I've read that not all raggies go limp when you carry them. ..
What percentage would you say do it?
If your kitty goes limp, at what age did your raggie first do this?
Can you tell when they are 12 week kittens?
Not a criteria for picking my guy, but I'm just curious...thanks!
Hold the kitten by the shoulders with feet down. (Do not hold under the "arm pits" because that risks nerve damage.) Kittens instinctively pull up their back legs and rumps. A kitten more likely to flop is more likely to let his rump and back legs dangle and be fully stretched out with a limp body.
oh god janh im so glad you told us about the nerve damage i never knew about that
i will have to change the way i pick enzo up in future and teach the kids aswell!
thanks
The nerves are in the arm pit and shoulder, so you do not want the cat's weight pushing the arm pit onto your hand.
Thanks for the info. I never knew about the arm pits either. I'm not really sure what you mean by pick them up by the shoulders though? Can you please provide more details.
You want to hold them so that their legs are under your hands rather than over your hands, allowing the body and back legs to hang down long enough to see if they will draw up the back legs or let them hang down.
This is very interesting as our new boy Toby hasnt started to do full raggie flops yet but when held with his rear and feet dangling he definately does let his body go limp so looks like he will purrrfect the Raggie flop soon,
Thanks JanH for the tip as we are also guilty of the armpit hold also not knowing about the nerves,
Wow, I did not realise the thing about under the arms, I often pick my boys up like that - well not anymore of course. Ceasar is different, I can't pick him up entirely like that as he is so heavy, he's such a big boy that I always half pick him up then I quickly support his butt to take the weight off.