Background: My Molly Brown is a rescue who has been with me 3 months. After 2 weeks of hiding initially, she has become a total love--sleeps with me and jumps into my lap when I'm in my chair to watch TV. She is 4, and was 'rescued' after being thrown from a car a year ago (and spent a year at the shelter).
Problem: The other day, when she was 'cuddled' in my lap with my arms around her, I moved very gently to see if she'd let me hold her. It was like an instant 'trigger'--she flew from me with claws extended in defense (didn't scratch me) and was gone for quite a while. I attempted the same thing (very, very gently) a couple of days later, and she reacted exactly the same way.
When I talked to my vet about it (Molly was boarded with the vet for that year), she told me that although they handle the cats with a big towel for protection, her assistant had been scratched by Molly once when she didn't wrap her well. My vet thinks (as I do) that her resistance to being held is based on her past abuse. Who knows how she was treated before finally thrown out!
My vet's advice is to gradually get her used to having my hands and arms around her, but I explained that's not a problem because I often 'cuddle' her when she jumps into my lap, and she actually likes me to envelop her with my arms, but and even the slightest pressure the signals I might pick her up will set her off.
I don't really 'need' to hold her, but I'm concerned that in an emergency, I might not be able to manage to get her out of the house. I am used to using a towel because my first cat was 'difficult,' and I became adept with the towel because I needed to pill her for a while. So I think that in an emergency, the towel will work. I don't want to 'practice' with it because there's no sense in stressing her unnecessarily.
I also use a stroller as a carrier. I've moved it into the kitchen, and I only give her treats in the stroller (she's a sucker for treats:-) She's wary, but if I stay away, she readily gets in
and eats her treats there. My hope is that she's think of it as a 'good place,' and if necessary down the road, I might be able to lure her into it rather than pick her up, etc.
Perhaps more time with me will help. Her annual shots are not due until August, so we have time to work on this. Any suggestions would be most welcome.
Problem: The other day, when she was 'cuddled' in my lap with my arms around her, I moved very gently to see if she'd let me hold her. It was like an instant 'trigger'--she flew from me with claws extended in defense (didn't scratch me) and was gone for quite a while. I attempted the same thing (very, very gently) a couple of days later, and she reacted exactly the same way.
When I talked to my vet about it (Molly was boarded with the vet for that year), she told me that although they handle the cats with a big towel for protection, her assistant had been scratched by Molly once when she didn't wrap her well. My vet thinks (as I do) that her resistance to being held is based on her past abuse. Who knows how she was treated before finally thrown out!
My vet's advice is to gradually get her used to having my hands and arms around her, but I explained that's not a problem because I often 'cuddle' her when she jumps into my lap, and she actually likes me to envelop her with my arms, but and even the slightest pressure the signals I might pick her up will set her off.
I don't really 'need' to hold her, but I'm concerned that in an emergency, I might not be able to manage to get her out of the house. I am used to using a towel because my first cat was 'difficult,' and I became adept with the towel because I needed to pill her for a while. So I think that in an emergency, the towel will work. I don't want to 'practice' with it because there's no sense in stressing her unnecessarily.
I also use a stroller as a carrier. I've moved it into the kitchen, and I only give her treats in the stroller (she's a sucker for treats:-) She's wary, but if I stay away, she readily gets in
and eats her treats there. My hope is that she's think of it as a 'good place,' and if necessary down the road, I might be able to lure her into it rather than pick her up, etc.
Perhaps more time with me will help. Her annual shots are not due until August, so we have time to work on this. Any suggestions would be most welcome.
