Pinch-induced behavioral inhibition

Pinch-induced behavioural inhibition (PIBI), also called dorsal immobility, transport immobility or clipnosis, is a partially inert state which results from a gentle squeeze of the nape, the skin at the back of the neck. It is mostly observed among cats and allows a mother cat to carry her kitten easily with her jaws. It can be used to restrain most cats effectively in a domestic or veterinary context. The phenomenon also occurs in other animals, such as squirrels and mice.[1][2]

A cat carrying a kitten

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ The one myth about cats that's actually true by Robbie Gonzalez. Retrieved 21 May 18.
  2. ^ Pozza, M. E.; Stella, J. L.; Chappuis-Gagnon, A. C.; Wagner, S. O.; Buffington, C. A. (2008). "Pinch-induced behavioural inhibition ('clipnosis') in domestic cats". Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery. 10 (1): 82–87. doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2007.10.008. PMID 18222719. S2CID 46156902.