Cat Affection Move: The Forklift

To hold the cat like a baby, we need to use patience and friendliness. The in-between stages ask the cat for trust in our good intentions.

Since they won’t know they can enjoy it until they actually try it, we need to work though a gradual series of moves.

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We reach for the cat. If the cat shies away, try the Fist of Friendship; our closed hand. This tells the cat we will not grab them.

Then we rub the cat with their hand shape of choice, saying nice things about them. When they are comfortable with this, we begin the Forklift.

If the cat tenses up, we stop the move and let the cat and ourselves drop back into a comfortable, previous, point.

We begin by sliding our hands under the cat during a petting session, preferably while they are standing. This is how we will first pick them up.

We don’t start with the whole move. That’s the point.

If the cat shies away, we stop, and try again some other time. Our gentle persistence, and approaching the cat in various moods and places, will let us know where the cat feels the most confidence and trust.

Once the cat lets us pet their belly in this position, we can lean over them. This must be a separate move. Let them be comfortable with belly rubbing before we loom over them in what could be seen as a threatening move on our part.

We are upping the comfort level at the cat’s pace.

We must show them two things: we are trustworthy, and capable of handling them properly.

So at this point the cat feels a sense of equality with us because they are still with their feet on the ground, free to leave at any time, and able to indulge in some good cuddling.

We run our forearms beside the cat’s stomach.

Supporting their legs and not putting pressure on their delicate stomachs will show competency. So we use our forearms under the cat’s body, and against their inner legs. Trying to pick up the cat with our hands doesn’t offer enough support if the cat needs reassurance.

Now, with all preliminary moves happily accepted, we begin to pick them up.

We can do this in as slow an increment as we need, until we get to the point that the cat’s feet are starting to move upward, with the cat still supported by our arms. They have an instinct to keep at least contact with something; this can disorient them.

So be quick to unroll them and set them down again. This smooth motion will keep the cat calm and centered in something that anchors them.

Once the cat is relaxed, we can roll them towards our chest and face.

If their paws curl inward, we know we can continue.

Some cats will extend their front legs, but are still relaxed. But if they flail around, reaching for something to cling to, they are not comfortable, and we should put them down again.

By gradually asking for more trust, and letting the cat know they can opt out at any time, we will engage the cat’s natural curiosity about what might happen next, and they will let us continue.

Once we have the cat in place, nestled against our chest, we should not get up until the cat is relaxed and comfortable.

Losing our balance and juggling the cat is not the message we want to send with this move.

If we are not certain of our ability to get up without disturbing the cat, we can begin our move from a chair, or simply enjoy holding the cat this way while we are on the floor ourselves.

We also should make our walking around with the cat our final stage. Cats who are happy to be held might not be happy about being taken somewhere unknown. As always, we should let the cat decide their comfort level.

Once we have all our moves right, we can enjoy this most special of all moments.

Given enough time; with almost any cat.

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There’s more ways to get our cat to be affectionate in The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my CAT AFFECTION posts.