My Cat Doesn't like to be Held

crazy cat - Cat freakin out over a piece of string.
@sharon_ (1169)
United States
July 2, 2007 8:07pm CST
I have a cat that is really kind of weird. She hates to be held. If I go to pick her up, the first thing she does is to squirm right out of my hands. She will come to me from time to time to be petted, but all the time I'm petting her she's trying to bite me.When I put food out she takes her head and butts my hand to move it out of the way. Do you think she has psychological problems? I'm serious.
5 people like this
9 responses
• United States
3 Jul 07
She is fine, she has her own personality. They all are different. A lot will also depend on where she came from and how much she was handled the first few hours of her life by humans. I have two cats. One will not let anyone hold him but me, but he isn't happy about it. He doesn't even like to be pet. He will get up and walk away. But, he is always in the same room, sleeps at the foot of my bed or on the couch between my husband and me. Now the other cat is the opposite. Loves everyone, lets anyone hold or pet her. They all are different, as our children are. Just love her as she is. You won't change her.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jul 07
Thank you for best response sugar. Just love them as they are, as you don't know a lot of history on them. They are unique creatures, but intelligent and loving in their own way. Bless your heart honey. They are blessed to have you.
1 person likes this
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
5 Jul 07
Thank you very much.
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
3 Jul 07
All three of my cats have different personalities. I got "Smokey" at the pound. There really wasn't a history on her. Maybe she was abused physically or maybe she just didn't get the attention she should of had when she was a new kitten. She was 4 months ols when I got her.
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
3 Jul 07
She may need Prozac, they give it to dogs,LOL. I don't know that I would want to have such a pet in my home. This cat sounds like she can be dangerous. Most cats like to place with strings, to be picked up and cuddled. I am serious about the medication.
1 person likes this
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
3 Jul 07
That's funny, Rozie. My cat doesn't like to be held and she won't stay around to cause any physical harm either.I know your serious about the meds. I'm going to use them as a last resort.
1 person likes this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
3 Jul 07
As long as she somehow brings you joy, I guess that is all that is important, but if I were you, I would still sleep with one eye open,LOL.
1 person likes this
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
3 Jul 07
One eye open for sure!
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36449)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Sounds like a very temperamental Cat to me. I have heard that there are Cats like this. I would if it were me just let my cat be the way it wanted to be, because as far as I know, there is no way you can change a Cat.
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
3 Jul 07
That she is,but other then the "nipping", she isn't mean. I got her from the pound when she was a kitten. I'm thinking that maybe she had been abused.
@scribe1 (1203)
• United States
3 Jul 07
My cats, Columbus and Waffles, do not like to be held either. When I tried holding Waffles on my lap a few weeks ago, she peed a little on my knee. But she probably did that out of fright more than meanness. Columbus will sit and switch his tail. If I don't put him down right away, he will growl and become really annoyed. I don't know about Mimi yet, as I've had her for a little over a week. She's still getting acclimated to her new surroundings and won't let me touch her yet. But I'm very patient!
1 person likes this
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
3 Jul 07
You said that you've only had Mimi a little over a week. How long have you had Columbus and Waffle? I have 3 cats also. Smokey, is the cat thats in the headlines now. Then there is Blackjack(Jack) and Reese. Jack is very spoiled. Reese is more layed back. Good luck with your cats.
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Is she biting hard enough to draw blood or is it just a little nip? My cat doesn't especially like to be held, and will come sit in my lap and get her head petted but if you pet her in a place she doesn't like then she nips you, no blood, just a little stop that nip. Some cats are just not people cats.
1 person likes this
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
3 Jul 07
It's just a little nip. I have accepted that for the most part everything I do to her has to be "approved" by her.
• United States
3 Jul 07
i've had cats that started that way,then grew out of it as their trust became stronger.one of mine still only likes his head petted though,pet anywhere else, *nip*.
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
3 Jul 07
She is somewhat better. Which is good. I try to give her lots of tlc.
1 person likes this
@rosie_123 (6113)
3 Jul 07
No - lots of cats are like that. Sometimes it's because of their background (if they were a atray or ill-treated in some way as a kitten), but more often than not it's just their personality. Cats are all individuals - in the same way that some people like other people around them, and others are more distant. None of them particularly like being "crowded" when they're eating though - they prefer to eat in peace and alone.
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
5 Jul 07
Smokey has a very unique personality, as do my other two cats.She is quiet an "individual".
• United States
3 Jul 07
Our cat was a stray when we got her. She did not like anyone to hold her. After watching my friend hold her cat, I tried to do it like her. I hold her now on my shoulder like a baby, with her front legs over my shoulder, and hold her feet. Cats are afraid of falling, and need something to feel secure. Try it and I hope you have good results!
@sharon_ (1169)
• United States
3 Jul 07
I will definently have to try that.
@anij34 (317)
• United States
6 Jul 07
No, she just doesn't like to be held. This is actually really common with cats. Also, when your petting your cat and she starts to bite is it when your petting her by her tail? Some cats are very sensitive to touch on their back down by their tails. Slipped discs are very common and can cause discomfort when they are touched near their tails. I have a cat that just doesn't like to be held but she sleeps cuddled right next to me and comes around when she wants loving...each cat is so different.