As an owner of a less cats over less years, this is absolutely a thing and is sometimes referred to as “disabling” or “deactivating” the cat. You can do it at home with a clothes pin.

You don’t pick them up.

Here’s an example from what looks like a professional setting. https://youtu.be/T9TmmF79Rw0

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A clamp (padded, preferably) on the scruff of the neck will temporarily brick a cat.