Same with one of my cats, except that not only does he not like strangers, he also hates to be held. If you pick him up, it'll take about 10 seconds before he starts meowing, LOUDLY.
This is the same cat that'll start purring if I so much as touch him. He'll run away (still purring) if he's had too much petting.
I guess he's just a very sensitive cat.
The other one will get right up into stranger's faces if they let him.
He's a bossy cat.
Cats all have their own personalities. Most of the cats that I've had didn't care for strangers. However, I once I had a cat that loved everyone. She would purr all the time, never cried, let anyone (including children) pick her up, and loved sitting on laps. She had cancer and passed away a couple of years ago. I still miss her.
Say, maybe you (or anyone here) can help me. A couple of weeks after Wimpy died (3/29/2003, bless his little old heart!) I got a new cat. She was almost a year old then, so she's a little over 2 years old now. She's not afraid of anybody, she's boisterous, loves to play and has lots of energy, and does all sorts of cute, strange, funny things. We've often thought about getting another cat just to keep her company, but are afraid of what might happen if things go wrong. Once I agree to take a cat permanently, then it's permanent. I don't believe in giving up a pet except for extraordinary circumstances.
To make a longer story short, we are going to give a kitten a trial weekend at our house. Her present owners also have a grown female, and she can't stand this kitten. The owners won't send it to the pound if it doesn't work out with us, but will give it to a no-kill rescue operation.
So I've got a grown spayed female, and I'm going to try to introduce an un-neutered male kitten and I need to see in the space of a weekend if this is something that will work out, or if it's going to be a disaster.
Any advice?