How can my cat become a lap cat

[epistoliere]

Since April 10, I have a new female cat of 8 months, Choupinette. My other cat, Grisouille, a female of 4 yrs old, was so lonesome after my Poupette lost her battle to cancer after 3½ wonderful yrs - she was the best cat ever. I know that Choupinette isn't Poupette, but do some of you know how to encourage a cat to be a lap cat, or at least, be closer. Choupinette is always following me, but she won't sleep with me or be held when I am sitting down. Is it that she is too young and wants to play all the time? She seems to be alerted by every possible move or sound, and she looks as she wants fun and nothing else. It's been a while since I had a young cat, maybe 30 years, so I probably forgot how it was. Any clue to make her want to be closer and calm?:confused:

[PayItForward]

She is a teenaged kitten bear with her, give her another few months of loving and she'll want more cuddles.

http://www.piftails.com/calculatorcatage.html

[jenluckenbach]

Hello and welcome to pet talk.

There really is no way to MAKE a cat have a particular personality trait. She will be who she is, no matter what. But time and calm encouragement usually helps.

[BigCharles]

Hello epistoliere and welcome to PT.

Eight months is late to start "training" your cat. If you get them as babies you can do some things. Almost everytime that you see them sleeping on the floor, pick them up and lay them in somebodys lap or next to you on the couch.

You can still have a great influence. Be there and love that cat. Don't smother. I like to pick up my cats and walk with them. I carry them around and show them the stuff that is high up that the would never see otherwise. Cats like being high up. It is a defensive posture that comes from the wild.


Hey PayItForward, thanks for the calculator. According to that my boy is 77. No wonder that he is such and old f--- , er, puff of wind.

Old cats or kittens, we love them all so much.

[epistoliere]

Thank you all, I will be patient. After all, Choupinette has already great qualities, she never was aggressive or nasty. She is cute and makes me laugh a lot. And she is a very vocal cat, she answers me whenever I talk to her. And she brings me back the shoelace I throw and deposes it at my feet. I am probably too demanding... after 5 weeks, I should indeed be more patient.

[smokey the elder]

Is there some kind of treat she really likes? Bribery can be VERY effective.

[dragonchilde]

Definitely go out of your way to acknowledge her; Scratch ears and speak to her, and you can try picking her up, but is she wants to get down, don't restrain her. Associate yourself with as much good stuff as possible, and maybe that will help. ;)

But all cats are different, and affectionate to different degrees. Mozart, for example, is a lap cat, but only when he wants to be, and when it's on his terms (and usually when I'm about to go pee, actually). Noodles loves to jump in my lap any chance he gets.

Tinkerbell, now he'll sleep in my lap any time I care to set him there, no matter what he was doing before. He's 16 though, so usually that just means he forgot what he was up to.

Minette loves being rubbed and scratched, but hates being picked up, and isn't a lap cat, at all.

Wobbles? I can't even touch her, but she hates being alone. She has to be right with us, wherever we are. She'll sit with my husband for short stretches as long as he touches only her head, but that usually wears out quickly before she growls and runs. She's just not a sweet cat, at all ;) She's pretty and she talks to us, so we leave her be. ;)

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by BigCharles
Hey PayItForward, thanks for the calculator.
Glad you liked it :D

[TopCat3]

Originally posted by PayItForward
She is a teenaged kitten bear with her, give her another few months of loving and she'll want more cuddles.

http://www.piftails.com/calculatorcatage.html

What a nice website-just had a quick squizz. That makes my senior cat 82yrs 5mths:( oh God bless her and give us many more happy healthy years together. Thanks for introducing me,your cats are lovely, one of the black ones particularly "drew" me - amber eyes, sorry so many can't remember which name. Thanks again I'll explore another time. TC:)

[Barbara]

I am sorry- maybe she will never be a lap cat. I have two boys - Tigris will sit on your lap from time to time (let's assume every two months), Filou never.

But both do other sweet things to show me they love me.

Je suis sure Choupinette aussi bien va te montrer son amour;)

[crazmeese]

if you bond with her for a little while, she might want to cuddle with you more. thats how my cat, diego was. if the cat still dosent want to cuddle, dont make her.

[epistoliere]

Patience... I understand that Choupinette needs time, and it is true, maybe she will never be lap cat. However, she answers me each time I say Chou..., and she comes when I call her. There is hope I think. It seems that the best treats for her are butter, cheese, milk and olives. I will try these milk pills, they might work. And yes, Barbara, je pense que Choupinette sera la meilleure des chattes! Merci! Thanks to you all!

:D

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

It is very difficult to teach your cat something like this! Most cats don't want to be forced to sit on your lap; but one day, they might decide for themselves that they WANT TO sit on your lap. It's their decision !!!:)

[epistoliere]

A lap cat, maybe not, but she talks so much that I can't ask for more. Sometimes, she sits on the balcony and responds when I shout "Where are you", and if I do not go on the balcony myself, she runs inside as if to say, "I am here, don't worry!" Cats! On the other hand, I found Grisouille, my other cat, asleep behind my head, on the pillow, this morning, something she never did in the last 3 years. So, yes, cats do what they want when they want and if they want... And it is the unexpected that I like in cats.

[AvaJoy]

Originally posted by Maya & Inka's mommy
It is very difficult to teach your cat something like this! Most cats don't want to be forced to sit on your lap; but one day, they might decide for themselves that they WANT TO sit on your lap. It's their decision !!!:) Case in point is my Debra, who for years has not liked being picked up and would not cuddle much at all. Lately she has started to jump onto my lap in the mornings when I sit down at the table to have my coffee . . . odd but very endearing!:)

I am going through the same stage with my almost 1 year old Chazmanian Devil. I doubt if he will EVER be a lap cat and I need to accept his personality as it is . . . but still hoping that maybe with maturity he will decide to seek out affection. All he wants to do (besides nap and eat) is terrorize my older cats. He is a bully to them, and to humans . . . he strikes out and bites throwing mini temper tantrums if you try to pick him up when he is in play mode. He will hiss and growl if you go near him when he is eating. He sure put on a sweet, docile act when I found/rescued him. He is smart as a whip and just as quick. He refuses to wear a collar and I know why . . . so as to remain as discreet as possible in his mischievious deeds. He chewed through the cord to my cell phone charger the other day . . . it is a wonder he did not electrocute himself. UGH!

[TopCat3]

Avajoy, it sounds like you have your hands full with that one! Perhaps Debra's had enough of his antics and is seeking respite with you before you leave in the mornings?! Hopefully "Chas" will grow out of this. I have had two Blue Point Siamese (known to be mischievous/demanding) and they both gave me a challenging time as kittens. They both settled down later on after about age 2. Hang in there! I lost my dear Sapphire at age 7 and now have Colette - she's still lively but much more manageable as she has grown up. Best wishes:)

[lvpets2002]

:cool: Just kick back & let the cat be its self & as you know some people like alot of attention & some dont & well pets are the same way & it shows more in cats. However try doing the cats favorite thing - like tummy rub or coming for the bedroom before you go to sleep. Now the lap issue - you can try having treats to lure your baby to your lap & then they will get comfee with that. But then again this could or could not all work. Trust me your baby could have worse problems than this. Hope this helps & Good Luck

[epistoliere]

You are giving me hope... A teenager is often hyperactive and settles down after a while. Well, most of teens. Choup is quite a cat, and one of her last tricks is unrolling toilet paper and chewing it. Try to catch her when she does this: impossible. Fortunately, she does not do this every day. When I do not forget, I put an elastic around the roll... I figure that in a couple of years, I will miss these "funny" tricks. By the way, I find this pet talk very instructive, and like you I guess, I see that you can live in USA, Belgique, Australia, Canada, etc., love for cats is an international love and should be an exemple for those who can't believe in harmony.