After reading this, it is hoped that cat parents will understand how to ‘hold their cats’ and give them a loving hug. The article is approximately 2000 words long and will take about 3 minutes to read. Cat parents who own cats naturally want to be close to their beloved pets, but they may worry that their cats do not like to be hugged; or new cat parents may not know how to hold their cats, fearing that they will make their cats feel suffocated? Don’t worry, as long as we are patient and use the correct method to hold the cats, it will not harm them. It will also make the furry children enjoy interacting with humans and become close and clingy little cuties! This article is a complete guide, telling cat parents the correct posture for holding cats, how to cultivate cats to like hugs, and the timing for holding cats. Continue reading below: How to hold a cat correctly? When can you hold a cat? How to avoid hurting the cat? You will find out in this article! Understanding the cat’s personality and respecting the cat’s personal space is essential. Experienced cat parents will have a better understanding of their cat’s character. Some cats are naturally more aloof or shy, while others are more affectionate. This means that not all cats enjoy a lot of physical contact with humans. Forcing a cat to be hugged can not only put a lot of stress on the cat but may also lead to you being scratched or bitten. After raising a cat for some time, cat parents usually understand their cat’s personality well. But what about newly adopted cats? How can we observe the cat’s personality? Here are three practical methods for cat parents to consider: Spend 1 to 2 hours a day interacting with the cat and observing how they interact with you. If they seek out your location and try to snuggle with you, you can pet them to let the cat know that it is safe to stay by your side. If the cat stays away from you and curls up in a corner alone, it represents a more sensitive cat. It is recommended not to take too aggressive actions to get close, continue with your own activities until they approach you voluntarily, otherwise, it may scare the cat. That is to say, we must respect the cat’s time for solitude and not force a hug or suppress the cat. This could lead to the cat developing a dislike or fear of you, which would have the opposite effect. We can judge whether it is appropriate to get close or hug them by the signals the cat gives out. For further reading: How to judge the cat’s emotional signals when they meow constantly? [Cat Meow Analysis] 7 Types of Cat Meows and Their Meanings – Find Out the Reason in 3 Seconds! When can you hold a cat? Once you are sure your cat can accept a loving hug, let’s understand the timing when a cat is willing to be hugged! Even the most friendly and affectionate cats will have times when they do not want to be hugged, so we need to pay special attention! Understanding the cat’s body language to know if the cat can be hugged now, we need to find out when they are most relaxed. We can pay more attention to the cat’s ears, whiskers, tail, and other important parts that express body signals. If the ears and whiskers are forward and the tail is raised high, it indicates that the cat is in a friendly state. When they approach you in this state, you can consider hugging the cat and enjoy the purring sound of your beloved cat during the relaxed time after work. However, if the cat curls its tail, pulls its ears back, and widens its eyes, it means the cat wants to be alone now, and cat parents should not disturb their cat’s rest time! Ears and whiskers forward, actively approaching, and purring are friendly signals, and cat parents can try to hug. Observe the cat’s reactions at any time to see how your cat reacts when being hugged. If they do not want to be hugged, they may wriggle in the parent’s arms. In this case, just let the cat go and let the cat move freely. In non-essential situations, such as: trimming nails, caring for injured areas, feeding medication, etc., try not to force your cat. Many people say that cats are as unpredictable as girls. Usually, cats do not like too much affection, but there are exceptions when they want to be hugged, such as: when it’s cold, when they are relaxed or just woken up, and when they actively approach and rub against you. The best signal: let the cat ‘actively’ approach you. When the cat actively approaches you, it is the best ‘hug signal’. Three steps to successfully hug a cat: After observing that the cat is willing to be hugged, we can prepare to hug the cat! Step 1: Let the cat approach you actively. Letting the cat come over to you is the best hug signal. If the cat is unwilling to approach you, do not stealthily approach the cat like a thief, as it will scare the cat! Step 2: Pet the cat first, do not hug directly. After the cat approaches you, do not pick up the cat directly, as it may scare him. Before picking up the cat, gently pet the cat to keep him feeling relaxed. When he starts purring and continues to approach you, you can proceed to the next step. Step 3: After the cat gets used to petting, you can hug him directly. After the cat gets used to it, you can try to pick him up. If he is in front of you, you can lift him with both hands. However, if the cat still shows resistance, stop this behavior first. Cats that are sitting or lying down are usually in a relaxed state and willing to be hugged, but do not carry the cat away from its original position. Gently hug the cat, and even shy cats are usually willing to be hugged this way. When the cat is lying down or sitting, try to gently hug him (without moving from the original place), even shy cats are usually willing to let the owner do this. Slowly approaching the cat when he is lying down or sitting is also a good way to get a shy cat used to intimate contact. Correct posture for holding a cat: Holding a cat requires the correct posture, otherwise, it can easily cause injury to the cat’s spine. Like holding a child, support the head and buttocks to give the cat a foothold. Avoid letting the legs hang in mid-air, as this will make the cat feel insecure. Do not use the method of lifting by the neck, which is a method used by the mother cat to carry kittens and can make the cat feel scared, thinking they have done something wrong and may get hurt when off the ground. Letting the cat feel supported all over is the key to making them feel at ease. Incorrect ways to hold a cat: There are correct ways to hold a cat, and there are also incorrect ways. The pet director specially made a key analysis for cat parents, and cat parents must not use the wrong method to avoid hurting their beloved fur babies! Do not suddenly disturb the cat and hug him (especially when eating or playing). Any way of holding that lets the cat’s legs hang in the air can hurt the cat. Avoid pinching the back of the neck and grabbing the front paws, as it can have a bad effect on the cat’s spine. Do not shake the cat’s body or move the limbs vigorously, as it can make the cat feel untrusted. When picking up the cat, if you notice the tail wagging, growling, pupils dilating, etc., pause the action first. In summary, after work, hugging a beloved cat can always heal the body and mind, but it has to be said that cats themselves are unpredictable pets, and the habits of each cat vary greatly. Therefore, before hugging the cat, get to know and be close to your own fur baby more, let the cat get used to contact with you, and then approach the cat. If the cat itself does not like to be hugged, respect the cat’s personality and avoid putting too much pressure on the fur baby. I believe one day, the cat will also feel the love of the cat parents and take the initiative to embrace you! The pet director said: The method and posture of hugging a cat are also very important. The most important point is ‘not to let the cat’s legs hang in the air’ to avoid injuring the beloved cat’s spine! The most important thing about hugging a cat is to always be aware of the cat’s feelings and not to force the cat to accept hugs. Limited experience group, only 50 yuan, and there is a free shipping discount code, click to use. 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