My cat is feisty, hates being picked up, and dislikes strangers. Why?

This is just how some cats are. Some cats will just hide when other people come over. There is not much to do to curb this behavior. I would let Pebbles be if she is scared. Once people are calm at your home she may come out more. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, I am sorry for your concerns about Gulabo's behavior. If she is eating /drinking normally, having normal eliminations, & playful during her wake periods, then what you describe may just be her personality. It is very difficult to say if this is her way of life, or if there may be something to worry about. If you are at all concerned, it is always best to have a hands on exam done by your veterinarian. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I hope all is well with her. Take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats are finicky creatures. If Kekr is eating, jumping around like a young cat should and not vomiting then I don't think you should worry. Most cats really only like to be scratched around the head, unless you find the rare "dog" like cat that like belly and back scratches. Just like people cats come in a variety of personalities. I recommend leaving her be when she has these moments of being grumpy. I hope this helps!

Not all cats enjoy being picked up/handled. It can be a difference in personality or a lack of socialization when they were young kittens. You can try to get your cat more used to you by giving him tasty treats during interactions with him. First give treats when your kitty is near you or sitting on your lap/while you pet him to get him used to this type of interaction, then work up to giving him treats while picking him up for short periods of time. Some cats will never enjoy being picked up!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Olive is a kitten do they are more active and reactive to touch (thinking it is play). But yes, that is normal cat behavior to touching. ALL cats do not like to be hugged and I would refrain from doing that because she may become aggressive or more reactive to you if you continue to do things she doesn't like. Only touch her where she likes being touched (head, neck) and stop when she shows signs of irritation (tail flicking, opening her mouth, ears twitch or turn back, turns to look at you). Give her treats during petting to teach her good things happen during this time. Games that kittens enjoy: laser pointers, toy mice to bat around, feathers on a long stick, cat trees, window ledges near bird feeders. https://www.petco.com/category/cat/cat-toys/cat-teasers-and-wands https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/cat/cat-toys/petstages-tower-of-tracks-cat-toy https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/cat/cat-toys/leaps-and-bounds-fuzzy-mice-cat-toys-with-catnip https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/cat/cat-toys/catit-senses-20-cat-digger-cat-toy

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Peaches is having issues. While there could be a behavioral component to her behavior, there can be underlying medical causes (pain, GI discomfort, an infection or illness, for example) that may be causing it as well. I would recommend she be evaluated by her regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for her behavior, have any necessary testing done (bloodwork, X-rays), and start any treatment (medical or behavioral) that may be needed. Good luck!

It likely has nothing to do with you and is more likely her personality. Often, these shelter kittens come from feral, or semiferal conditions where they learn from their mothers to be wary of people. They can definitely make good progress with forced socialization as a kitten, but when they gets past 12 weeks, they are pretty set in their socialization. Also, some cats are simply not cuddly cats no matter where they were born. It's possible that Tessa will learn to like cuddles more as time goes on, but I wouldn't expect her to completely turn around at this age. As long as you are not doing anything that scares her, or makes her uncomfortable, then this is not your fault. If you keep showing her love and affection when she is around, then she will likely make more progress with being cuddly. I hope that helps and all is well with Tessa.