Dr Jo Blogs
Expert Cat Care Advice
Scruffing cats
Is it fair or even necessary?
Dr Jo Lewis MRCVS | 13 Sep 2021 | 5 min read
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Scruffing (grasping a cat by the loose skin behind the neck) and other harsh restraint techniques and equipment like crush cages and snares may be used 'as standard’ by some staff at some shelters and vet clinics to reduce the likelihood of injury to the operator during the handling of domestic cats. The Cat Vet has a "no scruff" policy and does not believe the use of such techniques is necessary and it compromises a cat's welfare unnecessarily.
I truly empathise with the plight of cats visiting vets - that's what drove me to set up my mobile vet clinic! I consistently get blood samples and procedures done at home on anxious feline patients armed with nothing more than a towel, an owner and my patience and cat friendliness. With so many safe anti-anxiety medications options available too, scruffing just doesn't have a place in modern animal handling whether it's in a veterinary practice, shelter or at home.
In my experience, gentle handling is far more likely to result in:
I truly empathise with the plight of cats visiting vets - that's what drove me to set up my mobile vet clinic! I consistently get blood samples and procedures done at home on anxious feline patients armed with nothing more than a towel, an owner and my patience and cat friendliness. With so many safe anti-anxiety medications options available too, scruffing just doesn't have a place in modern animal handling whether it's in a veterinary practice, shelter or at home.
In my experience, gentle handling is far more likely to result in:
- a more relaxed and happy cat
- greater safety for both handler and patient
- a positive outcome in terms of what you set out to achieve in the first place
- a greater chance of being able to successfully achieve a positive outcome next time
