Thread: scared of being picked up

Give it lots of time and patience - once you have gained her trust, I'll bet you'll have a completely different cat on your hands. Our two are very different in personality - like Freya, our Gracie is a complete mummy's girl and when she wants to be cuddled and petted she is uber affectionate. However, try and do it when she's not in the mood and she will have a swipe at you and back away. Monty on the other hand is a complete lap cat and will immediately jump up for a cuddle no soon as you've sat down and will purr contentedly at the drop of a hat. My previous moggie however was a completely different story. I got him from a cat rescue and the poor lad had had three homes in his first 18 months. It took a good 6 months to a year before I could cuddle or pet him without being attacked without warning - and I was forever going to work with war wounds looking like I'd been in a pub brawl at the weekend. By the end of his life with us though, after spending 15 years with me (and 7 with my husband) he was the biggest cuddle monster you could ever have wished for. Certainly the dislike of stomach touching is common in a lot of cats unless you have their 100% trust as it's their most vulnerable area prone to injury in a fight - and back legs have always notably been a no go area for all of our cats in the past! Keep persevering, you will get there in time x