Lap cat?

[Snozzlemaid]

Our rescue cat is 10 months old and isn't a lap cat so far.
She slept close to us for her first couple of days but now mostly sleeps in her cat tree hammock, on the floor or at the other end of the sofa.
Is this likely to change as she gets older or will she never be one to sleep on a lap?

Be careful what you wish for.
It's impossible to sit down in out house without a cat appearing from nowhere and welding itself to your lap. Referred to as being incapussitated.

But to answer your question, yes I have had cats that have become lap cats as they have got older.

My kittens are similar, we are trying to increase stroking and holding gradually, they are coming to us for little visits now so I'm hoping it will get better.

All my cats have gone soft in their older years

Have you tried putting a fleece on your lap? They can’t resist a fleece.

Yes. My cat is desperately nervous (her brother was super confident and they really were treated the same). For the first few years she would snuggle next to me but not commit herself to The Lap. Now? Total lap cat

Not all older cats take to laps. My cat has been with us since she was 4, now 11, and has been on my lap four or five times in those years. She loves to sleep on the bed, though, and will curl up against or sometimes on my legs so it’s not to do with being timid or unaffectionate. Just not keen on laps... or being picked up.

I find she goes through phases with routines and sleeping spots, so yours may well be similar and swap the hammock or sofa for your lap again before too long!

Thanks all.
I currently have a fleece blanket over me and cat is laying on the floor by my feet.
She does like to be close to humans but not that close just yet.

She just might not be a lap cat. I've got 6 cats. 5 of them are on your lap before your arse has touched the sofa cushion. The other one is massively affectionate and will sit next/behind you, but not on you. It's just how she is. We've had her since she was about 5mo and she's now 2yo. Always been the same. Cute as a button, no nerves, no history etc. Just doesn't like laps.

incapussitated

I love it!

Some do! My fluffy one I couldn't touch at all for her first six months, she'd slink off and hide if I tried. Now she comes and asks for cuddles, snoozes on my feet, and especially loves lap cuddles when I'm on the loo 😂 furry little weirdo. She and her sister will be 8 next month.

I love incapussitated too!

My almost 3yo girl (originally feral, came to us around 7months old) has only started to like laps in the last few months - before that she would come and lie down nearby. She's still learning how to sit on a lap though which is super cute - very tentative treading and eg she tries to climb on my lap while I'm sitting at my desk - she ended up on my ankles the other day and a fleece blanket def helps here too.

Not all cats are lap cats, but I've had numerous felines - mostly rescues - and they all became more cuddly as they get older. Usually at about 6 years

At 10m you've got a couple of years of high spirits to go!

Same grumpy Mine follow me around waiting for me to sit down 😭😂😂

My cat is 14 months and finds a sitting person for a 20 minute pre nap fuss. Lots of nose boops, purring, laying on his back in your arms for belly rubs, rubbing your face , chatting and walking all over you. Then he settles next to you. It’s very lovely if you are the chosen one. DD gets the majority of his attention.

He stretches a paw out and holds your leg/foot when he is sleeping.

Ours goes through phases - currently she likes to sit on DP’s chest if he lies on the sofa. In winter I use a heated throw and she is all over me/it. She generally likes to be in a room at least one of us is in, even if she is doing her own thing.

Perhaps unusually, she actually mainly sleeps in her own bed, so we tend to move her and the bed around - if she’s in at night I put it on the sofa beside me, and at bedtime we plonk cat and bed in the kitchen. (Otherwise she’s poking us in the face at 5am looking for breakfast.)

They're all different. I have three and they all like different things.

Girlcat loves a cuddle and is super affectionate - she's the perfect lap cat and absolutely loves a kiss and a fuss.

Kittencat is a bit half and half. He likes a lap but on his terms and doesn't like being held or picked up. But he will sit curled up by your knee or foot.

Fatcat is just a grumpy bugger he will sit on you maybe twice a year and only on his terms, and only for about 10 minutes at a time at that. He's not very affectionate but he does love a head stroke and a fuss.