- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
With big paws, tiny bodies, and lots of fuzz, kittens can be irresistibly cute. But while it’s tempting to scoop them up for a snuggle, pet parents should know the basics of picking up and holding a kitten first, both for the kitten’s safety and for their future comfort.
Here’s how to pick up, hold, and socialize kittens to touch to set them up well for handling as a cat.
How To Pick Up a Kitten
To pick up a kitten, approach calmly, signal your intentions, and support both front and back ends.
1. Approach slowly
Cats don’t like to be surprised—not even young ones. To avoid frightening a kitten and creating negative associations, approach calmly and minimize your size. Squat down or kneel down, then hold your hand out to the kitten so they can sniff you. If the kitten displays signs of interest, like rubbing their face against you, you can gently pick them up.
2. Support both the front and the back
Moving slowly, place one hand under your kitten’s chest and the other under their hind end. For larger kittens, you can rest their hind end in the crook of your arm. Lift them gently, bringing them close to your chest to offer stable, gentle support.
3. Don’t let them jump from your arms
It can be tricky with a wiggly kitten, but don’t let them jump from your arms back down to the floor—they’re too fragile for that. Instead, if your kitten shows signs of wanting to be released, squat down and gently set them on the floor.
How Not To Pick Up a Kitten
Kittens are delicate—which means it’s important to avoid force, heights, and prolonged handling at the early stages of development.
- Don’t surprise your kitten. Let them know that you’re there before you pick them up, and make sure your approach is relaxed instead of rushed.
- Don’t lift your kitten high off the ground. Not only can this be disconcerting to a kitten who is just getting used to touch, but it can also be dangerous if they start wiggling and cause you to lose your hold.
- Don’t continue to handle your kitten if their body language indicates they are unhappy. If your kitten is scared, they may hiss or scratch. This means they are not enjoying being held—and continuing to do so risks poor socialization.
- Don’t lift a kitten by the legs. This technique risks injury.
- Don’t lift a kitten by the scruff. Humans shouldn’t carry kittens by their neck. While mother cats are experts at this, humans don’t have the instinct to do this correctly and risk injuring a kitten.
- In the beginning, don’t cradle a kitten on their back. While older cats may enjoy this, it can be disconcerting for a young kitten. Instead, hold them upright, with one hand supporting their chest and the other supporting their hind end.
Liudmila Chernetska via iStock
Tips for Kittens at Different Ages
| Kitten’s Age | Tips for Holding Your Kitten |
| 0-4 weeks old | At this age, humans should let a kitten’s mother (if able) care for the kittens. Handle the kitten only when necessary. If a kitten is abandoned or their mother cannot care for them, enlist veterinary help immediately. |
| 1-2 months | At this age, you can begin socializing your kitten to touch. Support them with two hands avoid lifting them higher than your lap. Keep handling periods brief. |
| 2-3 months | Begin handling your kitten for longer periods and getting them used to being held by different people. |
| 3 months + | As your kitten grows, you may need to offer support with the crook of your arm for larger cats. |
How To Socialize a Kitten to Touch
Kittens are naturally social with their mother and littermates, but they’ll need some practice to be socialized with humans. The best way to start is to read their body language to identify good times to work on handling.
Avoid handling during:
- The first three to four weeks of a kitten’s life
- Mealtimes
- Solo playtime
- Sleep time
- Any periods of agitation, indicated by hissing or recoiling
Once your kitten is three to four weeks old, you can start practicing holding and handling by:
- Letting the kitten come to you
- Avoiding surprises or stress
- Starting with short, positive interactions
Kittens may respond well to having their faces, chins, and ears stroked, which will help to associate being touched with positive experiences. Begin with short periods of interaction and extend them as your kitten is ready. Good body language includes your kitten approaching you for a chin scratch, rubbing up against you, or purring.
What If My Kitten Doesn’t Want to Be Held?
Kittens tell us a lot with their body language. If your kitten tells you they are not interested by running away, scratching, or hissing, respect their preference and don’t try to hold them at that moment.
If your kitten never wants to be held, that’s okay too. Every kitten is unique—which means some will like being held better than others. Even kittens who have had a positive socialization experience may not love to be held. You can still bond with your kitten over touch, which may include petting or grooming, scratching on the chin or behind the ears, playing, or sitting near each other on the couch.
Holding Kittens Versus Cats
Holding a kitten is a little different than holding an adult cat. While you always want both cats and kittens to feel safe and secure while being held, adult cats are a lot sturdier—and often much more familiar with human touch.
For instance, some adult cats love to be cradled like a baby when they are held. For a healthy, well-socialized adult cat, that’s just fine. For kittens, however, it’s better to stick to the basics and keep them upright.
Kittens are also a lot more delicate than adult cats, and a lot less predictable—which makes it better to keep them low to the ground. Adult cats, on the other hand, have the dexterity to extricate themselves from your arms safely and hop to the ground when they want.
Keep in mind that adult cats are stronger and will be able to voice their opinions about being held (or not) in stronger ways. Always respect your cat’s preference to be handled or held.
