cats and sitting on laps!?

Question

My cat (Basil, male, 1 year old) is a lovely, playful guy. He stalks me around the flat, loves knocking glasses full of water over, seems to enjoy my company (sits in the same room with me) but he won't sit on my lap in the livingroom.

I know I'm just being selfish, and I've a sneaky suspicion that if I stopped wanting him to it'd be the only place he ever wants to be. But yeah - there you go.

Is there hope? Will he start when he's older? He'll sit on my lap when I'm on the toilet (bizarre but true) for some reason, and really likes it. For example, if I go into the toilet he comes running from the living room (where we've been sitting seperately) and jumps onto my knee for a snooze. Is this normal or has he an unhealthy interest in my toiletting?

Mad cat.

Answer 1

Perhaps he likes the warmth of your skin . . . I suppose you could try sitting in the living room sans pants. But it's my experience that you can't force cats to do anything. Maybe if you want to try to coax him over with treats then he'll pick up the positive association. BTW one of my cats acctually learned to use the toilet by watching our family. Or he could want you to turn the tap on. Good Luck.

Answer 2

Unfortunately cats seem to want affection/attention on their terms more often than on ours.

I have a kitten that loves to cuddle and snuggle when I'm in bed, but screams if I try to hold her while sitting on the couch. I've noticed she's become more snuggly with time and I suspect as she gets older she'll become more and more of a lap kitty.

The truth is, some cats are lap kitties and some aren't. Their personalities are as varied as ours.

As for the interest in your toiletting - I think that is normal as well. I used to have a cat that was the same way.

Good luck!

Answer 3

That's so funny that he sits on your lap when you're using the bathroom. I had a cat that jumped on my back once when I was using the bathroom! Crazy cats. Anyway--I would tend to think if your cat won't sit on your lap now, he might never do it. I had a cat who didn't want to be held a lot, but she would always lay by me on the sofa (and she did a lot of the same stuff your cat seems to do, too). But my new cat wants to sit and lay all over me and she likes being held and played with. I guess cats are like people..some like the affection and some are fine on their own. Maybe stick some catnip on your lap and see what happens? Just kidding--that could get ugly.

Answer 4

Sounds like a completely normal young male cat to me apart from the loo thing. Perhaps that has something to do with skin contact - just a guess?

Lots of friends have had cats throughout the years and it's fairly unanimous for the ones with males to say that thy're not very into snuggling when they're very young but as they age they tend to enjoy being rubbed and sitting on laps more.

And you are quite right in saying that if you didn't want him to sit on your lap it's the only place he'd want to be. All I can say is give him time to mature and he'll probably settle into the cuddley animal you'd like to have.

Answer 5

My cat Sully needs an asbo out on him. Except when it comes to me he is the softest biggest sukky teddy bear ever.
He does what your cat does and HAS to follow me into the bathroom. he used to jump on my lap but I don;t really like it when he does it in there. As for the lap thing, I do not have a lap to call my own, if ever I sit down (he must have supersonic hearing) he comes into the room and is on my lap. When he was little and he was near me I used to pick him up ever so gently by the scruff and place him in my lap. I would then scratch his neck untill he was purring and I knew he didn;t want to leave, that or I would give him treats.
You could try cat treats or a small cat toy that only ever shows up in your lap. then again he just might not be a lap cat. My other cat Tiger is people friendly, loves everyone, loves to be held and fussed but will NOT get into anyones lap on her own free will.

All cats are mad. Fantastic but mad.

Answer 6

Don't stress it too much. I once heard the comparison between cats & dogs that a dog is clingy & dependant on the affection of humans, and only happy if they are smothered with attention, while a cat makes you earn their affection, and gives attention when they feel it is deserved. I find this to be somewhat true. I have a couple of 3 year old VERY MOODY siamese cats who give affection when they are in the mood & feel like you are in need of some attention! LOL My point is this. Your cat is happy and content. He enjoys your company, but is secure enough not to have to be doted on. The bathroom thing is just something that he thinks you need assistance with I guess..... our female cat sits on the side of the bathtub and watches us bathe, and when the toilet is flushed, they both jump up on the toilet, facinated with watching the water swirl down. Kitty quirks, gotta love them!

Answer 7

I've got a female cat who is a right madam - she will ONLY sit on your lap if she wants to - and even then it's usually just as you decide you're going to get up and do something (a real pain if you need to go to the loo...). You could try and encourage Basil onto your lap with treats and then keep feeding him with them while he's there - that might work. However, if he doesn't want to do it - he's not going to do it - he's a cat - he is independent - he doesn't need you (cat think...)

Answer 8

Cats are inscrutable. Garrison Keillor said, "Cats are proof that not everything in Nature has a purpose."

Perhaps you are acting too eager for Kitty to nest in your lap (in non-toilet situations). Your anxious hopeful attitude can be signaled to Kitty through non-verbal clues, such as eye contact, or posture.

I recommend taking up some sort of lap-based hobby (embroidery, crossword puzzles) that will focus your attention away from Mister Cat, and towards the target area (Lap-land!).

Good luck; we all know training a cat is next to impossible.

Answer 9

My cat never sat on my lap for the first 14 years of her life. She would sit on top of me when in bed and occasionally climb onto my shoulders when I was seated.
Recently, when the heating broke down, she took to sitting on my lap at every opportunity. Now the heating is running she is an occasional lap cat. I shut the lavatory or bathroom door door so I am unable to comment on this aspect of behaviour.

Answer 10

Ever heard of Murphy's law. I have a theory that every cat is a Murphy! Whatever we want them to do they do the opposite. I have a 18 month old female who never sits on my lap (unlike my 10 yr old male). She too seems to think I need company in the bathroom, or will sleep lying on top of me in bed! I've kept cats for years and she is the only one who has behaved this way!
Best advice I can think of would be to try offering him treats and only let him have them when he is actually on your lap!
Good Luck!