How to create a lap cat

[eurochick]

We have two 7 month old British shorthair kittens (sisters). I would dearly love them to be lap cats but they are not keen. One will tolerate being picked up (briefly) but if you put her on your lap she will jump straight off. The other turns into a creature made entirely of teeth and claws if you try to pick her up.

They have come on enormously since we got them a few months ago - to begin with they would hide all the time and were very timid. They are getting friendlier but still won't sit on a lap. Any suggestions?

Obligatory photos attached.

Mine are sporadic lap cats but only on their terms. Sometimes only last 5 minutes before going to find a better spot to lie on. They spend more time with the kids than me/dh

They are gorgeous! What are their names??

My suggestions would be to keep trying gently and lots of strokes. Maybe sit next to them stroking them then they might go on to your lap as the next step.
Maybe put a snuggly blanket on your lap which they have been lying on so it has their scent.
They are so lovely!

One of mine hops on when the temperature starts dropping, but she's exceptionally friendly needy anyway. Maybe turn the heating off for a bit..
I find mine prefers my lap when I have a nice fleece blanket on it or wearing my dressing gown.

I am currently trying to train our 4 year old American Shorthair to become a lap cat.
I think it’s partly socialization and partly personality.

She stays on my lap for about a minute now and then but only if I stroke her or give her a massage.
Reward good behavior I’d say.

Give them time - they may well come round. Just keep stroking them when they'll accept it and keep trying on the picking up - just make are they always have an escape route/can get down.

One of our is happy to be picked up/will sit on our knees when he thinks he's due food (so for most of the day) - he leaves us alone after his dinner!

The other has never been touchy feely, but likes to lie on the back of the sofa (preferably on the furry blanket) and purr down my ear/lean on me for support to stop him falling off the sofa ). He also likes to sleep next to me on the bed if he's allowed (I think it's for warmth in the winter). He never sits on my lap. During the day, he acts like a teenager embarrassed by his mum when ever I go near him

If it's any consolation, ours seem to have got cuddlier as they've got older and got more used to us. it is all on their terms though!

I have three and all three will now climb onto our laps but only on their terms.
None of them did as kittens and they are all getting more cuddly as they get older. They definitely prefer it if you wear a fleecy blanket and none will touch a naked leg, if you wear shorts they will contort themselves to not have to touch your disgusting hairless skin.

Just give them time!

None of mine mike being picked up though, the indignity!

I'm not sure if you can create a lap cat. I think it's more their personality. Fluffy blankets on your knees or fluffy dressing gowns do help though and I agree they do seem to get cuddlier as they get older.

I would love either of ours to become lap cats - unfortunately they have worked this out and so seem to refuse on principle Indeed I simply said hello to one of them early and she actually sneered at me. However they will let the kids pick them up and turn them upside down and wrap them in blankets and all while purring loudly - the sneering cat will also mew at DH to sit down so she can sit on him. So my only tip would be to definitely avoid looking desperate for affection

Thanks all. There are no bare legs at this time of year but I'll try a blanket - thanks. Maybe it's just a case of waiting as some of you have said their cats have got cuddlier with age. I was hoping the colder weather might make them see the merits of a warm lap but not yet!

I think having siblings might not help - they have each other and are less interested in us. A friend got a single kitten the same week we got ours and he has been all over them since day 1.

Bribe with cat treats, nice cuddly blanket, and not too much fuss. Not all cats will be lappy though, whatever you do, you have to find the type of cuddle that works for them, be that sitting on you or next to you or just walking up and down while you stroke them.

Best knit one, the only way to be sure a cat will sit on your lap happily

Maybe buy some cardboard and some fake fur??
My 2 never sit on anyone but dh.
Shows me who sits around on their arse the most.....

"During the day, he acts like a teenager embarrassed by his mum when ever I go near him"

Gorgeous cats OP!

I have a lovely floofy cat who is always warm and I would love her to be a lap cat, but she refuses. Instead she insists I pick her up and cradle her vertically on my chest with her head on my shoulder I have to be standing up for this, of course, to cause maximum inconvenience to me more fool me, I do it too and stand motionless in the kitchen holding her like this for long stretches of time.

( I just realised how stupid I sound to even do this, let alone tell people I do it )

After coming up for 4 years, both of mine now finally do cuddles sitting beside me, and will be picked up and held (while scritching of course) for a couple of minutes.

Bearing in mind it took me MONTHS to even touch them, I think one day they may end up on my lap - which they will then fight over of course, as I may have a very large lap but neither cat is exactly small (4.5kg & 6kg).

It took Fatty two years to sit on my knee. She sat on a cushion to start with, then a towel and then would sit without anything. Snorg will stay on my knee if she's out there but not otherwise.

My first 5 cats, one was a lap cat but only on my mum.

Our departed boy loved my lap/pillow but took about 6 years to sit on dhs lap.

Try a fleece on your lap or fake fur. Failing that switch the heating off and wait.

I think having siblings might not help - they have each other and are less interested in us.

This might wear off as they grow. I've had several sets of siblings and only one pair carried on snuggling up together into adulthood.

IME the only way you can create a lap cat is to be doing something vital and time-critical on your laptop that can't be delayed...then the little buggers queue up to get on my lap

Be careful what you wish for. BoyCat sits on my lap every weekday morning while I'm sitting on the sofa (usually around 6am as I'm getting ready for work). It's part of his daily routine.

Saturday and Sunday roll around and he meows at me at 6am demanding to sit in my lap... Basically he tells me off for not being available and waiting around for him to sit on!

(Ashamed to admit that I will sometimes get out of bed and oblige...!)

My cat ignores me and never sits on my lap...until I pick a book up. Then he’s all over me, standing on the book, circling around it, trying to shove the book off my knee. I’ll give in and move the book. Only to get maybe 30 seconds of lap cuddles before he struts off again. We repeat this endlessly.

This thread made me laugh, at the grand old age of 12 our British shorthair has finally become a lap cat! Will even sit on the kids, so you might have to wait a while!

Keep trying. Took a few yrs with ours, but we got there with lots of affection. They came to associate laps with lots of lovely strokes.

One of mine is a sucker for blankets; put one across the lap & he's there like a shot.

Sounds like I will need to be a bit more patient...

We have had three British blues, none of which were lap cats although they all wanted and enjoyed human company. We now have two 2 year old moggies, that have just started to sit on laps so yours may change as they get older.

One of mine is, but we had her pre weaning so she's just continued with it. Usually at the most inconvenient times.

Ex feral is extremely cuddly, and enjoys being carried around, but only gets on knees if it's cold/ outside, she prefers squashing against your side under an arm.

Third is the exact opposite of lap cat, he tolerates stroking on occasion. A handful of times when dp has been sleeping off jet lag in the day when it's cold and the heating is off he's slept on dp top of the quilt, but we're under no illusions that's about warmth.