How do you put canned frosting on a cake without tearing up the cake?

Put the cake in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Then put the frosting on. The cake will not be damaged.

I think you could also soften the frosting in the can by putting it into a pan of warm water for a few minutes. That should ease its consistency enough to work over the soft cake.

Or do both of those things. That will help. You can also thin the consistency of the canned frosting and make it more spreadable by adding a little, water, milk or cream.

All good stuff here.
Thanks.

Warm the frosting.

And hey, Happy Birthday to your son!

Both @johnpowell and @CWOTUS ideas and heat the metal knife/spatula in boiling water before spreading.

Exactly just warm the frosting set it in warm water for a while before you do the cake.

Professional here.
Put the cake in the freezer.
The fridge will dry the cake, the freezer will keep it fresh. Dipping the spreader in warm water does help.
Put a dab of icing on the plate or whatever you use to serve the cake will help to keep it from sliding as you work with it.

Also, it helps to ice the top first. The excess will glop over the sides where you need it next. Catch it before it drops off!
Writing on the cake, you should not touch the cake. You keep your tip slightly above the cake and let it fall into place. That way you don’t plow furrows in your surface.
It helps to practice first on a plate.

Put all this good intel together, digested it, and frosted the cake.
Great result.
Thanks everybody.

“Digested it” LOL.

Photos please.

@josie I think I’d put the cake in the freezer for a bit to firm it up. Then warm the frosting up and i’ll best it will frost nicely.