hen it comes to handling cats, there’s no one “magic” hold or position that will make every cat a compliant, cooperative participant. However, there are substantial differences between handling dogs and cats—and cats absolutely know when you are not treating them how they would prefer. Choosing the wrong technique in the wrong moment can spell disaster for both cat and handler.
In general, cats cannot be “sweet talked” once they have a meltdown or if they are swatting, hissing and trying to bite. The most important thing is to prevent them from escalating to one of these situations.
Nervous and withdrawn cats can absolutely benefit from a handler being slow, calm and soft-spoken. But, while all cats should be treated with respect, being too passive or light-touched can have the opposite effect on a cat who responds to new experiences with aggression.
For the shy cats, the focus should be on introducing loud sounds or services slowly and as quietly as possible. In the grooming salon, this can include using a Happy Hoodie over their head to muffle loud equipment noises like the blow-dryer, slowly turning on the water in the tub, and providing them a place to curl up and feel comfortable.
Many young and nervous cats can benefit from a break if they are getting overwhelmed, or even some cuddling in our laps or wrapped in a large, fluffy towel. This can build trust and help them to be brave during a new and scary experience.
However, not all cats will appreciate those things. If you attempt these slow, quiet, comforting techniques on a bold or impatient cat, it can cause them to respond in the completely opposite way. This type of cat doesn’t want to be coddled; they want you to be done. Instead, they need a confident handler who can get the task done quickly and with little agitation.
- Minimize or muffle things that make them scared or jumpy.
- Limit positions that cause them to react aggressively.
- Always support a cat’s body and weight placement with a surface or your body.
- Be confident and deliberate when changing positions or techniques.
- Respect how a cat’s body naturally moves and don’t pull or jerk their body in unnatural directions or positions.
There is a notable difference between being firm and confident with being rough or overdoing it. Impatient and bold cats respond best to limiting the ways they are moved or manipulated around because they want to do it themselves. Therefore, successfully handling them includes a combination of working around what they will do themselves and deliberate holds that allow you to do what you need to do safely, but also in as short a time as possible.
For example, a cat who prefers standing and walking around the table should be groomed as much as possible on the table, versus forcing them to have all shaving, combing, etc. done in the lap or while being held down. You’ll be able to get a lot more done and prevent the cat from becoming agitated early on by working with these preferences.
While the comfort and positioning of the cat should be a top priority for a pet professional, it is also important to consider your own body and what techniques you are most familiar with. The reason to consider both is time and safety. Even if a cat prefers certain positions, if you aren’t able to efficiently complete the task at hand, then it needs to be a balancing act so time isn’t wasting unnecessarily.
The number-one thing to remember is that each cat will have different preferences, so the techniques used may need to vary slightly. This can include the order you perform services, if the cat is standing unassisted, encouraged to lay on the table, supported in your lap, secured and laid down, or a combination of those depending on what needs accomplished.
Respect and confidence are what lead to successfully handling the cats that you choose to work with. Adapting to what each cat prefers and tolerates prevents them from escalating in both undue stress and aggressive behaviors. Always limit or avoid what you know aggravates them, but also focus on finding that “sweet spot” in handling that combines safety, comfort and efficiency.