scruffing

What (I think) you are trying to describe is an act called scruffing, which does not at all involve smacking anything on the cat and requires proper reading of the cat's body language to show that it has acquiesced to you.

reddit.com: what's new online! 2009

Michael's Road, Coventry, when she started to stroke the cat before "scruffing" it and depositing it in the bin.

WalesOnline - Home 2010

"scruffing" is not fine. the skin around a cat's neck is going to pull so tight when supporting the cats weight that you're effectively strangling it.

reddit.com: what's new online! 2009

We went in and sat down in the library, where there was more scruffing and wagging and licking, and then she nosed my knee and went to the bottom of the stairs.

Barnstorming on an Invisible Segway markgritter 2008

Flurry of wagging, scruffing of bedclothes, knocking pillows around, looking at me with her head upside down and her wiggly little butt in the air, much dogly happiness.

Barnstorming on an Invisible Segway markgritter 2008

So it's generally me wandering casually up behind a dozing cat, scruffing them, slipping the pill into their mouths and behind their tongues before they know what happened.

Two Humans, One Cat, Half a Benadryl 2008

Try wrapping her in a blanket and then scruffing her picking her up by the skin and fur of the back or her neck.

Hello from Ferretland 2007

I've done the pill thing and the towel and scruffing works.

Hello from Ferretland 2007

To me, Cesar's 'hand-bite' works as well as scruffing does, and dominant downing changes the subject for the dog and shows off Cesar's strength and quick reflexes.

Around the Web 2006

As I pulled the needle back to keep from hurting her if she twisted in the direction of the needle I managed to stick myself right in the pinky of the hand that was scruffing her.

Archive 2006-01-01 Yael K 2006