Hello,

I'm trying to find out information on how to teach a semi-feral cat to
like being picked up (or at least tolerate it).

I adopted a semi-feral from the humane society about seven months ago
(she is now 13 mo old), and in this time she has stopped hiding, and
usually comes up to me at night for pets - sitting beside me on the
sofa, purring her heart out. Occasionally she will step over me to get
to a better seat, or sit on me if I am lying down covered by a
blanket. She never sits on my lap if the blanket is not there, though.
More importantly, she hates being picked up and will hide for a few
hours when an attempt is made. She also disliked being petted if she
is not in one of her designated "safe" spots - aka, the sofa, the
kitty tree, or the bed. If I try to pet her while she walks around on
the floor, or when she is on the windowsill, she hides from me for an
hour.

I am trying to get her to adjust by putting my arms around her when
she's allowing pets, and sometimes adjusting her so she's closer to my
lap, but it's slow progress. I'd really like some advice on how to get
her to be pick-up-able, as I'd like to take her to the vet for an
annual checkup in a month or two and I'd really like for the pick-up
not to be a traumatic chasing around the house and swoop into a box
experience. I also worry about putting her back into the box once we
are at the vet.

She likes treats, but won't come forward for them, I've tried
sardines, I've tried turkey and chicken meat, she waits until I give
up and put it down in a dish before she comes out of the hiding spot.

Thanks,

Shana