My cat Clyde likes me quite a bit and doesn't mind being picked up. He was born in a foster home and handled when young, and he always tolerated it even if he didn't usually purr. Purring is when he comes on the lap.
Anyway, somewhere along the way, he somehow decided that if you pick him up, your hand is a scratching toy. He isn't generally a biter, as long as you avoid rubbing the belly and that sort of thing. I am good with the shoulder carry, works great with most cats, but I can't even get to that because he goes for the submission hold on the hand/arm immediately. Its not an angry don't pick me up thing at all, its play, but it hurts.
As far as I know, there is nothing I can do but say No, which doesn't phase him (can't get too loud, can't scare him when I'm holding him), don't move my hand, wait till he calms down, then keep holding him and talking to him. But its painful and I don't see progress.
I think I just have to give up picking him up entirely. Unless anyone has some clever technique to try?
Anyway, somewhere along the way, he somehow decided that if you pick him up, your hand is a scratching toy. He isn't generally a biter, as long as you avoid rubbing the belly and that sort of thing. I am good with the shoulder carry, works great with most cats, but I can't even get to that because he goes for the submission hold on the hand/arm immediately. Its not an angry don't pick me up thing at all, its play, but it hurts.
As far as I know, there is nothing I can do but say No, which doesn't phase him (can't get too loud, can't scare him when I'm holding him), don't move my hand, wait till he calms down, then keep holding him and talking to him. But its painful and I don't see progress.
I think I just have to give up picking him up entirely. Unless anyone has some clever technique to try?