Ill-Tempered Cat - HELP!

[aseymour]

I have a cat that is terribly ill-tempered. She's about two years old. You cannot pet her without her attacking you. She can NEVER be picked up. The only time she seems to be somewhat nice is the middle of the night when she's sleepy - she will sometimes climb into bed. I'm at a total loss for what to do. HELP!

[Tina B and crew]

Has she always been this way or is this a recent behavior. If it's recent then I would suggest a thorough vet check to rule out illness. If she's always this way then it's simply her nature and sometimes it's not easy to change. Many cats get what is called overstimulation aggression, and with some it doesn't take much to get them aggravated. If that is the case then you just have to limit your petting for a bit...try playing with her using a toy like a cat dancer or one of those feathers on a pole. let her get her energy out on the toy...then try petting just a wee bit at a time..once she starts to attack stop petting...talk to her softly while you pet her. You can also try petting her when she's sleepy to get her use to it. You may never get her to be lap cat but you can work on it slowly. And sometimes they calm down as they get older..good luck!