Do some cats just not like laps?

[ScaredButUnavoidable]

I got a cat from a rescue about 3 months ago and shes lovely. She’s outgoing, friendly, loves playing, loves being stroked, loves tummy tickles, rubs up against our legs, will let us pick her up etc but she will not sit on our laps.

Is this normal?

I thought all cats loved snuggling up on their owners laps?

She will sleep at the bottom of my bed but she won’t sleep near me at the top or come near me (at the top of the bed) for cuddles.

She came from a very neglectful background so I don’t know if this plays a part, but in every other way she is completely comfortable around us.

I was so looking forward to having a cat I could cuddle up to on the sofa or who would happily snuggle up in my lap ☹️

I had 8 fosters before adopting - some sat on my lap & some didn’t.

I’ve had my cat for 2 years & she’s just started sitting on my lap occasionally.

Mine never sits on a lap. He was a rescue from Blue Cross and I suspect he didn’t have a very good start to life but despite being very affectionate now - head bumps, constant chatter, following us round etc - he will never sit on your lap. I keep hoping one day he might but it’s been over a year now and nope!

My cat’s 10 (had him since he was a kitten), I can count on one hand the number of times he’s sat on a lap. He loves strokes and playing and will rub up against legs and sleeps at the bottom of the bed.

My old kitties were very affectionate but neither really liked laps. One liked to sit on the arm or back of the sofa, and the other to snuggle between me and DP, but never actually on us. Neither had ever know. A moment's unkindness, that's just how they were. They would come and make biscuits on me in the morning but not actually sleep on me.

Ours, that we had from a kitten, was very affectionate but definitely not a lap cat. He'd sit happily next to you being stroked. A previous cat would sit draped around my (or anyone's) neck.

My two are 15 and I’ve had them since they were kittens. They will sometimes sit on my lap if I put a cushion or blanket on it but prefer to snuggle next to me on the sofa. They’ll happily sleep on top of me while I’m asleep though!

We had an adopted feral kitten. Adored my husband and followed him absolutely everywhere inside and out but didn’t like laps, being picked up or cuddled.

My cat won't sit on my lap either she'll curl up next to me on the sofa

I have 4 cats. All owned since around 8 weeks. Only 1 will sit on my legs and sleeps next to my head. One other will only sleep tucked into me with his head in my hand - he did use to always lie on my tummy but strangely whilst I was pregnant and ever since he won’t do that now (both boys incidentally) but the girls won’t do that at all and will only sit at the end of the bed

My Cat is 6 and has only just started sitting on my lap/chest, never used to. I covered myself with my electric blanket and let him sit on it next to me and enjoy the heat. Then over time, edged him closer to me still on the blanket.

My other cat however hates being held/handled and will never ever be a lap cat.

I don’t think trust is 100% the issue. Some cats are just never lap cats 🤷‍♀️

Our cat (who was my cat before any of the kids were born and I met DH) only sits on DD1 (6) and my dad’s laps. My dad is one of those old men who’s all “oh no I don’t like cats, dogs are the best, my dog is my best friend blah blah blah” but as soon as my cat met him in 2016 she jumped up on him and started cuddling him. They’re best pals now. It’s very funny though he will insist she’s not like other cats and she must have been a dog in a past life 😂. She cuddles me and DH but she doesn’t sit on our lap, she’ll make biscuits and purr but she doesn’t sit down or lie down on us, that’s reserved for her two besties. Only ever sleeps on DDs bed or if my dad stays over she will sleep on his bed.

Surely their butt in your face is the ultimate sign of affection and trust? 😻

I have one that lies on my feet and always up against me.

On that enjoys standing on me, very occasionally.

Neither have snuggled on my lap since they were fist sized. Nice guys. I like them. The dog is ginormous and would sit on anyone, given a chance.

We had two cats who were sisters - one was a lap cat and the other most certainly wasn’t. She liked to be stroked, and would pat your arm with her paw to let you know she wanted a stroke, but would only ever sit beside you. Her favourite place was the arm of the sofa next to me, but she’d never sit on me, whereas her sister would be quite happy all curled up in my lap.

My female cat is very very affectionate. Will lie glued to my hip if possible. But she's not a fan of sitting on my lap. She's Miss Independent and if there is ANY suggestion from me that she do something, she refuses, so I suspect the two are linked. Loving but independent.

Mine will only sit on my lap in winter (i.e. when he's cold 🙄)

All kitties have very different personalities, just like humans!

The cat we had growing up was rescued at a year old and was not a lap cat at all, she liked being in the same room but wouldn’t even sit on the sofa with us.

The next rescue cat I got liked to sit next to me on the sofa or in my bed but never on my lap. She didn’t start that until maybe 5/6 months after I got her though.

Then there is my brothers Maine Coon who loves being on someone’s lap even though she’s far too big for it to be comfortable!!

We have two rescue cats. One is a lap cat and will sit on me at any given opportunity. The other will
not sit on your lap. She will lie next to you and cuddle up. She will also snuggle up to my arm and make biscuits on my dressing gown, but only in the morning, never after that! She is very sweet and affectionate in other ways though.

Our cat never sat on laps since she was a kitten. Then recently I’ve lost a significant amount of weight and actually HAVE a lap now and she climbs up on me every day. Still won’t sit on anyone else though will lie down on top of people in bed. She’s 11.5 years old!

Some cats are not lap cats, usually due to their early development or personalities.

My cat only sits on me when it’s cold. He only likes strokes when sleepy too, otherwise he doesn’t care for it.

Yeah maybe.

My boyfriend is not a cat person, not dogs either. But my cat adores him. If he comes over and stays she’s right next to him, purring and weaving between his legs and head butts. He likes her now.

"It's a trust issue"

It really isn't. Some cats just aren't bothered. If one of mine doesn't sit on my lap due to a lack of trust, how come he sometimes chooses to sleep wrapped round my head all night?

My little girl never wants to sit on my lap, but she comes to find me of an evening because she wants to sit next to me on her blanket on the sofa. She is most put out of if I am doing something else. We have a boy cat that is actually the neighbours’ cat who has practically moved in with us (they know about it and are ok) and is a total cuddle monster, lap cat (will even sit on visitors’ laps) and sleeps cuddled up to me on our bed. We have had the girl since she was a kitten. She invited the boy cat in, after our dog that she was close to died. My point is that all cats are just… different 😆