Is it mean to pick a cat up by its scruff?

The scruff of the neck cannot support the weight of an older kitten or adult cat; it will be painful for the cat and can cause injury to the cat's neck and spine.

When picking up a cat, always support the back-end with one hand, and under the front legs with the other. This distributes the weight of the cat evenly and allows the cat to be comfortable.

BTW-If your cat has a collar on, take it off before you pick it up by its scruff. You might tighten it by accident. If your cat has a small scruff, don't pick it up. If a cat is overweight or has Arthritis, don't pick it up. Don't swing it back and forth, and put it down gently. Just saying, otherwise you'll hurt it.