Cats have an instinctual response to a specific patch on the back of their neck being pinched. Their mothers carry them by that part when they're kittens, and the response keeps them still. Male cats also bite female cats there during mating. It can be used to functionally restrain a cat, though doing so unnecessarily is just gonna stress the cat out so it's generally not recommended

[–] salacious_coaster 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

My cat lacks the scruff response. Probably why we found him alone without his mother and litter. Anyway, he's an asshole who cannot be restrained by scruffing, and somehow we love him anyway.

[–] Dozzi92@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

My cat can be 50/50. The times it doesn't work is at the vet. He's the chillest cat in general, but unscruffable at the vet, and they have to purrito him.