Hi can you help with my cat?

Question

my cat is a year old in oct. he has never liked being stroked or picked up and when i do he grows like a dog why dont he liked being cuddled or stoked what can i do so he can enjoy this.

Answer 1

In the wild the only creature to pick up a kitten apart from the mother cat, is a predator, so it's instinct that makes many of them panic when you try to pick them up.  Some cats become more relaxed about it as they begin to know and trust you, but others never really feel comfortable with it.

Some cats have a very low tolerance of being petted and lash out to tell you when they've had enough. Or it can happen if they get overexcited. Sometimes petting leads to sensory overstimulation and the cat's energy is then re-channeled (often towards the owner's hand.)

The article below has lots of information and advice about this behaviour that you might find helpful.

http://www.petroglyphsnm.org/catchats/lo...

Answer 2

Take your cat to the vet. You need to rule out anything physical.

But personal knowledge...I had a cat that was schizophrenic, yeah they can be mental just like humans, we had to have him put down because he became more and more aggressive as he grew. I worked closely with my vet for a full year to change behaviors but nothing worked. Good luck.

Answer 3

Respect his wishes and be patient. When my 12-year-old cat was that age, he would bite anyone who tried to pet him and we used to think he was crazy. But now he loves to be stroked and is a real sweetie. However, he still doesn't like to be picked up and won't sit on my lap.

Answer 4

Some cats just don't like to be picked up.  One of my FMIL's cats will not let anyone pick him up.  You can't hold him for more than 2 seconds without sustaining bodily damage from that cat.  He has always been like that and we don't know why.

Answer 5

Your cat might either have something wrong with his stomach causing discomfort when you pick him up or he still does not trust you.  I would go to a vet to check on his stomach which may be in pain.  I also read online that sometimes cats growl and squirm when they are picked up by someone they don't trust.