I'm ashamed I have to ask advice on this, but for some reason I can't seem to do it. I go to pick Lily up, and then I lose confidence, and just can't do it.

I think it stems back to an incident a few weeks ago, when - after returning from a short break away - I was stroking her, kept my eye off the ball for a few seconds, and she bit/scratched me. When I first got her, I had no problem what-so-ever picking her up, but after that...

I'm not sure what type of advice can be given, as I know it all comes back to me... but I was wondering if anyone else had had similar issues in the past, and how you got over them?

Thanks!

Unfortunately, biting & scratching from our little furry friends is all part of the parcel that comes with being a cat-slave.

One of the reasons most of us adore our cats is their unpredictability. It is VERY common for cats to suddenly 'turn' when they have been getting fussed for a while - we've all been there.

Somehow, you need to get your head in tune with this fact - cats have claws & teeth and are not afraid to use them if needs must.

If you feel 'fear' when you go to pick your cat up now, she will sense this. This will make the whole experience very uncomfortable for both of you and could upset your relationship if you let it continue.

I would suggest that, instead of picking her up, get Lily to jump up beside you when you're sitting on the sofa or arm-chair. Encourage her onto your lap and then just stroke her for a short time. Not too long as she may 'turn' again. Then, just take your hand away & let her lie there without you touching her. Let her know that your lap is a safe place where she won't be bothered. Then, as you go to stand up, just pick her off your lap and place her where you were sitting. Do this a few times over the course of a week - 10 days. The point here is that you are picking her up to move her but you are not 'picking her up' if you know what I mean.

This contact should help you to feel secure with her again so that you should then be able to properly pick her up for a snuggle without the fear you are having now.

I hope that helps.

__________________
.

Im afraid MB is right there; sometimes we have to suffer at the hands of our masters lol
And deffo one thing i have learnt is that cats are like their ancestors they smell fear!
Just do it in one quick swoop from behind to begin with

__________________


http://nickoftime.proboards.com/index.cgi?

This reminds me of a feral cat at the factory I used to work at. There were 3 cats in all and a few of us had spent a long, long time in getting them to trust us, enough that they'd let us stroke them without running the risk of being clawed to death, till the fateful Friday afternoon arrived.

About 10 minutes before clocking off I was sat stroking the friendliest of the 3 when I suddenly decided to pick him up. Not a good idea as I was rewarded with a paw swipe across the face resulting in one side of my nose being sliced open It was my own fault and fully deserved, but standing in a queue waiting to clock out with tissues pressed against my nose trying to stem the blood was a tad embarrassing

Ian

__________________
RIP Black Tom and Beckett, not just cats, they were my cats and the best ever.

Dexter and ollie my 1 year old cats one hates being picked up and the other loves being picked up.

Dexter will only want attention on his terms i.e this window sill downstairs hell stand on it and put his head down for a scratch but if i go to try and pick him up hell run off round the house but i just capture him and give him a cuddle anyway and he accepts this as ive done it since he was four months old.

These two are my first cats and the best way i found was to just pick them up and place them onto your shoulder with your arms wrapped round them so they feel secure. Dexter will only allow me to hold him for maybe 10 seconds and hell wriggle around to get down which i then put him straight down.

You need to pick your cat up and build a relationship with them so they learn to trust you. Ollie my other cat also 1 will meow at me til i pick him up and once picked up he sounds like a train lol and again when he was younger he hated being picked up and now im followed everywhere.

__________________

Mummy to Dexter and Ollie <3