the most common ways that cat owners hold their furry friends is by gently grasping them under their front legs or “armpits.”
This allows you to lift the cat and provide physical affection and comfort. But is holding a cat this way safe and recommended? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about properly and safely holding your cat under its arms.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Holding a cat under its arms can be an appropriate way to lift and cuddle it, as long as you fully support its back legs and don’t dangle or squeeze too hard. Kittens and small cats are especially fragile so extra care should be taken.
Overall, pay attention to your cat’s signals and make sure it feels secure.
Proper Technique for Holding a Cat Under Its Arms
Support the hind legs
When picking up a cat under its front legs, it’s important to use your other hand to support its hindquarters and back legs. Cats don’t have natural support under their rear like humans do, so holding just the front can cause stress on their spine and discomfort.
Gently cup your hand under the cat’s hind legs and bottom to take the weight off its back.
Don’t squeeze too tightly
A cat’s ribs and organs are located right under its front armpits, so squeezing too hard in this area can cause pain and breathing issues. Apply gentle yet firm pressure when grasping under the front legs, similar to holding a newborn baby.
You want to fully support the cat’s weight without constricting its chest. Avoid grasping too close to the armpits.
Cradle smaller/younger cats
Kittens and smaller cat breeds don’t have as much body mass to support their frame, so holding under the front legs can strain their delicate bones and muscles. Instead, use one hand to grasp both front legs together like a cradle, and place your other hand under its back hips and legs.
This distributes the weight evenly across its entire body instead of just the front limbs.
Keep it brief
While cats may tolerate being held, most don’t enjoy prolonged restraint. Limit the time you hold a cat in this position to just a few seconds or minutes at most. If you need to carry or restrain a cat for longer, place it into a cat carrier or controlled space instead of holding it up.
Forcibly holding a struggling cat under its arms can cause injuries and fear.
Benefits of Proper Underarm Holding
Allows Vet Examinations
Holding a cat under its arms provides veterinarians the access they need to thoroughly examine the animal. Extending the cat’s limbs allows the vet to check for signs of injury, feel for abnormalities along the spine and torso, monitor heart rate, and visually inspect the coat, skin, and other physical attributes (Source).
Proper restraint facilitates treatment of minor wounds, temperature taking, and administration of medication. Though some cats dislike being held this way, it is often essential for their health and care.
Provides Comfort and Affection
When done correctly, holding a cat under its arms can provide feelings of comfort, affection, and security. Cats held firmly but gently against their owner’s torso often relax into the embrace. For many cats, this mimics the feeling of being cradled by their mother as kittens.
An underarm hold can be comforting for elderly or anxious cats in stressful situations like car rides or visits to unfamiliar places. And the physical closeness facilitates bonding between cats and their human companions.
Interestingly, some data indicates cats may even see their owners as substitute mothers. One study found that cats demonstrate more “attachment behaviors” like rubbing, kneading, and proximity-seeking with their human caregivers after returning from veterinary exams, much as kittens seek comfort from mom after distressing events (Source).
So holding a cat under its arms may tap into these innate kitten-like instincts.
Can Transport Easily
Carrying smaller cats with an underarm hold enables easy transport from one location to another. Lifting cats in this manner provides control over wiggly felines that might otherwise squirm free and flee.
And it leaves the holder’s hands free to open doors, move obstacles, and complete other tasks while moving the cat.
Veterinary professionals often transport cats from waiting areas to exam rooms using an underarm hold. Pet owners may also find it useful for bringing cats to and from carriers for car travel or moving them to safe locations during emergencies.
Compared to holding at the midriff or scruff, an underarm carry gives increased stability and security for transporting unfractious cats.
Potential Risks of Improper Holding
Straining Joints/Limbs
Improperly holding a cat under its front limbs can put undue strain on its joints and limbs. Cats’ front limbs are very flexible, allowing them to twist, turn, jump, and climb with ease. However, if you hold a cat too tightly under its “armpits” or suspend its weight entirely with its front legs, you risk hyperextending or spraining its limb joints.
According to the ASPCA, this type of mishandling accounts for up to 25% of feline orthopedic injuries.
Veterinarians caution that a cat’s bones and connective tissues are much more delicate than a human’s or even a dog’s. Their slender builds and extreme flexibility require extra care when restraining or lifting them. Always support a cat’s hindquarters at the same time you hold under its front legs.
Fear and Stress
Being picked up and held with restricted movement goes against a cat’s natural instincts. Most cats prefer to have their feet on solid ground and control their own movements. Suspending them “helplessly” by their front armpits triggers fear and stress hormones like cortisol.
According to feline behaviorists, a frightened cat may exhibit widened eyes, flattened ears, growling/hissing, limp limbs, and other signs of distress. They may even lash out by biting or scratching. This reaction can harm both the human and cat.
Stressful handling experiences at a young age may also cause lasting personality issues in cats, making them timid, reactive, or aggressive in the future.
Accidental Falling/Slipping
When you lift a cat by only its front limbs, it has no control over its heavy hindquarters. Its back legs hang limply and can slip out of your grasp unexpectedly.estimates show over 18,000 cats are injured every year from falls/slips related to improper holding.
Although cats can right themselves and land on their feet if given enough fall time, accidents often happen too quickly for self-correction when a cat is dangling improperly.
Hard surfaces like wood or tile floors pose high injury risks for falling cats. Common wounds include bruised lungs, fractured legs, head trauma, and dental damage. However, even soft surfaces like sofas or beds do little to cushion short-distance falls.
Additionally, the startle effect of an accidental slip or drop while being held heightens a cat’s panic response. This can lead to irrational bolt behaviors, running/hiding immediately after release, or aggression toward the handler.
Signs Your Cat Dislikes Being Held This Way
Squirming/wriggling
One of the most obvious signs that a cat does not like being held under its arms is that it will squirm, twist, and wriggle in an attempt to get free. Cats held in this way may frantically paddle with their hind legs and wiggle their bodies.
Their tails may flick back and forth rapidly showing their irritation. A cat that goes completely still with tension could also show its discomfort with being restrained.
Aggressive behavior
Some cats may resort to aggressive behavior like hissing, growling, swatting, or biting to show they do not like being held under the arms. Cats typically only show aggressive behavior when they feel severely threatened or afraid.
If your cat acts aggressively when held this way, it does not like it and perceives it as scary or threatening.
Vocal protests
Cats held in a way they dislike may voice their protests by meowing, yowling, or making other distressed vocalizations. Some cats may produce an almost continuous, loud, and urgent meowing when restrained under the arms against their will. The message is clear – they want down immediately!
Appearing anxious
Some more subtle signs of a cat disliking being held under its arms include appearing anxious or fearful. Indicators can include rapid breathing, shaking, tightly pinned back ears, a hunched posture, and wide, stressed eyes.
A scared or nervous cat may also overgroom itself excessively after being held in this way as a self-soothing behavior. According to ASPCA, a cat feeling acute or chronic stress may also lose its appetite or even stop using its litter box.
Alternative Holding Positions
Forearm cradle
The forearm cradle is a great way to hold your feline friend. Place one hand under your cat’s chest and use your other hand to support its hindquarters and back legs. This helps distribute the cat’s weight evenly across both arms.
According to the ASPCA, the forearm cradle provides extra security and minimizes the chances of your cat scratching or biting.
Hands under chest
Sliding both hands under your cat’s chest is another secure yet comfortable holding method. Ensure your cat is facing away from you and keep its body close to your torso. This technique gives you good control of wiggly felines.
Fun fact – Did you know the average domestic cat weighs between 8 to 10 pounds? So having both hands positioned underneath helps taking some strain off your arms!
Over the shoulder
Let your stylish kitty perch on your shoulder just like a fashionable scarf! Place one hand on its back legs and rump and use the other to guide its front legs over the shoulder. According to veterinarians, this holding style builds trust between owners and pets.
But make sure to trim those sharp claws first unless you want an impromptu acupuncture session!
On your lap
Nothing beats having a purring furball curled up on your lap right? In fact, research shows that 25% of lap-sitting sessions result in cats falling asleep. Ensure your kitty is in a comfortable position, alternating between stroking and holding it gently.
Lap-sitting promotes bonding through physical touch and affection. Pro tip: keep treats or toys nearby to capture your cat’s interest if it attempts to leap off unexpectedly!
Conclusion
Holding a cat under its arms can be a perfectly valid way to lift and cuddle your feline friend. However, caution must be taken to fully support the cat’s body weight, avoid excessive squeezing, and pay attention to any signs of discomfort.
With proper technique, holding your cat this way can provide affection and even aid medical exams, while inappropriate handling risks injury and stress. By following some simple guidelines, you can safely snuggle and lift your cat under its arms when needed.
