All but one of my cats (and I have several) love to be petted. Most will put in at least some lap time, some are serious face-lickers.
And then there's Angelus.
He was born in my study, and I cuddled and played with the whole litter from their early days. (Ever get simultaneously mugged by six tiny razor-clawed kittens?) The others found homes, but Angel has a heart murmur, so I kept him, not knowing whether he'd make it. Well, he's two years old now, handsome and active. And exasperating.
He usually dodges out of the way when I reach to pet him. Sometimes he'll permit a pet or two, but then he promptly abandons the area. He will have no part of being picked up and cuddled . . . EXCEPT right after I take a shower, when he will come flying out of nowhere onto my shoulders and proceed to rub around my head and neck, purring like thunder. He'll climb all over me, trusting that I won't let him fall, for several minutes.
Then he jumps down and treats me like, well, something the cat dragged in.
The other odd thing about this guy is that he really, seriously loves other cats. He's forever snuggling with the other housecats, and if he had his way every cat who appears at the window would be invited inside.
So is Angelus an exceptionally neurotic kitty, or does he just get his kicks from yanking my chain? Maybe he can't forgive me for naming him after a TV character (his whole litter was initially named after characters from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer").
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