I think Cleo is bipolar

Hi,

Cleo is my now...6 year old (I think). She was a rescue cat and has always had problems with strangers. However, lately she is also having problems with me. I never leave my cats alone in my condo with a stranger because I know it gives her anxiety, whereas my other cat loves everybody and greets them with a lick. The past month or so, there are days where Cleo will have nothing to do with even me and stay in my closet, only to come out to eat and/or use the litter box. Then some days she's super friendly and a suck and needing attention constantly. But then, like this morning for instance, she came to rub my legs so I picked her up. She then hissed, growled, and nipped at me. I don't think she would ever bite hard thank goodness. So I put her down and talked softly to her. I then left the kitchen and went to the couch. Once I was on the couch she jumped up on my lap and started purring. What the heck??

I kind of think this is typical cat behavior. You just have a cat that clearly lets you know when you're doing something to her that she doesn't like. My rescue cat does the same to me. Bites quickly if I'm petting her when she comes to lie down on me or when I pick her up and she tries to swat my ankle when I put her back down because she didn't want to be picked up. I don't react or I whine "Baby!" and we're good. She doesn't hide from me in closets but that may be because they are off limits to her and I keep the doors closed. Also, there's no other cat for her to hide from if she wants alone time. She does go under my bed sometimes to hide or be alone.

I love how my kitty lets me know that she doesn't want me doing something to her, like petting when she wants to sleep on my lap. I don't see anything wrong with it. Sounds like partly introverted cats instead of completely easy-going, extroverted cats. I've read boy cats are often more easy-going...one of my sister's male cats was very easygoing and extroverted. The other male cat was completely anxious though with medical problems.

Thanks so much! My other cat is a male and he's totally extroverted. Thanks!