Ouch claws

Hello I wondered if anyone has any advice on how to stop my 7 month kittie Minnie from getting scared when she has to be picked up and moved.

She will stay for a couple of seconds then start to wriggle. She has quite long claws and I am beginning to look like a pin cushion.

I don't have any advice for helping Minnie get less frightened, but you could clip her nails... so that you don't feel like a pincushion!

You are right. But that would mean picking her up to do it. I will have to give it a go. Thanks

You don't HAVE to pick her up to do it. My one cat hates having her nails trimmed, so I pretty much gently lay on top of her and hold her down. Or you can wrap her in a blanket and trim them that way. It is really important to keep the claws trimmed. If you NEED to pick her up and don't want her to freak out, scruff her while she is in your arms.

I wrote a piece on how to teach cats to be held on my blog. You can read it here.

First thing you need to do is to learn to cut the nails and do it weekly.

Second, HOW are you picking the cat up to hold? Most do not want their feet dangling with no support. When I pick up any cat, I tuck them against me and make sure their back legs and butt are supported.

Thank you for the advice. I have owned cats for the last 15 years or so but have not had a kitten .They have all been grown when they came to live with me.
It is only Minnie who is not keen on being held and I thought it was perhaps because she is young and was very timid when she came from the rescue. I always support her bum when she is held but I guess it will take patience and treats

Some cats just don't like to be picked up. Ling is one of them. She comes to you but when you reach down, she takes off. She's been in the house since 5 weeks old! Just a very independent cat!