My shelter cat was cuddly, why won't she let me hold her now?

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.

A cat who was basically feral for 5 months may take quite some time to become more comfortable with handling, and she may never be a cuddly lap cat. It does sound like she is willing to have some interaction with you, so I would continue what you are doing in terms of offering her nice tasty treats when she comes to you. Also feeding her near you if she will eat with you nearby but not touching her (don't want to overwhelm her at first, just get her more used to your presence being nonthreatening). I wouldn't pick her up if it scares her just yet, and I wouldn't force her to meet/be touched or held by new people just yet. I would give her a few more months of settling in. You may also add feline pheremone diffusers (Feliway is my favorite brand) to the house and try calming supplements such as Composure or Zylkene to see if these help relieve some of her anxiety as well. You can find all these products online, or at some vet clinics.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats, like people, have different personalities; some are very sociable and always want to cuddle, while others can be more reserved and independent. It may be partly personality contributing to his behavior, as well as adjusting to his new environment. A pheromone collar (they can be found on amazon, such as nurturecalm) may be a good option instead of feliway spray, as it is a continuous release for a full month. While the response is variable among cats, it is definitely something I would recommend giving a try. Additionally, if there is a type of treat that Vin really enjoys, I would recommend putting some down by you when you are sitting on the couch watching TV, etc. When he comes to eat them, don't force an interaction, but allow him to nibble on them and then decide where he wants to go. Over time, they can be moved closer and closer to you to encourage him to be more comfortable in close proximity. When he seems playful, play with him with a toy, etc and then allow him to leave when he is done. If he is on a feeding schedule, get his attention by opening a can or shaking food into his bowl, allow him to stand next to you and have a short interaction before you set it down. If he still seems uncomfortable after these suggestions, I would recommend either setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian for further advice. Good luck!

Wow Changu's kittens look pretty old to be nursing! If they are still trying to nurse, wean them. Otherwise, now that she is a mom, she has different priorities and she may not be as affectionate as she once was. If you spay her, and re home her kittens, she might act more like she did before puberty and the pregnancy, but there is no way to know for sure.

Some cats are simply more affectionate than others. I recommend not forcing any contact, as this can have a negative effect, but continue to offer toys and treats and try to play and interact. Over time Leo may become more affectionate, but he may not. Using pheromones like Feliway in a diffuser or spray may also help him adjust to the new situation. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37240

Each kitten can have its own personality that differs from the "standard" for the breed. In general I find male cats to be more "cuddly" than females but there are exceptions to that rule. Also kittens can have drastic changes in their personality as they grow into adults. So you may look at adult cats for adoption as their personalities are more set. The other consideration is that in a shelter setting it is hard to really judge a cat's personality since there can be strange noises, smells, environment. At the end of the day if this kitten is really "speaking" to you it could be she is meant for you and you can help mold her personality through lots of interaction and play.

You can try getting a feliway hormome diffuser to keep her calm. Keep trying to interact with her, but i tell people all the time that a cat's demeanour is compleyely determined by itself not the owner. Thete is nothing you can do to make a solitary cat a lap cat unfortunately. Some cats are lovely and affectionate, some are just selfish.