Stiffness
.JPG)
When carrying Rigid the motionless posture is a young animal refers to, which is (usually the mother) gripped by an adult animal and taken to another location. This reflex is partly retained into adulthood, which can be observed in domestic cats.
It is said of cat species that the rigidity in carrying is triggered by a gripping but painless bite in the neck of the young animal. Carrying rigidity is an innate reflex that ultimately facilitates transport by adults.
In house mice it can be observed that the rigidity also occurs when the young animal is grabbed by the head or abdomen.
Carrying rigidity in adult cats
Since the stiffness reflex, especially in cats, is often preserved for life, it can be used to carry out necessary measures on the animal (clipping claws, combing and brushing, injections, etc.) that are otherwise only reluctantly or not at all tolerated: a A strong grip on the neck fur (yourself or by an assistant) triggers the rigidity. If no assistant is available, a clothes peg can trigger the reflex, and a foldback peg can also do the job .