Why Doesn’t My Cat Like To Be Held
Some cats can be very finicky about physical contact, just like some people are. Some cats just don’t like being held and hugged. But if you’re a cat owner, it can be hard to understand why your cat doesn’t like to be held. In fact, there are several reasons why a cat may not like being held:
Cats are very sensitive to change
Your cat is used to being the only creature in your home and the only creature in your life. Even if you already have other pets, such as dogs or guinea pigs, your cat may not be as comfortable interacting with them. Cats are typically very sensitive to change, so any time you make a major adjustment—such as bringing home a new family member or moving into a new house—your kitty will likely feel uncomfortable in her environment and possibly even angry or upset by it.
Cats are also very independent creatures who like being in control of their lives. This means that they don’t want someone else dictating how they should spend their time (and what type of toys they should be playing with). If you try holding onto your cat when she doesn’t want to be held, she’ll probably struggle against you until she can escape from your grip.
Clumsiness of humans
The reason why cats don’t like to be held boils down to simple physics. Cats have an excellent sense of balance, and they demonstrate this agility in many ways. For example, when a cat is about to jump from one surface to another—such as from the floor to a couch or bed—it uses its tail as a counterbalance. In addition, cats have retractable claws that allow them greater gripping power so that they can climb and move with ease around trees and other objects in their environment.
In contrast, humans are not very agile (as evidenced by our inability to walk on two legs). This makes us clumsy when trying to pick up a cat or hold it securely without causing harm; thus we’re more likely than not going to inadvertently hurt your feline friend in some way while attempting such activities with him or her!
Cats are agile, humans are not
Have you ever seen a cat jump from the floor to a chair? They can do this without breaking their backs, but if you try it, your back will definitely break. Cats are more agile than humans in general. Their bodies are more flexible and they have better balance. This makes it possible for them to climb trees and other high surfaces with ease while we would struggle just trying to walk upstairs or up an escalator.
In short: your cat is likely trying to tell you that she doesn’t like being held because doing so makes her feel awkward and clumsy when compared with how graceful she feels when allowed free movement of her body!
Dominance issues
- Cats are very territorial. If you’ve ever seen a cat jump and claw at a window when another cat is outside, you know what I mean. Your cat may not like being held because it feels like you are invading their space — which, in a way, you are! As an extremely independent creature that hunts on its own and can be left alone for hours at a time without any problems, your cat might feel uncomfortable in your arms because it doesn’t recognize this as its natural habitat.
- Your cat may be afraid of being hurt or injured by someone holding them too tightly or too forcefully (if the person making the attempt is someone who does not typically handle animals). This fear could stem from past experiences with humans who have done so in the past; perhaps they were dropped or squeezed too tight when one tried before and now associate being held with pain and discomfort instead of love and affection. In order to keep up its guard around new people until it gets used to them (which may take some time), it will avoid taking risks such as coming near anyone who seems threatening by running away instead!
- Finally – though more rarely applicable – if there has been some sort of trauma associated with being picked up before then perhaps that particular action causes anxiety which manifests itself as avoidance behavior whenever people try picking them up again!
Your cats need to see you as the top-dog
When it comes to your cat, you’re probably used to having a furry little friend that follows you from room to room. But cats are not dogs. Though they are affectionate and loyal, they need their space and independence. They’re also territorial by nature and feel more comfortable when they have their own space that they can escape to at any time. This is why your cat may not like being held – because she feels like she is losing her “territory” if she allows you or anyone else close enough to pick her up!
So what can you do? Instead of trying to force your cat into being held (which will most likely end in tears), let her know that while she may not be able to stay out of trouble all the time due to her curious nature, there’s nothing wrong with wanting some alone time too! You can still snuggle with your furry friend without actually holding them – try laying beside each other on the couch or floor; petting him/her while lying down face-to-face; letting him/her sit on your lap for a few minutes before moving away again; etc. Of course if this doesn’t work either then maybe it’s just not meant for them yet but don’t give up hope just yet!
The key is to have lots of patience. If you keep trying, your cat will eventually get used to it.
A cat is a very independent animal. They are not affectionate and are not social animals by nature. If you have a cat, you already know this. But what if your cat doesn’t like to be held? Why does he or she behave that way?
This can be one of the hardest parts about owning a pet for many people. It’s hard to realize that your beloved pet might prefer his own company over yours, or even worse: that your efforts at giving him attention aren’t actually wanted at all!
The key is to have lots of patience. If you keep trying, your cat will eventually get used to it (if he doesn’t want you holding him). Cats usually need more time than dogs do when they’re being trained on anything new because they tend towards independence rather than friendly compliance with what their owners want them to do.”
Overall, it is important to remember that cats are different from dogs. They need space and time to adjust to new situations. The key is patience and understanding their needs. Also, keep in mind that there are many things you can do to help your cat like being held more often! For example: use toys as rewards when they’re calm around you or spend more time playing with them outside so they can get used to being around people on a daily basis.
