My cat doesn't like being picked up very often, its pretty old, fat, and always seems grumpy. it begs for food all the time even if it has just eaten. I'm wondering if it is just its personality or what else would make my cat unconfortable about being picked up, like something in the past.
my cat's personality
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Many perfectly healthy cats, even when picked up and supported properly, prefer to stay on the ground. I think they may feel vulnerable when picked up. I know I hate to be picked up by people bigger than me ... make me feel out of control!
If your cat has ~always~ disliked being picked up, check your technique. If that's not the problem, I would imagine it's a former bad experience or just the cat's personality. 3 of my 6 cats LOVE to be placed over my shoulder and walked around the room. They enjoy being so tall and checking out all the things they usually can't reach. The other 3 will growl or squirm or cry if I try to do the same.
If this is a new problem and your cat previously enjoyed being held, I'd get him/her to a vet ASAP. Padunk is right about the arthritis plus there could be other more serious problems causing your cat pain.
So many things could make a cat grumpy. Perhaps "it" wants to be recognized as more than an object, eats out of boredom and lack of stimulation, or has other emotional needs not being met. Can you share a little more about your cat's life with us?
If your cat has ~always~ disliked being picked up, check your technique. If that's not the problem, I would imagine it's a former bad experience or just the cat's personality. 3 of my 6 cats LOVE to be placed over my shoulder and walked around the room. They enjoy being so tall and checking out all the things they usually can't reach. The other 3 will growl or squirm or cry if I try to do the same.
If this is a new problem and your cat previously enjoyed being held, I'd get him/her to a vet ASAP. Padunk is right about the arthritis plus there could be other more serious problems causing your cat pain.
So many things could make a cat grumpy. Perhaps "it" wants to be recognized as more than an object, eats out of boredom and lack of stimulation, or has other emotional needs not being met. Can you share a little more about your cat's life with us?
Well you have a small dog that usually spends most of the day in the backyard, but comes in to sleep and eat/drink. I'm thinking this is why the cat may eat so often. I also have a little brother and when he was younger you would pick the cat up horrably wrong by the neck, and he wouldn't stop his technique. Thats why i think it doens't like being picked up.
And about stimulation, it has its own place pretty much downstairs in the basement. what else can I do so it can have fun? Also, What are good methods to make an indoor cat lose weight? When we buy different food it doesn't even eat sometimes. At times this cat seems very bright, in ways of gettign its feelings accross.
And about stimulation, it has its own place pretty much downstairs in the basement. what else can I do so it can have fun? Also, What are good methods to make an indoor cat lose weight? When we buy different food it doesn't even eat sometimes. At times this cat seems very bright, in ways of gettign its feelings accross.
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I can imagine so. This unfortunately happens all too frequently when children are left unsupervised or not taught proper care of pets.mrmages said:
Sounds like he has a lot of space and privacy and that's good, especially for an older cat. Older cats need more sleep but do still need stimulation to make their lives fulfilling. Interactive games are best, the traditional wand w/ a feather or mouse lure, throwing toy mice back and forth across the room. "Da Bird" is the best I've found and has various attachments based on your cat's preference. If you're strapped for $$, cats are very imaginative. My cats love the little tiny bows you can buy at Hallmark for small presents. Some cats really enjoy batting the tabs from milk cartons around (be careful to supervise though to prevent choking). Crumble up aluminum foil into little balls and roll them across the floor. Drag a string around on the floor. Hang bird feeders outside to attract more interesting visual stimulation during the day when you're not around. Buy some fake mice for him/her to bat around when you're gone.
If you have more $$, I'd highly recommend the Panic Mouse (http://www.panicmouseinc.com). It has a built-in computer board that signals a battery-powered motor, creating random and unpredictable, "mouse-like" movements w/ the traditional plastic wand and little black mouse at the end. My cats love it, especially if I put plastic paper underneath it to add to the sound stimulation. I've also placed open boxes strategically near it so it looks like the mouse is darting into the box.
The best, least expensive cat toys I have ever found are apparently old classics called the Cat Dancer and Cat Charmer (http://www.catdancer.com). I have never found a cat that will not play with at least one of these. You could buy both for under $10.
Cat weight loss is a tricky business and can be dangerous! Here's an article I recommend you read: http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/a/weightcontrol.htm. Obviously, you want to cut out table scraps, take up your dog's food (some cats love dog food), and make sure he's not getting meals from other sources (mice in the basement, etc.). I would again recommend you have your cat checked out by a vet and get more specific, personalized advice from an expert.
Cats don't usually like to have their food switched, particularly if you're changing from the tastier, fattier food to some diet version (neither do humans). If you want to switch brands, most experts recommend that you gradually make the conversion, mixing a little of the new in w/ the old, slowly changing the proportion until it's all the new kind.
Good luck!
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I agree that you should speak to the vet about the diet, but I would not free feed. I would ask the vet "how much?" and "how often?" Let your cat decide when he wants to be on your lap. If you force the issue, you'll just turn him against it all the more. I pat my lap, and usually get one or two kitties. Good luck.
of all of my 7 cats only one likes to be held, that's chuckie.
milo likes to be held when it's his idea.
stormy doesn't like it either, it's surprising if she tolerates it for even a minute, she usually yells like she's being tortured!! (yikes!!)
but they all love to be petted though.
milo likes to be held when it's his idea.
stormy doesn't like it either, it's surprising if she tolerates it for even a minute, she usually yells like she's being tortured!! (yikes!!)
but they all love to be petted though.
My cat Minnie will actuelly flinch sometimes when you touch her. I think it stems from her early days before she lived with me. However Jerry (her litter brother) loves to be held and pet.
My cats are all very young though. Minnie is two. SO if your cat is older or has drastically changed the way she behaves I would seek a profesional opinion.
My cats are all very young though. Minnie is two. SO if your cat is older or has drastically changed the way she behaves I would seek a profesional opinion.
There are a few furkids in my managerie that do not like to be picked up either. It appears to be something in their personality. Otherwise, I also have some who do not like not being picked up. In fact, whenever I sit down, they are the first in my lap almost every time.
Past experience definitely plays a huge role in how cats are in the future but some cats just don't like to be held. Twinkie is never a lap cat but loves to snuggle once a week at his own leisure but it is only when I'm in bed. Sugar is a lap cat especially when you wear fleece pants or jeans... she has been kneading my bf belly lately too hehe :wink:
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