Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Another way to hold a cat is over your shoulder as if you were
burping a baby. In this position, place one hand over the cat's shoulders
and the other behind her tail and holding her hind legs. Some cats like
to ride on their owner's shoulders, and this is cute when they are kit-
tens, but may not work when they are larger and heavier.The animal's
weight and claws can be quite uncomfortable. Be careful if you allow a
cat to jump or climb up on you.
If a cat is under something and you want to pull her out, grabbing
the scruff and pulling is the safest way—if you cannot entice her out
with a treat or a toy. Do not pull on the limbs. Although cats are pret-
ty tough, most humans could accidentally pull one of their legs out of
joint.
Each cat has a different tolerance level with regard to being held.
Some cats live to be held and carried around. Some will run the other
way if they think you are coming to pick them up. Others will accept
a little holding, but then scoot away at the first possible opportunity. It's
important to respect your cat's preferences and understand that, in gen-
eral, cats prefer to be cuddled while they are firmly on the ground (or
the furniture).
If you have a cat who is scared or injured and you do not feel com-
fortable picking her up in a conventional manner, you might try throw-
ing a towel or blanket over her head first and then trying to pick her
up.When cats cannot see you, they often calm down. For safety reasons,
try to transfer the animal to a carrier or box.
WHISKER
WONDERS
Whiskers have been called the sixth sense.They are so delicately
sensitive that if they move 1/2000th of the width of a human hair,
they will send signals to the cat's brain.The anatomical term for
whisker is
tactile vibrissae
.These touch sensors are used for stalking,
measuring and warning the cat about unseen obstacles. Damaged
whiskers lead to misjudgment and fumbling.Whiskers detect wind
and deflected air currents, and this information helps the cat locate
her prey. In dim light, cats use their whiskers for navigation. If a cat
loses her whiskers, she must depend more on sight for getting
around and hunting.
