Frankie is definitely a lap cat! he does like to be held like a baby and cuddle in or sometimes he flings himself on his back first for a tummy rub, then he cuddles in! He usually stays for 10-15 mins then gets down for a while. He does this several times during the evening. If I go on the computer he frequently tries to get on my lap, but this does make typing a bit difficult, especially when he pushes the keyboard away!
Bella is only snuggly in bed. She will lay between our pillows and stay for a little time; as long as I am petting and scratching her. She likes hard surfaces: sleeps on my night stand, on a marble window ledge in the bathroom, the coffee table, etc. She has only fallen asleep beside my leg on the sofa once; almost 3 months ago.
I can cradle her in my arms and kiss and snuggle with her for about 30 seconds and then she is ready to be put down.
I just love the snuggling that she will let me have with her (and hope for a little more as she ages.)
You can bring out the full potential of this behavior by working at it. Keep in mind that it is up to you to make it attractive. Take the current behavior and select small steps to work on. Put a favorite piece of cat furniture right by where you sit and reach out to cuddle. Use treats. Use blankets. Use toys. Just keep making the next small steps of increasing closeness or increasing time the goals. Cats that are sleepy will stay on you longer - if you stay calm. Pick the cat up and hold when sleepy. Put a blanket nest next to you and see if the cat will like that better as the next step. Always take them to bed and cuddle - and feed a treat. Even if they immediately jump down, they are more likely to come back later.
I could have voted for both yes, frequently and other parts beside my lap. Both of mine are lap kittens. Sometimes, both of them are in my lap at the same time. Yet, Gabriel prefers my stomach and chest when I am in the recliner. Better yet, he has recently started wanting to lick my nose.
I voted yes frequently but this applies mainly to the girls. I too have a recliner and when I raise the feet on it then I can have Lola, Athena and Daisy all on my lap or legs and then Casper at the end by my feet. The new addition Blossom also loves to get on my lap and she purrs fit to burst, it's so loud the others come over to investigate!
Up until about 6 months ago I would have said that Alfie and Adonis never got on my lap but now they too like to take their turn.
It's only the moggies in our house that aren't lap cats!!
If I let him, Monkey's on my lap. If I'm trying to use the computer or do homework, he's next to my lap. If I'm laying down he's on my chest. I literally have the written down description of a ragdoll...i.e. running to the door when I get home and he'll actually wrap his legs around mine like a hug and meow loudly at me if I'm not paying him enough attention. He's ridiculous, and absolutely the best cat ever. Hearing lots of stories about how other people's cats aren't "people cats" I can hardly imagine what that's like!
Oscar was a lap cat through and through - he would just walk up to you and lie himself down in your lap.
Jasper will sit in my lap if I put him there and he loves it - apart for the fact that he is to big to lie comfortably in there, so he mostly just lies on my legs (if they are stretched out) or close next to me.
Jake isn't a lap cat, the other day I put him in my lap and he stayed there for about a minute - I was thrilled!! Hopefully that means we can progress to more lap sitting
He gets smoochier and smoochier by the day (although he has always been wonderfully natured) and he actually likes his every-second-day brushing now! He has ALWAYS been a belly-up cat and he loves to stretch out on his back on the cool tiles in this hot weather. He also likes to sit himself at the end of my bed or on one of the cat beds in my room but he doesn't really sit to close except for on the computer desk where he lies all over my hands, the keyboard, the mouse - ANYTHING!!
Oh and when your walking he is very underfoot, we trip over him all the time
Not sure how I vote in this poll - they are all so different! I think I will go with the occasionally one
My kind of love
with strings attached
(11-23-2009 08:41 PM)JanH Wrote: [ -> ]You can bring out the full potential of this behavior by working at it. Keep in mind that it is up to you to make it attractive. Take the current behavior and select small steps to work on. Put a favorite piece of cat furniture right by where you sit and reach out to cuddle. Use treats. Use blankets. Use toys. Just keep making the next small steps of increasing closeness or increasing time the goals. Cats that are sleepy will stay on you longer - if you stay calm. Pick the cat up and hold when sleepy. Put a blanket nest next to you and see if the cat will like that better as the next step. Always take them to bed and cuddle - and feed a treat. Even if they immediately jump down, they are more likely to come back later.
Sassy is definitely not a lap cat but like many of the others, loves to be with me at all times, often mimicing my habits, like drinking from faucet while I brush my teeth, using the litter box while I tend to my morning ritual, eating when I eat. She does sleep with me and somewhat cuddles for a few minutes, then goes to the other side of the bed where she sleeps soundly all night until 6:40 AM, you can count on it! Then she gets up and quietly meows for water in the bathroom (is she spoiled?) and then goes into the other room.
She will come into a chair and meow in my face and paw me when she wants to go bye bye for a walk. Then she won't leave me alone, but a lap cat, 'fraid not!