My 2 y.o. cat Pip has always been friendly but skittish. Almost never stays on the lap, but will now cross over me to get to the arm of a chair, and from there she wants to lick my arms. My wife says "just tell her no" but as we all know, its in your volume, the word no itself means nothing. Saying no conversationally does nothing. Since she is a very skittish cat, and I'm happy she is willing to cross over me and perch so close, I don't want to say no loud enough to scare her down. Moving my hands and arms does nothing. Its impossible to fully evade her. She will lick my hands or arms enough to make them itchy with that sticky feeling. Its gross. But I'm kind of at a loss. I don't usually wear long sleaves this early in the season, and it wouldn't solve the problem anyways, as she is happy to lick my hands. Putting her off the arm and onto the lap results in her getting down and isnt much different from gently putting her on the ground.
I guess I just don't know how to train a skittish cat. With any of the other cats I've had, by age two I just wouldn't worry about it. I'd either put them down, or use a loud "no!" they would jump down and either way they would be back before too long. With Pip, I kind of think that would hurt her progress.
I guess I just don't know how to train a skittish cat. With any of the other cats I've had, by age two I just wouldn't worry about it. I'd either put them down, or use a loud "no!" they would jump down and either way they would be back before too long. With Pip, I kind of think that would hurt her progress.