My cat hates being touched. Is this normal? What games can we play?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I feel your pain and believe you. Most cats when they are at the Vet act like Willow because they are scared. At home I would be careful on how and where you touch her. Most cats only like being pet or scratched around the neck, face and ears. Watch for signs of her being done with the touching: turning to look at you, flicking her ears or tail. When you see subtle signs like that you should stop touching her. You definitely can try a calming collar and over the counter calming treats to see if it helps. But the most important thing to do is not push her when she is done with attention. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+11268+29853&pcatid=29853 Good luck!

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!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The opening or kneading of the claws when happy or being pet is normal in cats. It DOES hurt if their claws are on your leg. Keep the nails short. You probably are not going to be able to teach him not to do something that is instinctual. If he starts to bite you then stop petting him and watch for clues from him that he has had enough petting: ears turning back, turning to look at your hand, tail flicking and stop touching him before he goes to bite. Try not to yell no at him if that triggers biting. Kittens are full of energy and they grow out of it eventually. Provide lots of toys and play time. Soon enough he will be a sleepy adult cat and you'll miss the hyper kitten! Have a good day!

Thanks for using PetCoach. This is a normal play behavior. (So is reaching out to claw your pants as you walk by or trying to catch your hands with her claws while you pet her.) There are two ways I handle this. One is to stop petting and leave so that she knows play time is over. Honestly it hasn’t really worked yet (she still does it sometimes) and my cat is now 18 mos. What seems to work better is to get up and grab her favorite toy and start playing with that. That is something she CAN bite and claw at and get those natural play behaviors out- without chomping my hands. My girl is OBSESSED with one very similar to the one in the link below. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/leaps-and-bounds-caterpillar-cat-teaser?rrec=true Hope this helps and best wishes to you and Raven!

This is typical normal cat behavior. She will calm down as she gets older. Cats are not dogs and they pretty much do what they want. Training a cat is difficult and takes a lot of patience. You can use a Scat Mat to teach her not to jump on the counters. They sell them at Petco. If you sit calmly she may come to you for affection when she wants. Trying to force a cat to do something will just cause them to resist. Be patient and ignore her and she’ll probably seek you out. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Catori.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Coco is adorable! Coco is just a kitten. Puppies and kittens sadly bite a lot. I would discourage play with your hands and only use toys. Also if she is sitting on your lap and you are petting her watch for signs that she is becoming annoyed with what you are doing (tail starts to flick, ears turning, turning her head towards your hand) and stop petting her. Most cats only like to be scratched or pet on their head and not past their shoulder blades. When she allows you to pet her without biting offer her treats. Refrain from chasing her, picking her up suddenly, rough housing with her as that can agitate cats then they become anticipatory for only negative interactions with you. When she is around you and not biting offer treats. Again she is very young and will likely grow out of a significant amount of this biting behavior. I wish you all the best!

Every cat has their own personality, similar to every human is an individual. Some have higher energy than others. There are many cats that don't like to be petted at all! Those people with the sleepy, purring kittens may wish they could play with their kitten. Halley seems to have a rambunctious spirit, which may not last through adulthood. Take advantage of her spirit right now!