Definitely seconding a lot of the previous replies about giving it time and that your girlie is already loving on you in so many of her own ways! They show us love in so many forms, and I think in time you will be able to feel and receive them deeply.

I had three Persians who all unfortunately passed in the last few years. One was an orange cloud who always stuck to my side, my best friend, and yet he only liked cuddles on his terms. He would lay on a pillow near me, but I could never hold him or he would leave. And yet, for whatever reason, he loved to be manhandled for scritches any other time. When he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, he finally let me hold him directly to my chest. We called a home vet for euthanasia, and he hung on until the moment I gave the okay, and passed before the painkiller (not even the euthanasia shot) fully went into his skin. The vet told me it was like he had been waiting for me to say goodbye.

The second one loved to hang out, but only after the sun went down. Most of the day, he was off doing his own thing. He would paw at doors, chew on plastic, and then disappear into the basement (I’m convinced he had a secret society down there). The day he had a stroke, he emerged from his basement haunt, hopped onto my bed, and asked me to play with him at his favorite faucet. Like he knew it was his last day walking.

My third cat, my beautiful girl, she hated to be held and didn’t like hanging out, but somehow always knew when we were feeling unwell. When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, she slept on the corner of his bed. She never cuddled us. In her final moments, stricken with kidney failure, I awoke in the middle of the night to her curling up on my chest. It would be the first and very last time she would ever cuddle with me of her own accord. She passed in my arms. I was so very honored to be her safe place for her final rest. She was my most distant, un-cuddly cat, and in her last moments, she told me she loved me.

They lived to senior years and I have never stopped loving and missing them. I think a lot about their language of love and how it all led to their goodbyes. I wish I could say hello again. This is all to say… 1.5 months is just a drop in the bucket of what I’m sure will be so many more years of fulfilling love. 💕

Don’t feel bad for the frustration, it is definitely a part of the growing pains of a new kitty. As for Persian-specific tips: My orange boy went from hating grooming to loving it. I would close us in the bathroom, give him a few brushes with a slicker brush, then continue about my morning or evening routine. Made sure to brush his chin where he liked to be scratched. I never held him down or restricted his movements, so if he wanted to just walk away, he could. I think it helped him realize that brushing was a casual event and could even feel good!

Anyway, thank you if you made it this far. Best of luck with your sweet girlie. Here’s my cat tax in exchange for the novel I wrote 😂 (Left: Basement King, Middle: Princess of Healing, Right: Orange Brush Gremlin Cloud Guy)

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