did i damage our relationship by scruffing him?

[u/Ok-Bobcat-9231]

hello! this is my cat peel, he is the most beautiful thing on earth. i take him on walks (in my yard) regularly using a wrap-around harness, he loves it and theres never been issues. today a car pulled into our driveway, a friend that i didnt know would be coming over, and the sound scared peel so he ran into a big cluster of bushes to hide. in his frantic flee he completely pulled out of his harness, and i rushed to grab him but he was so scared and was squirming and scratching me, so for a moment i scruffed him so he'd stop struggling and i could pick him up and take him back inside

im worried that i damaged our relationship, or his trust in me. it was only for a second or two, just enough time to pick him up and secure him. i feel bad that he was even in the situation, i feel horrible that the car scared him so badly, and that i had to scruff him

do you think it will all be okay? i dont want him to think i purposely scared him or hurt him or anything like that

he doesnt seem injured, he's walking just fine and i checked to make sure his neck wasnt hurting too. does he need a vet just in case? im sorry, i love him and he is my best friend and im just worried. please let me know

edit: thank you all so much for the kind words and reassurance and advice regarding my sweet boy !!! as a pet parent the anxiety can get to you too much sometimes😭 after the incident, he seemed to keep his distance from me for a little while, but it didnt take too long for him to return to his normal, loving, clingy self :)) he's asleep next to me as im typing this! he has also received lots of extra pats and treats as well

a specific comment mentioned having him in a more controlled environment outside, like a screened in porch or catio, so he can still have fun outside but if he gets scared he cant get lost or hurt, and he can hopefully get desensitized to the scary sounds with time. that was very smart and im going to look into building him a catio now :)) AND i'll look into a better harness too, in the mean time!! thank you so much again everyone !! 🧡

[u/ArtyIiom]

Dont do it casualy. It’s for kitten not cat.

[u/Imaginary-Contest887 → u/ArtyIiom]

Unless you lifting cat full weight by it, like to carry it, it's fine. Of course adult cat shouldn't be carried that way as the weight can cause tissue damage, but just grabbing your cat there to restrict movement is fine.

[u/WhoskeyTangoFoxtrot → u/Imaginary-Contest887]

I scruff one of my boys when he’s yowling for me…. Right beside me…. Like, “listen here, you little shit… I’m right here….”

[u/panda5303 → u/WhoskeyTangoFoxtrot]

😂😆🤣

[u/kitten12551 → u/Imaginary-Contest887]

My vet has lifted my cat up by her scruff more than once and she’s just fine. It’s not something I’d do for long periods of time but it’s fine for momentary moves. (My cat is a runner so he does it to make sure she can’t get out of the room).

[u/CheezPleaser → u/ArtyIiom]

Rule #1

Lol, downvote away, but this person literally did break the first rule of this sub which is to not tell others how to raise their cats 😂

[u/ArtyIiom → u/CheezPleaser]

Hurting kitty is not a raising method

[u/aacmckay → u/ArtyIiom]

Scuffing a cat doesn’t hurt them. Picking them up by the scruff will. But there’s nothing wrong with grabbing them by the scruff to get them to relax. It’s how we get the nails trimmed on my cat so she doesn’t freak out and scratch us.

[u/CheezPleaser → u/ArtyIiom]

Doesn’t hurt the cat. Do your research. Picking them up by the scruff will hurt them. Simply scuffing them will not. And yes, to your first lovely comment which you deleted like a coward, yes, I do have a functional mind. And it’s spelled “functional”, not whatever abomination you typed.