My Cat Won’t Let Me Pick Her Up Anymore

You’re probably wondering why your cat won’t let you pick her up anymore.

There are a lot of reasons for this and it’s not always because she doesn’t like it. Sometimes, there are health issues that make it unsafe for her to be lifted.

For example, if she has arthritis or hip dysplasia, you could hurt her by picking her up.

It’s also possible that your cat is feeling stressed out and doesn’t want to be moved around. Cats often feel more comfortable when they can roam freely and take care of themselves.

So, if you’re trying to pick her up when she’s not feeling well or having a stressful day, she may instinctively resist being picked up.

It’s not uncommon for a cat to stop allowing her human to pick her up. Cats are pretty independent creatures, and they can become very attached to their routine and habits.

That said, when you start messing with their routine, it can make them feel like you’re trying to take over.

In order to help your kitty, get back in the habit of being picked up, try these tips,

• If your kitty has always been a lap cat, try sitting down on the floor with her next time she’s near you. She may feel more comfortable being picked up from a lower position than from an elevated one.
• Try gently picking up your cat by grabbing her under the belly instead of around her chest or shoulders. This way she’ll feel less vulnerable. Eventually she may be more likely to let you pick her up again in the future!

Also read: Why is My Cat Afraid of Ceiling Fan?

Cat Suddenly Doesn’t Want to Be Picked Up

Your cat liked it every time you reached to her and picked her up in your hands. But suddenly, she no longer enjoys it. And you may be wondering why? Well, there are a  few     reasons to why your cat doesn’t want to be picked up anymore.

It may be that she feels insecure when you try to touch her or simply that she just doesn’t like the idea of being picked up due to some changes in the environment.

Sometimes your cat won’t let you pick her up because you might have hurt her accidentally the last time you tried to pick her up.

So, she might be thinking the same would happen to her. Hence that’s the reason she suddenly doesn’t want to be picked up.

However, if this behavior persists, try to seek for advice from your vet and let her know what’s going on.

Your vet may examine your cat and see if there is any illness to why your cat is behaving this way.

How To Pick Up a Cat That Doesn’t Want to Be Picked Up

Firstly, make sure you have your kitty in mind when you get home from the shelter or breeder. Cats are hunters and will want to explore their new environment before they decide whether they like it or not.

If possible, let them roam freely for a few days before trying to pick them up again.

When picking up your cat, do not grab or reach for her with both hands when she’s on all fours as she may think that you are going to hurt her.

Instead, try using one hand under her chest and another on top of her back so that she can feel your support as you lift her off the ground.

Hold her securely with both hands as you lift her off the ground but do not squeeze too tightly or she may bite out of fear or pain.

Make sure your hands are clean and free of any lotion or perfume that might irritate your furry friend’s sensitive skin.

Approach the cat slowly, speaking softly and gently stroking her fur as you move closer. If she doesn’t run away, continue until you’re close enough to gently pick her up without startling her.

How To Get My Cat to Let Me Pick Her Up

Start small, if you try to pick up your cat before she’s ready, it won’t work. Instead, start by touching her with just one finger at first, then two, and so on until she’s comfortable with having all of your fingers on her body at once.

If she seems uncomfortable with something, back off and try again later, this is about what works for both of you!

Be gentle, if your cat doesn’t like being picked up and dropped down again. Which is common, don’t do that! Instead, when picking up your cat, try gently scooping them up in one hand while holding them close to your chest.

So that they feel secure and can’t see where they’re going next until they’re already there. This will help them feel safer comfortable.

Try waiting until the cat is more relaxed. That might mean taking her out for a walk or giving her some extra attention before asking to be picked up.

If she’s still not in the mood, try coaxing her with a treat or a toy.

Try to make sure that your cat is comfortable with being held by you. You can do this by gently picking her up when she’s sleeping and putting her back down again.

Once she sees that there’s nothing to worry about, she’ll be more willing to let you pick her up when she’s awake.

How To Pick Up a Skittish Cat

Skittish cats can be difficult to handle. If you’ve adopted a new kitten or cat, chances are it’s going to be afraid of you for a while.

But if your cat is skittish, it’s likely always going to be wary of strangers and new people.

Here are some tips on how to pick up a skittish cat:

Use treats and toys. When handling a skittish cat, you don’t want to use your hands or arms as much as possible. This is because they’re so much bigger than the treats or toys you’re offering your pet.

Instead, try using a brush or other small object that the cat is comfortable. This ill get him used to having something held in your hand without feeling trapped by it.

Get down on all fours. Skittish cats often feel more comfortable with another animal around them. That is because they can pick up on their body language and signals better than they can with humans who are standing upright.

By getting down on all fours like your cat does naturally when he feels threatened, he’ll feel safer around you and may be more willing to come near enough for you to pet him or give him treats

Talk softly and calmly but stay alert for signs of fear or aggression. If your cat starts struggling or panicking during this process (like squeaking loudly or scratching).

Stop what you’re doing immediately and let him down gently onto his feet again, so he doesn’t feel trapped by your arms around him.

Other Things to Try

• Don’t chase them
• Let them come to you
• Give them time to get used to you
• Don’t force them into situations they don’t want to be in

Cat Scratched Me When I Pick Her Up

The reason could be that she doesn’t like where you’re holding her. If you’re holding the scruff of her neck, for example, she may feel like she’s being choked and will react by scratching or biting you in order to get away.

Finally, if your cat is trying to communicate with you through her body language and isn’t getting the message across clearly enough, then she might resort to scratching or biting as a last-ditch effort to get through to you.

When a cat scratches you, it’s not personal. The cat is simply doing what it feels is necessary to protect itself. But when it comes to your human skin, that can be painful!

If you’ve been scratched by a cat, here are some things you can do to help soothe the pain:

Clean the wound with soap and water. Then apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection and keep the wound protected from dirt and bacteria.

Apply ice packs (wrapped in a towel) for 20 minutes at a time to help reduce swelling and pain.

Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). These will help reduce swelling and ease any discomfort associated with the injury.

Read also: My Cat Suddenly Hates My Husband (Here’s Why)

My Cat Gets Angry When I Pick Her Up

Cats are very territorial animals and don’t like being handled by strangers or even by people they know but don’t know well.

If your cat is friendly with you, she may tolerate being picked up from time to time as long as she’s not in pain or feeling threatened by other factors. Such as other people in the home.

However, if your cat doesn’t like being picked up and becomes aggressive when you try it, then give up on this behavior altogether.

It’s not worth risking your relationship with her in order to satisfy your own curiosity about how she’ll react!

She may be angry because she feels threatened by the sudden movement or surprise of being picked up. Cats are very sensitive to any sudden movements that might indicate an attack from another animal or human being

It’s more likely that if your cat bites or growls at you when trying to pick her up, it’s because she’s afraid of what might happen next.

If she thinks that something bad might happen next, then she’ll try to defend herself by biting or scratching.

How Do You Know If Your Cat Is Traumatized?

Sometimes, cats can be traumatized if you try to do certain things to them, such as trying to pick them up.

If your cat is hiding or avoiding you, it could be a sign that she’s traumatized. Or if your cat is not eating and playing like usual.

If your cat has been traumatized by an event in their life, here are some of the signs you might notice:

• They may seem fearful and timid around certain people or situations
• You cat may become aggressive towards other animals (or even humans) without provocation
• They may stop using a litter box or scratch furniture instead of using their scratching post
• A cat may develop anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Why Does My Cat Let Me Hold Her Like a Baby?

Cats love to be held like babies because it feels good to them. It’s a very comforting feeling for them.

As cats get older, they still enjoy being held like babies because it makes them feel secure and loved.

The reason why some cats let you hold them like babies is because they trust you enough to let you do that with them.

If your cat trusts you, then she will allow you to pick her up and hold her like a baby without any hesitation.

But if your cat doesn’t trust you enough, then she will fight back when you try to pick her up or hold her in your arms.

Another reason why some cats let you hold them like babies is because they love affection from humans as well as other animals such as dogs or other cats in the house.

Read also: New Cat Won’t Leave Room [Solutions]

Conclusion

So why won’t your cat let you pick her up anymore? It’s not just a simple matter of getting older.

Underlying health issues are far more likely to blame. However, with a little knowledge and care, there’s every reason to believe that your loving pet can spend many years “purring” in your lap just like she used to.

Give your cat some time.

Resources

http://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/why-doesnt-my-cat-like-to-be-held

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi3z3sy7twk