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Post by grannyjanny on Oct 22, 2006 20:12:24 GMT
Five years ago we were adopted by a cat who lived at the back of us. She has never shown any real affection but would come to the shop with me & was always waiting for us when we had been out. She suddenly started sitting by my side at night. As we were going on holiday we thought she new what was happening. Now we are back from hols & she actually SITS on my knee. Does it normally take this long for a cat to trust you or could she have had bad experiences that affected her. She is our first cat & I must say I longed for the day she would sit on my knee.
Janet.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2006 20:27:42 GMT
Awwwwwwwww that's so lovely, and better late than never  My two new ones are just rediscovering laps - well OH's not mine  They both adore him - even though I feed them. |
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Post by sleepysunday on Oct 22, 2006 21:41:02 GMT
I adopted Merlin about 15 months ago, and he was affectionate within a couple of weeks. Another one (Bo) adopted me and it has taken him a year to show much affection, but is now coming on my lap. He doesn't follow me everywhere though like Merlin does.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2006 8:42:53 GMT
We had a cat years ago from an animal sanctuary, she was about 18 months old. It took ages for her to settle in. She would sleep just outside our bedroom door, gradually over a few months she moved her sleeping position nearer and nearer to our bed. It must have taken about a year before she would sleep on the bed or get on anyones knee or purr. |
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Post by sweetleaf on Oct 23, 2006 8:55:29 GMT
I have 3 cats, 1 is 12 years old... always been a lap cat, the other 2 are 11, all from the same mom. Trouble, 11 is really affectionate.. lost without a lap, but Brother also 11 is only recently (in the last few weeks) seeking my lap ;D, and that of one of my daughters. The only thing I can think is that age has mellowed him, and that maybe all the recent fireworks are making him look for comfort, where previously he was just too BUTCH!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2006 9:15:27 GMT
The 2 cats I have now are quite different, we have had them both since they were young kittens BTW. Tigger age 3 will only sit on my knee during the cold weather and Gizmo age 10 will not sit on anyones knee - but she will sleep on my chest when I'm in bed!  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2006 9:20:44 GMT
 Does it normally take this long for a cat to trust you or could she have had bad experiences that affected her. She is our first cat & I must say I longed for the day she would sit on my knee. Janet. It is a great honour to have a cat sit on your knee IMO Janet, and now she knows that your knee is warm and cosy she will want to spend a lot of time there  She may well have had a very unhappy life until you, or should I say she, adopted you. You can never really own a cat, they will only live where they are happy.
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Post by skarloey on Oct 23, 2006 23:14:30 GMT
We have two cats, one male and rescued at 3 years old who has always been a lap boy. And one female, had her since a kitten who has only sat on my lap once when she was really tiny....... to take a crap!  I believe females are more aloof than males and generally only sit on your lap in later life when it's better than the floor! |
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Post by MamIDdau on Oct 24, 2006 16:34:12 GMT
All the cats I've had have always sat on my lap. Guess I have a lot of padding ;-) Even one that adopted me was like velcro, could never get her off my lap, even when I was trying to stand up.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Oct 26, 2006 17:22:05 GMT
My friend has two cats that show really strange behaviour patterns - as I dont know anything about cats wonder if any experts out there have any ideas
One cat - bought as a kitten - was just so affectionate and loving - even when we went to pick him up from the breeders - purred all the way home in his new basket
Another kitten bought 6 weeks later was a different matter. Wont let anyone near him, runs and hides if anyones visits and wont appear for at least an hour after they have gone
Now the other cat is copying this behaviour and she has two cats she hardly ever sees
Any ideas anyone?
jenny
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Post by sweetleaf on Oct 26, 2006 18:47:03 GMT
Cats do tend to learn their behaviour from each other, I would be suspicious though, of how the second cat was treated at the breeders... the second cat is the dominant one, it seems, and the first is just emulating it.
My sister had a 6 week old kitten who used to leap out and attack her from day one, and she eventually found out its mother had been feral.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Oct 26, 2006 19:14:27 GMT
They were from different breeders Sweetleaf and you may be right cos my friend wasnt too happy with the whole situation They wanted to let it go much too soon as if a sale was more important that making sure kitty was old enough to leave Mum It can be aggressive too and has had a go at my friend -  The other cat has changed its personality to fit in with the other one and it used to be so friendly too - everytime anyone came to visit it would leap on their knee and purr away Now it scurries away and actually hides in the wardrobes It takes my friend ages and ages to find them when visitors have gone - very stressful and upsetting for her as sometimes she wonders if they have got out and run off |
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Post by sweetleaf on Oct 26, 2006 19:24:36 GMT
There isnt really anything she can do about the cats, other than separate them, and hope the first reverts to its previous trusting personality, but a phone call to the rspca might be a good idea, to investigate the breeders.
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They both adore him - even though I feed them.
