Holding my cats scruff

Question

I have a 3-year-old cat, pure white she-cat that has light blue eyes and she isn't deaf. a year ago I was able to pick her up by her scruff and she wouldn't show an emotion of minding it, i mostly do it if I'm giving her her yearly bath, or if she's fussy. But this year she will meow more if I hold her scruff, and she will show a sign of minding it, and when I set her down she will, if she's in my main room she would go behind the rocking chair, that's her spot, in the bath room she'll run beside the toilet, on the left side, or under the counter, and she'll normally meow to get out. I worry if I'm actually hurting her badly, because her sister is missing so I can't see if it happens to her as well, and I never got any hints on raising a cat, cause i got her for free, and I had no help raising them, because my brother wouldn't care, my mom would be busy with the dogs, and my stepdad will be busy being himself. Am i hurting her badly, or is she getting fussy that I hold her that way now, I held her like that for 2 1/2 years, and she didn't seem to mind until now, she will rarely not mind it, but I set her down 3 seconds later so I don't know her actions after those 3 seconds, and I really must know if I should stop or if it's a phase, cause like i said before i haven't held her sister like that when they were kits so i don't know if its only her.

Answer 1

Older cats don't typically like being held that way, in our restraint training the scruff is one of the last ways we hold at cat as it puts them in a vulnerable position or just makes them mad. If being held in the air this way with no support on her bottom there can be discomfort, that's a lot of weight to be held by skin.

Be kind, hold your kitty with hands on chest and bum, she would appreciate it :)