When Big Mama first came to me, I don't think she
had ever been picked up other than to move her some where.

She had lived a feral life for some indeterminate amount
of time...she was found living in the woods, and pregnant.

After she had her kittens and they grew big enough, she
was allowed outside again by her benefactor.
She followed me home about 300 meters from where she
was staying, and I fed her.
Then she came back the next day, and never left.

I never picked her up at all for the first 2 years of
staying with me...
The first couple times I picked her up, she was kind
of uneasy and didn't really like it, so I would put her
back down.
One time she even tried to bite my face!

How things change...
now I call her and she stands at the bottom of my feet
in anticipation to be picked up!
I slowly move my hands down to her so she can see them
(so she can change her mind if she wants and walk away,
but she knows what my intentions are).
And yes, once, just once, she walked away and wouldn't
let me pick her up.

Unlike the handlers of "fancy cats" where they stretch them
out and turn them around...that wouldn't work on Mama, and
indeed most of those cats have to practice that everyday in
order to achieve that type of handling.

I always pick her up and put her down very gently, so she
has developed trust in being secure.
One hand supports her hind legs, and her front legs rest
on my chest.
The pick up usually only lasts 1-2 minutes.

But once she's up there with me, she purrs and purrs
happy as can be, and looks all around to see all the things
she can't see from the floor level.

? Does your cat liked to be picked up, or is it a strict no-no?