No verbal warning before aggresion

I've come to accept certain things about my Jordan, but my sister asked me a question over Christmas that made me wonder. Jordan HATES being held on his back & doesn't like eye contact when your close to him. He responds to these things with aggresion. Since he is threatened by these things I just don't do them, even though I love to hold my cats like babies. I love him & don't want to cause him any undue stress. When I was talking to my sister about his aggresive tendencies. (Yes he's neutered, he was just short of 5 months old when I had it done) He has attacked a freinds face when she held him for too long. My sister asked if he gave any verbal warning before he became aggresive. He does not, the thing to watch with him is his pupil. Now I've learned that Jordan is who he is & I love him aggresion & all, but this made me wonder. Why doesn't he give a verbal warning? I'm curious if anyone else has a cat like this & if his lack of verbal warning has to do with his strong Alpha personality? He's not a very verbal cat to begin with, but from time to time he will get aggitated & walk around the house making little meow noises with his mouth closed (it would be cute if it didn't mean he was annoyed with something)

Cats use body language more than verbal cues. The ears laid back and a lashing tail are a sure sign of aggitation.

Cats do not feel comfortable being held like a baby any more than you would feel comfortable being held upside down.

Would you want to be picked up every time one of your friends comes over to visit? I try to put myself in my cats place. It makes things you would take for granted take on a different perspective if you ask What if someone did that to me?

Was he a rescue cat? Our oldest cat was very frightened of faces for about 5 years - she had a traumatic beginning to life. Also if she feels threatened she will be aggressive with no verbal warning. But there are signs to look for as was said previously - Tippy thumps her tail up and down or swishes it vigorously side to side. Her pupils dilate and her ears will be set a little backwards although not flat against her head. If she's sitting on the couch she will also give you a real look as if to say "I'm warning you".

the only visual sign with him is pupil dialation. He was a rescue & when he came to the shelter his whiskers were almost completely gone. It looked as though someone had cut them off which is why I think he hates being held in one place. I try my best never to make him feel like I'm holding him & he can't go, but for somethings like clipping his claws it's necessary.

You can hold him in a position that allows him to know he's got some freedom. Try sitting on the floor, and backing him into your crotch (so his bottom is in the vee of your legs). Then either reach under him and place your hand on his chest, lift his paw onto your leg, and flex his claws (and clip), or prop his upper body on your legs, and select one paw, and flex and clip.

If you do it according to his needs, the aggression will slowly abate. If he needs to feel as if he always has the floor under him, accommodate that, and clip how he needs it. Let him show you what is all right....

BTW, Pengy doesn't have enough of a tail to flick or thump. She also never puts her ears back until after she's swiped. And her pupils are almost always dilated (I keep the bedroom somewhat dimly lit). She does in fact give off 1 clue, so I watch for that, but sometimes I miss it.

Best-
Michele