The reason Animal Control says to not pick it up is mainly because if it scratches you and breaks the skin, it by law must be quarantined for 10 days. Because of over population in shelters, this is a death sentence. They just don't have the room to put one cat up that could be homing 2-3. Rabies in domesticated animals is rare, and besides ringworm, most diseases are not contractible. Pick it up at your own risk, just bear in mind if you get scratched and they find out... My son has a cat that is well fed, and was carrying adult hens over a 6 foot privacy fence and killing them. We had to "cat proof" our pen.