I have a feral tortie like that. I’ve picked her up twice when I had to trap her to take her to the vet. She does cuddle up with another cat on my bed at night, and i can hear her purr -——— but I sooooo want to hold and cuddle her!!!
When I first got Cootie, she was a few months old and I had to take her to the vet after about a week due to intestinal parasites. When I picked her up to put her in the carrying case, she went full bobcat on me. Scratches on my hands, arms and face. Even had to walk into the vet's office with a band aid on my nose.....They got a big kick out of that.