They all have different personalities. What was your cat's background?
My sweetest cat was apparently feral and rehabilitated at a shelter,
but she still runs from me and from everyone most of the time. It is
like a reflex. Then sometimes she comes to me because she wants to be
petted; or she climbs on top of me when I'm sleeping and peers at me
until I wake and talk to her and pet her. She adores affection, but on
her terms.

Cats are complicated when compared with, say, dogs. They are
independent and quirky and have their own minds. Quixotic is a good
term for them at times. I'm not sure my cat is honestly afraid of me,
and I imagine yours isn't either. They are all about instinct--lots of
hind brain and not much forebrain.They do change and seem to turn on a
dime. Maybe it is because we are such big animals, and clearly
dominant. (We control the food, for one thing.) I don't think you cat
is abnormal--just perfectly unique like every other!

It sounds to me like you play too rough.  You cannot play with a cat
the way you play with a dog.  You need to be gentle.  Go to the pet
store and buy a book or two on cats -- or the public library should
have a good choice.  The more YOU learn about cats, the better off you
will be and you will enjoy the car much more.  Good luck to you and
the cat.

My cat is about 2yrs old and she's the same.  I think it's just "playing"
behaviour.  She does it especially after eating for some reason.  I believe
it's just there way of letting off steam.  If you watch kittens they are the
same, always jumping and play fighting with each other, and even though your
cat is 1? that's still young for a cat.

Jeannie