i have a cat i got from the shelter last september
she was mishandled and runs away if she thinks you might pick her up, so except to take her to the vet, i never pick her up
i let her come to me
she will now jump on my lap and let me pet her, but all the time she is very nervous, wont sit still and takes off if i make any movement that to her means i might confine her or pick her up
well this is silly i think after all this time,she has to know i am not going to hurt her
would it set her back to start picking her up very very breifly, giving her a quick pet and a good girl and a treat right away?
(she is very food oriented)
i have a cat that i have had for about 6 years now, and she was very similar, she does not like to be picked up even now, but will tolerate it for a few seconds, depending on how i hold her
she will get up on me and fall asleep, but she does not want me to pick her up
i guess i am getting to the point where i feel that there is no reason for them to still act this way (esp the girl i've had for years!)
i have a third cat who LOVES to be picked up, carried, petted non stop
so they should see its a good thing, right?
and i have two grandkitties i catsit and they are both lap cats too, so why do i have these two (both mostly black) cats who are so jumpy about being held?
it makes it very hard if they need medication, or have to go to the vets, i literally have to chase them around and catch them, and i am getting too old for that! plus they are a lot faster than i am!! well they do have those two extra legs!! LOL
any one have this situation?
if so, what did you do, what worked for you?
thanks
althea
she was mishandled and runs away if she thinks you might pick her up, so except to take her to the vet, i never pick her up
i let her come to me
she will now jump on my lap and let me pet her, but all the time she is very nervous, wont sit still and takes off if i make any movement that to her means i might confine her or pick her up
well this is silly i think after all this time,she has to know i am not going to hurt her
would it set her back to start picking her up very very breifly, giving her a quick pet and a good girl and a treat right away?
(she is very food oriented)
i have a cat that i have had for about 6 years now, and she was very similar, she does not like to be picked up even now, but will tolerate it for a few seconds, depending on how i hold her
she will get up on me and fall asleep, but she does not want me to pick her up
i guess i am getting to the point where i feel that there is no reason for them to still act this way (esp the girl i've had for years!)
i have a third cat who LOVES to be picked up, carried, petted non stop
so they should see its a good thing, right?
and i have two grandkitties i catsit and they are both lap cats too, so why do i have these two (both mostly black) cats who are so jumpy about being held?
it makes it very hard if they need medication, or have to go to the vets, i literally have to chase them around and catch them, and i am getting too old for that! plus they are a lot faster than i am!! well they do have those two extra legs!! LOL
any one have this situation?
if so, what did you do, what worked for you?
thanks
althea