Why does my cat jump away or get nervous when I pick him up?

Cats are individuals and just like people, they all have different preferences. Not all cats like to held. If you want to encourage your cat to like the experience, remember the always be slow and patient. Don’t force the behavior upon your cat or she will have a negative experience and then will rebel against it. Start by encouraging her to sit quietly in your lap. Once she is comfortable doing this and is content, try lightly putting your arms around her and apply a little pressure. Don’t try lifting her yet. Practice this behavior. If/once she is comfortable and accepting of the behavior. You may try lifting up her front half and holding her lightly again you. Once again, you will need to practice this behavior. Then you can progress to picking up her whole body and holding it against you. Then you can progress to standing. Finally progress to walking. Be slow and patient and don’t make her uncomfortable. Word of warning, some cats will scratch or bite if they become uncomfortable so use your best judgement. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I don't think your kitten is suicidal. It may be that he is very playful, and running away has become a game, or the way you pick him up is painful or hurts him so he is trying to get away. Making sure he is kept somewhere safe where he can't get out onto the balcony or railing and injure himself is best to avoid any harm. When picking him up, scooping him up gently under the belly is a lot more comfortable. If he won't come to you, you can entice him to get used to you by offering a smelly treat he enjoys, then petting him and picking him up once he is calm. A pheromone diffuser such as Comfort Zone may also help if he is stressed or anxious. If he seems painful or in distress, scheduling a vet visit to rule out any issues is also a good idea.

Some kitties hate being picked up. I have 5 of those. However most of the time they will come (on their own terms) and hop on your lap to be petted. So you may have to wait for that to happen. You can invite your cat to hop on your lap by patting the lap and saying "come" or "hop"...Eventually they will get the idea. Once on your lap, just gently pet or scratch your kitty, so he associates being on your lap with being comfy. Don;t worry, he loves you. He just is not comfortable with being picked up. Try lying on the couch....I bet he will come sooner or later to be with you and lie next or on top of you. He is young and wild...sitting still may also be a problem for him (like a child that cannot sit still in class). So, I suppose, patience is it. You can get some cat nip and put that on your lap....(I know that is cheating...but it might work, too)

Cats are individuals and just like people, they all have different preferences. Not all cats like to held. It likely has nothing to do with loving you. If you want to encourage your cat to like the experience, remember the always be slow and patient. Don’t force the behavior upon your cat or he will have a negative experience and then will rebel against it. A good place to begin is encouraging him to sit quietly in your lap. Once he is comfortable on your lap, he may allow more handling. If he seems otherwise happy, you may be content with meeting him where he is and finding a different way to express affect and bond. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If you have ever physically punished your cat, it is possible that your cat has developed a fear of you. On the other hand, you can be the gentlest of cat owners and still have a cat that runs when you try to pet her. Often this behavior is due to poor socialization of the cat when she was a very young kitten. Kittens need to be socialized to human touch between the ages of 2-7 weeks. This is when kittens learn that being held and pet by humans is pleasurable. Kittens that don't receive much early socilization may always be a little skittish around people and not associate petting with a positive experience. Some cats are also just more sensitive to being pet - it doesn't feel good to them; it arouses or irritates them. A cat that doesn't like the way petting feels will run away to avoid the experience. Yet, that same cat may enjoy your company and want to be in the same room with you. You can encourage your cat to come closer for petting by doing the following simple steps: 1) let your cat initiate the interactions, rather than you trying to impose them on your cat; 2) Sit or squat down whenever you would like your cat to approach so that you don't seem as threatening to your cat; 3) Reward your cat's approach with a favorite treat or a tiny bit of canned food; 4) Let your cat smell your hand before you attempt to pet or touch; 5) If your cat is shy about its head being touched, try scritching under the chin or at the base of the tail; 6) Reward your cat for allowing you to touch her. 7) Keep your petting brief and increase as she seems more tolerant. 8) Instead of petting your cat when she approaches, engage her in play with an interactive toy to help build a bond between the two of you. 9) Be patient with your cat and yourself.

Some cats just do not like to be handled/cuddled at all. This can be normal for Pebbles personality. I would only be concerned if this is a new behavior. That could indicate something abnormal going on that may make her more standoffish (like pain or discomfort). If Pebbles has always been like this then I would not be too concerned. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It probably does not hurt but it is more uncomfortable which is a possible reason why Clover does not like that. However, the other possibility to consider is that he may be uncomfortable from another reason such as abdominal pain. If other signs such as crying out in pain, decreased appetite, nausea and/vomiting are seen, have him evaluated by your veterinarian to ensure that there is nothing else going on such as a pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, among others. Good luck!