What If Your Cat Isn’t a Lap Cat?

The post What If Your Cat Isn’t a Lap Cat? by Susan Logan McCracken appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Although certified cat behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger’s cats are lap cats, they didn’t all used to be. Marilyn, who clicker trained her two Bengals and Savannah, has an early generation Bengal who was not a lap cat when she was younger. So, what if your cat isn’t a lap cat? Let’s look into what makes cats lap cats … or not!

1. Age matters

Age might be a factor in determining if a cat is a lap cat or not. Photography by vladans/Thinkstock.

Age can be a factor, because while they’re young with high energy levels, they may be more interested in running around and exploring their territory than relaxing on a lap. Some cats become lap cats when they lose some of their athletic ability as they age. They might feel more vulnerable when they’re older and will seek security by sitting on a trusted human’s lap.

2. A cat’s backstory comes into play

It could have a lot to do with their history, Marilyn says. All cats have their own history which influences how secure or insecure they feel about socializing and lap sitting, she explains. For example, a cat may have been raised in an environment that included a lot of handling and petting. Others may have had little socialization and, as a result, will end up more fearful of humans. “Years ago I rehabilitated a feral cat I trapped,” Marilyn says. “It took one year until he felt comfortable enough to venture out from under the couch, another year until he let me pet him and then finally, about three years after I trapped him, he sat in my lap.”

3. Some cats just aren’t lap cats!

Some cats might never become lap cats, because that’s just their personality, and that’s OK. “Some show their affection sitting next to you. They want to be near you but don’t want to sit on your lap,” Marilyn says. Just as we all have our preferences and love languages, if you will, cats also have their preferred ways of showing and receiving affection. So far, my cat Sophie is not a lap cat, but she gets brushed five times a day because I’m convinced that being brushed is her love language.

Tell us: Are your cats lap cats — or do they show their affection in other ways?

About the author:

Susan Logan-McCracken is an award-winning author and editor who shares her home with her husband and two red tabby domestic longhairs.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in Catster magazine. Have you seen the new Catster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting area of your vet’s office? Click here to subscribe to Catster and get the bimonthly magazine delivered to your home. 

Thumbnail: Photography ©hocus-focus | Getty Images.

Read more about cat love on Catster.com:

• Wondering “Does My Cat Love Me?” 9 Ways Cats Show Love
• Cat Love Bites — What Do They Mean and Why Do They Happen?
• Why Do Cats Lick You? 7 Things to Know

The post What If Your Cat Isn’t a Lap Cat? by Susan Logan McCracken appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.