Evil Mittens.......

[sweet_stormy]

As you guyz know, I have a kitten named Mittens. She is very "evil". well, today i picked her up to let her climb on my shoulder, like she always does, and her left hind foot slipped and scratched me on my throat. So, now I have 2 huge scratches close to my neck. They itch a lot. What should I do? Mittens is always trying to figure out a way to "attack" me. She is almost 9 months old and she hates it when people try to pick her up. Is there something I can do to prevent her from attacking another person when they try to pick her up? plz help.

[Fallon]

I don't know if there is much you can do, she just sounds like a playful kitty! maybe people shouldn't pick her up, without being warned? heh

[ActionCat007]

I had a cat like that as well, I would just avoid picking her up. Show your love by petting, playing and brushing her.

[kittykay]

Hey, try rubbing Cortaid onto the scratches. That stuff reduces inflammation and soothes the itch. It's over-the-counter and is very safe for frequent use, unlike cortisone cream that the doctor must prescribe. That might solve the first problem of the itching scratches, but for the second problem, maybe this little girl just doesn't like being handled--some cats are like that--so just let her have her space and maybe adopt another one who DOES like being cuddled. Everybody benefits!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by ActionCat007
I would just avoid picking her up.

Why pick her up if she doesn't like it? And if she doesn't like being picked up by you, why in the world would she want to be picked up by a stranger? You talk as if her slipping and scratching you was intentional. If you don't want to be scratched, why are you putting her on your shoulders?

Sometimes owning a cat takes common sense.

[smokey the elder]

Some cats just plain don't like to be held. Smokey the Younger was born in my house, and handled since she was less than 24 hours old. If I pick her up she howls like she's being beaten up! But on HER terms she jumps on my chest and kneads and purrs like crazy.

[carole]

I agree with what the others have said, my Lexie has the sweetest nature out, yet she just does not like to be handled much or is a lap cat, I just be patient and let her do things on her terms, ok occasionally I do pick her up , because I just love to cuddle her so much, but I make it short and sweet, and she seems ok with that.

[Brass and cats]

I know how you feel...my cat Joker is the most socialble freindly cat to all people and animals...but, he doesn't like to be picked up, will NOT sit/sleep on your lap. he likes things on his own terms. He will sleep only on the end of my bed...but you can't go put your head next to him or he leaves!! I feel like I'm constantly trying to win his affection...but I realizzed after a year that this is just the way he is. When you don't obide by his rules, he will attack you!! and when you pull him off with all you might after losing some skin, he actually runs after you and pounces on to attack again. At first it was really creepy, but after a while you learn this Jeckell and Hyde cat is just a king who likes it his way. When he is in a good mood, he wants to be pet or fed or playyed with. Thank God for water pistols!!!!