Why wont my baby kitty let us hold her now?

Question

we havehad her 2 months love our kitty i have 2 other cats we play i spoil her and why wont she let us hold her when i hold her she starts bitting me and straching us till we let her downi am trying to build a bond with her while shes small but shell evenbit my face am i doing something wrong

Answer 1

Cats do that when you give them attention at times when they don't want it.  You have to let them build up the bond with you on her own terms.  Not all cats enjoy being held or cuddling and maybe she's one of those.

There is also a behaviour called "petting anxiety" or "petting and biting Syndrome" where you're stroking your cat and it seems to be enjoying the attention, but suddenly it turns round and attacks with teeth and/or claws. Sometimes this is a play behaviour, but often it's anxiety.

When a cat is being cuddled or is on your lap being stroked it starts off feeling relaxed and trusting, like a kitten being snuggled by the mother cat. Then the cat realises that it isn't a kitten and that it is being handled by a much larger predator (which is what we are) and it feels vulnerable. The cat has conflicting feelings of security and fear so it lashes out to make you let go.  This becomes a habit.  If you try to force attention on it, the cat becomes more fearful and more likely

to want to escape.

Accepting being stroked and fussed by humans is something cats need to learn.  Some cats are naturally wary and never learn to enjoy it.  Younger cats are more excitable and need time to calm down.  If the cat wasn't properly socialised between 5 and 11 weeks it finds human attention threatening and you need to build up its trust before you can pick it up.

First of all, you have to learn to read your cat's body language so that you can stop petting it as soon as it shows signs of unease. That way you can build up its tolerance of being handled. Sit quietly and calmly with the cat and keep petting sessions short - always stop when you see early warning signs and before the cat reacts by biting/scratching. Common warning signs are tail twitching, ears being flattened backwards, dilated pupils, sudden tensing of the body and pulling away from you.  As soon as you see signs of reaction, stop petting. If possible, reward the cat with food (keep a packet of treats nearby) and talk gently to it to reward it for being held that long. All going well, it will learn to accept longer and longer stroking sessions over time. Never punish it for reacting in a defensive way as this reinforces its view that you are a threat.

Answer 2

some cats and kittens dont like being held and if you force her against her will she will just get more frightened and this can get to the point when she may not let you pick her up.  Try patting and playing with her to bond and just pick her up occasionally andfor short periods basically putting her down soon after she starts objecting for a while. If very young she also may prefer the company of the other cats at the moment.  I have an 8yr old and a 2yr old cat, the younger one wont go to my two kids who always forced him to be held against his will, but most times he enjoys a cuddle with my other daughter who followed the above rules, but even if she holds him for too long he avoids her for a while.  Our older cat has never liked being picked up but we have let her come to us and once again she comes to me and dema nds to sit on my lap and be cuddled while avoiding the kids most of the time who have constantly picked her up.  Both love their play and patting/cuddling times and she always follows me around purring constantly.  In short listen to what your kitty wants, speak in a quiet soothing voice and enjoy her !!!!

Answer 3

Sounds like she hurts. If she let you hold her before and she isnt now. Then your picking her up and something is hurting were you are picking her up. Or there is a possibility if you have other cats that she is being intimidated by one of your other cats for attention.

Answer 4

Some cats just aren't lap cats. You could try having her jump up into your lap by moving a toy or a treat into the right area. Don't try to hold a cat against it's will because it can and will hold a grudge. Unfortunately not all cats want to be pet and loved on, and this is the whole reason some people get cats. Sorry, but that's what it seems to be in your case.

Answer 5

not all kittens are cuddly, you dont have to hold her just to form a bond... when she's sitting on the couch or something just go up an sit with her and pet her, form a bond without holding her, if you still cant hold her at all in 1 month then ignore her for a week and you'll see how much she does love you

Answer 6

i have thirteen week old kitten who is the same. the problem with my cat was he wasnt very well socialised with people before we got him. What i have bin doing is just lying next to him and stoking him to let him no i am not going to hurt him. Also give him little bits of treats out you hand like some ham or chicken. Right i no this may sound a little strange but it works honestly i was researching cat behaviour and what you do is look into you kittens face but not directly in to the eyes because this is treatning to them. When you are looking close you eyes slowly and open them again this is called kiss blinking it just says in cat language that you are no threat.Also yawn around the kitten as this is there way of expressing contentment. good look i no how it feels to want to hug them but dont worry as you will get there my kitten is progressing everyday

Answer 7

Try living her free, dont trouble her. Try giving her food when ever necessary, and daily try to catch her, bit by bit. On the first day, keep her with you for 1 or 2 minutes, and on the next day for 3 or 4 minutes, and so on. I could guess, also did you hurt her? If the cat has any wound, put some medicine and heal it. And also if the cat is willing to do some thing, try not to bbeat, but try not to leave her go. Do not beat since they can scratch horribly. I know a person, who use to beat his cat closing the door. One day the cat killed him when the door was closed. The cat scratched by the neck. and he died in the closed room. Try being calm with the cat. Best wishes Samuel.