Update on Maggie so you don't think we took her back =).

Just wanted to post a little update on how Maggie is doing. We've had her like 3 or so months now and she's doing fine. Though she still runs from me, well, just walks off, but she lays with my mom all the time . Why won't she do that with me, I'm the one whose here day in and day out and she's just sleeping during that time -_-. We've got her a cat bed as well, she uses it sometimes, mostly she's in the recliner downstairs, but sometimes she'll be in her bed. Also, is there any such thing as picking a cat up to much? I mean, everytime I see her and she doesn't run off or walk off I pick her up and just hold her and walk around with her lol. I've had her claw at me playfully and meow to be let down though . Also, do cats know their names? She'll look at you sometimes whenever you call Maggie, but other times she just ignores you.

Not all cats liked to be picked up and held. I have one that will tolerate it for about 2.3 seconds, but the other one will let me hold her for about 5 seconds. Go figure! They both know they are loved, give headbutts, love on me and all that stuff, they just don't like being picked up.

I would suggest that when you interact with her, do it on her level. Sit on the floor or crouch down and be generous with the treats! You're probably stressing too much and she's picking up on that. Your mom probably ignores her, which is why she's so snuggly with your mom. So, chill out and don't stress about it and be very, very, very patient with her. When you call her and she comes to you, reward her with a small treat. Talk softly and gently to her. She'll eventually come around, just don't rush it.

I'm sure you don't do it, but I've had friends and others over that don't know much about cats and like to pick them up and squeeze them against their chest.

I don't know how they can't read the signs that the cat doesn't like that, it's like second nature to me lol. And even if you don't know how to read the signs, most people know cats like to know they can escape if they need to. They'll never need to if you treat them right, but they still like to have that out

Maude will usually complain or hiss if you pick her up, she mostly just complains but she doesn't like being picked up at all(I only do it if I have to move her.) Nuts isn't too keen on it either, he'll let you but he doesn't really like it and it has to be on 'his' terms. Now Attitude loves being held. She will see me and 'tell' me to pick her up and bring her into the living room with me. She loves being held but she is a rare exception. She also loves belly rubs and Nuts does too but Attitude loves having her belly rubbed. For a kitten that hated being picked up at all or even didn't like being in your lap too much either when she was little she craves it now. When I took her to the vet yesterday, for a corneal ulcer(that had resolved itself in the 2 days I had before her appointment since I started the teramycin eye ointment when I saw the ulcer, now she just has conjunctivitis, which I can treat without seeing the vet) I mentioned that she had a stitch that hadn't dissolved from her spay that needed to be removed(I would have had to take her to the vet over that anyways so it wasn't a wasted trip.) The vet asked the assistant to hold her on her back while he went to get the scissors and forceps to remove it. The assistant was holding her and mentioned that she was so calm being held down on her back. I told her that Attitude loved belly rubs, and liked to sleep on her back so she was totally comfortable being on her back. The vet and the assistant were shocked, their cats hated being held and hated being on their backs even more(typical cats, mine is weird.) The only time I have to forcibly restrain Attitude is to put eye ointment in her left eye. It has been messed up(conjunctivitis that lasted for months, a corneal ulcer at one point) most of her 7 months of life so you'd think she'd be used to it by now and wouldn't fight it.

Love on her on her terms and quit picking her up since she obviously doesn't like it. I would run/walk away too if I was being picked up and didn't like it. Also, cats sometimes just run away just because. Attitude does that a lot and so do Nuts and Maude on occasion. I think with Attitude she likes to do it, it's fun. All 3 of ours know their names. Actually the 6 outside all know their names too, that is what made me able to get Mama when her rectum prolapsed and I had to get her to the vet, it saved her life. Doesn't mean they'll respond to it unless they want to but they do know their names. Use her name when you give her a treat or when you give her attention, it just reinforces her recognizing her name.

Just be chill and let her come to you when she's ready. She also might just be more of a 'one-person' cat, Maude is like that, she'll sometimes give me attention but most of the time she's all Paul's and wants nothing to do with me. Nuts and Attitude mostly divide their time between us sometimes it's all about me and other times it's all about Paul other times they don't care, they just want someone to give them attention.

Cats are like that, they demand things to be on their terms and refuse to do anything they don't want to including responding to their names.

Taryn

hi, Bryce,

Thanks so much for checking in and letting us know how Maggie and your family are doing. in some ways it's still early days for Maggie - she's still figuring out her place and how to interact with you and your mom, and the same for you and your Mom living with Maggie.

My Dharma doesn't let me pick her up without a wild squirm and meowing to be let down - but if I leave her alone, she'll often come to me to be petted, and she likes to stay in the same room or on the same couch as I am, but not once has she sat in my lap after almost 3 1/2 years.

Cats are all different - my boy is the lap cat. But, just keep telling Maggie how much you care for her, and she really does sound like she likes you. Believe me, you'd know if she didn't! You'd probably never see her, and you'd have more than a play scratch on you.

I think cats can learn their names, but they seem to respond more to the names when they feel like it. I think they definitely do know they're being addressed, just by the tone of our voices and where we're physically in relation to them - but, they don't always feel like responding back!

I have one cat also who HATES with a passion being picked up and he also doesnt like to lay on you or anything like that. He will come over and lay near you and have you pet him but when he is done he stalks off like your inconvienancing him..lol..My other male will tolerate being carried around but it has to be a certain way and if he uncomfortable he will bite me then jump away. GiGi my female however you have to be careful with she will look at you while on the floor and if you look back at her she takes that as an invite to jump onto your shoulders and be carried around. She LOVES LOVES LOVES being held and babied! Also with all my cats if someone comes inside and doesnt pay them any attention thats the person they are going to try and get attention from! Its crazy how backwards they are but sometimes it just takes some observing of habits to figure out how your kitty is going to be. Youve gotten some good advice so far and just keep up the good work! Thanks for the update on Maggie!