Need a fondling lesson

I recently adopted a pair of calico sisters, a year old. Neither one
especially likes to be picked up and held, turning into 12-legged
felines if I try. Due to coyotes in the neighbourhood, they are indoor
cats.

I've heard that calicos are not the most touchy-feely types, and as I
am already the third owner in their short lives, I suspect that they
weren't handled much as kittens.

Is this behaviour hard-wired, or should I persevere with them, and try
to get them to enjoy "up close and personal" a bit more? They follow
me from room to room like dogs, sleep with me, and are generally
pretty companionable, one being a tad more sociable than her sis.

Thanks
Blair

I wouldn't try to force it on them. Give them time and love. Some cats do
not like being picked up even if they were handled as young kittens. Enjoy
your girls!!
Gail
"blair thompson" wrote in message
...
I recently adopted a pair of calico sisters, a year old. Neither one
especially likes to be picked up and held, turning into 12-legged
felines if I try. Due to coyotes in the neighbourhood, they are indoor
cats.

I've heard that calicos are not the most touchy-feely types, and as I
am already the third owner in their short lives, I suspect that they
weren't handled much as kittens.

Is this behaviour hard-wired, or should I persevere with them, and try
to get them to enjoy "up close and personal" a bit more? They follow
me from room to room like dogs, sleep with me, and are generally
pretty companionable, one being a tad more sociable than her sis.

Thanks
Blair

Gail wrote:
I wouldn't try to force it on them. Give them time and love. Some cats do
not like being picked up even if they were handled as young kittens. Enjoy
your girls!!
Gail

:

"bag-o-switches" wrote in message
ups.com...

Gail wrote:
I wouldn't try to force it on them. Give them time and love. Some cats
do
not like being picked up even if they were handled as young kittens.
Enjoy
your girls!!
Gail

:


Hmm. You look kinda familiar, around the eyes.

On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 16:54:49 -0800, blair thompson
wrote:

I recently adopted a pair of calico sisters, a year old. Neither one
especially likes to be picked up and held, turning into 12-legged
felines if I try. Due to coyotes in the neighbourhood, they are indoor
cats.

I've heard that calicos are not the most touchy-feely types, and as I
am already the third owner in their short lives, I suspect that they
weren't handled much as kittens.

Is this behaviour hard-wired, or should I persevere with them, and try
to get them to enjoy "up close and personal" a bit more? They follow
me from room to room like dogs, sleep with me, and are generally
pretty companionable, one being a tad more sociable than her sis.

Thanks
Blair

One characteristic of Maine Coon cats, as well as some of their moggie
relatives, is the characteristic of loving being "near" you but not
"on" you.

Tiger, a Maine Coon-ish moggie, will not sit on your lap. Only in his
later years (12 yrs) has he decided that in some very particular
situations he loves being pet. This type of cat will also tend to bond
strongly to one person in the household, but be totally indifferent to
everyone else.

Louis (4 yr Bengal) is even more selective - only in his very cuddly,
going-to-sleep mode will he enjoy a gentle stroke on the neck or
cheek. Other times he shrinks away.

Ironically, the new cat, Chloe, will allow you to cuddle her like a
teddy bear, even though she has an arbitrary insane streak which can
turn quite bloody.

Cats are different.

BLink

I wouldn't force it... let them go as far as they want to..

And pray for the best ;op

--
Will~

"... so that's how liberty ends, in a round of applause."

Queen Amidala, The revenge of the Syth.


"blair thompson" wrote in message
...
I recently adopted a pair of calico sisters, a year old. Neither one
especially likes to be picked up and held, turning into 12-legged
felines if I try. Due to coyotes in the neighbourhood, they are indoor
cats.

I've heard that calicos are not the most touchy-feely types, and as I
am already the third owner in their short lives, I suspect that they
weren't handled much as kittens.

Is this behaviour hard-wired, or should I persevere with them, and try
to get them to enjoy "up close and personal" a bit more? They follow
me from room to room like dogs, sleep with me, and are generally
pretty companionable, one being a tad more sociable than her sis.

Thanks
Blair

Brian Link wrote:

Tiger, a Maine Coon-ish moggie, will
not sit on your lap.

My Tiger is also a Maine Coon-ish cat. He is a 24 pound lap cat. He
will sit there for hours at times usually preferring not to be petted -
just sleeping.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

In article ,
---MIKE--- wrote:
Brian Link wrote:

Tiger, a Maine Coon-ish moggie, will
not sit on your lap.

My Tiger is also a Maine Coon-ish cat. He is a 24 pound lap cat. He
will sit there for hours at times usually preferring not to be petted -
just sleeping.


Bubba the MC is too big for my lap, but if I'm lying down, he'll
stretch out on my chest/stomach and go to sleep. He usually
doesn't mind being petted, but sometimes he'll go from purring
to bite/scratch/bunnykick in a blink. Especially if he's on
the 'nip.

Gotta keep those nails trimmed.


Claude`

Claude V. Lucas wrote:
In article ,
---MIKE--- wrote:
Brian Link wrote:

Tiger, a Maine Coon-ish moggie, will
not sit on your lap.

My Tiger is also a Maine Coon-ish cat. He is a 24 pound lap cat. He
will sit there for hours at times usually preferring not to be petted -
just sleeping.


Bubba the MC is too big for my lap, but if I'm lying down, he'll
stretch out on my chest/stomach and go to sleep. He usually
doesn't mind being petted, but sometimes he'll go from purring
to bite/scratch/bunnykick in a blink. Especially if he's on
the 'nip.

Gotta keep those nails trimmed.


Claude`

Hi! I have a cat who doesn't like to be picked up and I have had her
since she was a kitten(she's 11 now). She loves to be petted and will
sit on my lap when it is her idea, but will not come out when company
is over. Her brother and litermate is totally opposite and they were
raised exactly the same. I think each cat just has their own
personality just like we do!

In article .com,
wrote:

Claude V. Lucas wrote:
In article ,
---MIKE--- wrote:
Brian Link wrote:

Tiger, a Maine Coon-ish moggie, will
not sit on your lap.

My Tiger is also a Maine Coon-ish cat. He is a 24 pound lap cat. He
will sit there for hours at times usually preferring not to be petted -
just sleeping.


Bubba the MC is too big for my lap, but if I'm lying down, he'll
stretch out on my chest/stomach and go to sleep. He usually
doesn't mind being petted, but sometimes he'll go from purring
to bite/scratch/bunnykick in a blink. Especially if he's on
the 'nip.

Gotta keep those nails trimmed.


Claude`

Hi! I have a cat who doesn't like to be picked up and I have had her
since she was a kitten(she's 11 now). She loves to be petted and will
sit on my lap when it is her idea, but will not come out when company
is over. Her brother and litermate is totally opposite and they were
raised exactly the same. I think each cat just has their own
personality just like we do!


That's for sure.

When I pick Bubba up I'm always careful to use both
hands and make sure that I support all his weight so
I don't accidentally hurt him and he still wiggles
and makes noises like I'm torturing him.

LOL

He's a people kitty though. He loves company and always
hits the visitors up for a few pets. He's scared to death
of other cats, though. The neighbor's kitten ran him behind
the couch by hissing at him and was only about 1/10 his
size at the time... Dunno what's up with that. It was hilarious.

Claude