Good News For Anxious Cats

Researchers in the veterinary clinical sciences department at THE Ohio State University, (I can make fun of them since I received my Masters of Science degree from OSU) , have reported a new technique for calming stressed felines. They developed a clip, similar to a large ladies hair clip, that is applied to the scruff (the loose skin) of the cats neck. This mimics the technique that mother cats use to subdue fractious kittens and move them. They found that this clip aided in relaxing the cat so that minor procedures could be performed without a struggle, creating a safer situation for cat and clinician! Even more important than the improved cooperation of the patient, they found that the cats were happier, some times purring and kneading the blanket they were on. They had lower blood pressures and in general were more content. They coined the phrase, 'clipnosis' for the technique.

About 15 years ago I was working at an area ER clinic where the techs and doctors felt it was cruel to 'scruff' or apply tension on the back of a stressed cats neck to aide in handling them. I thought that was odd since it quieted the cat and allowed us to treat it with minimal stress. I am glad to see that we now have some scientific proof that , once again, we just need to pay attention to those well designed systems that occur within nature.