Cat people, little help

[flipflopsandwine]

The cat came home yesterday. It's actually a she. Lol I was getting most of my information from SIL and she was mistaken.

She's been really sweet but just a few minutes ago I tried picking her up from the front and she bit my arm. She has a clean bill of health from the vet. It barely broke the skin in one little spot but it's raised and red. I cleaned it and put neosporin on it.

Is this something cats just do? Is it just because she's not used to me yet? Lol I have never had a cat before so I'm not sure what to expect.

[luckyval]

I would say it's because she's not used to you yet. Wait for her to warm up to you before you pet her let alone pick her up right now

[Deleted]

Give her some time. Invite her to come to you and eventually she will. Let her walk away from you if she wants to.

[limey]

I've always found that fosters and adopted animals were a little skittish for the first two weeks. After that, they see the environment is more stable and they relax a bit.

[flipflopsandwine]

Ok thanks! She's been laying around us and seemed pretty comfortable but I know it's all very new for her.

[Deleted]

If she's not hiding from you, you're definitely on to a good start

[sawyerthedestroyer]

My cat that I've had for 10 years still bites for absolutely no reason.

Give her time, she'll chill out.

[peachmojito]

Both of my (very loving) cats were rescues and took a few weeks to warm up. Both love to lay on me and cuddle but even after five years, neither really likes being picked up. Cats generally like to call the shots on physical affection.

One thing that helped them both to warm up to me was catnip toys. They go bananas over that shit!

[mrssavy42112]

Ditto everyone else in giving it time. Also, the way you approach can be an issue. Like LHC said, approach cautiously. If you come at her from above, it can be scary/intimidating to see this big thing coming at you. When you come from their level, they’re less likely to be defensive. Hopefully she’ll get over it

[flipflopsandwine]

she's actually only gone under the dresser to sleep for a little while this morning while I was getting ds ready. Most of the time she's been on the back of the couch watching ds play or in the big chair. Right now I'm laying in bed (I'm sick) and she's asleep at the foot of the bed.

[flipflopsandwine]

Thanks everyone!

[Deleted]

Aw, it sounds like she likes you guys.

[cheeseandcrackers]

How old is the cat?
Does she have a safe room?

[Deleted]

It all sounds good so far!

When I pick up my guy I'm standing next to him and scoop him up around the middle. I don't think he'd like a front pick up but I've never tried it because he's so big.

He also sometimes bites. He seems to get "confused" about how much petting/direct attention he likes. Usually he starts twitching his tail which is the signal to just leave him alone

[Deleted]

I keep reading this as "little people, help!"

Totally wrong.

[verycontrary247]

One of my female cats is a total bitch and hates being picked up, having her feet or belly touched. The other ones couldn't care less. I think it just varies from cat to cat.

[ilovesawyer]

Get some Whisker Lickin's. They are like cat cocaine. The cat will love you. Like everyone else says, they are all different. One of my cats loves to be held like a baby. One is a total lap cat, but does not like to be picked up and the two others don't like to be held.

[MixedBerryJam]

Don't forget to bribe her with treats. When I was dating ddh my mantra was "the way to a man's heart is through his cat's stomach" and while the "way to a man's heart" part of my saying might not apply in this situation, the way to a cat's heart is through her stomach, too. I used to have to fake cough when I was unwrapping cheese slices for my kids' sandwiches because one always came running. We always gave him the corners.