Conference misery::feline_v1

    If you acquire a kitten, you have no knowledge of
    whether it will turn out to be a lap cat or not.
    And then you might end up with 3 non-lap cats.  Your best
    bet would be to adopt an adult cat that is a known
    lap cat.   They do exist.
    
    Donna

    You bet adult cats can be lap cats.......Ebony will lay on my
    chest for hours at a time, purring, licking, sleeping, etc.....after 
    a while, though, it does get annoying (and heavy - he's almost 16 
    pounds).       
    
    I second the suggestion to get a cat that's already proven to be
    a "LAP" cat...........But then-again, kittens are so cute!!
    
    BC                                   
    
    

I agree with the previous answer, lap cats most certainly do exist!
The second cat we got had been found abandoned at the tender age of
1-2 days old in a South Bronx junkyard and was hand-reared by the 
owner's wife.  His favorite place to take naps is on my, um  er  uh, 
chest; a lap will do but he really prefers (nay, often insists) on
being held in my arms so he can sleep in total comfort and security.
I have a few others that like to cuddle and will take short naps
in a lap or on the bed next to me; and one that usually sleeps wrapped
around my head at night!

The previous note also suggested getting a full-grown cat that is
known to be affectionate, and that is the best idea to avoid any more
disappointments -- some cats just seem more affectionate than others
and I'm don't think that it is anything you could control by raising
a kitten.  Their personality can be modified by how you treat them,
but some cats are just not lap cats as you already know!  Get thee to
an Animal Shelter and request a lap cat, chances for success will be
good and you'll have the satisfaction of saving a life.


Jan  whose_inn_is_currently_full_at_nine

Re:  .3    my reply was to .1, which was 'previous' when I was writing
it.  Sorry for any confusion, I'll learn to use the reply number from
now on!


Jan

    Different cats have different versions of close:
    
    Bandit will occassionally sit in my lap, but OFTEN will perch on
    my recliner's arm as I watch tv and read and I will have a hand
    draped on her back.   She is close enough for companionship, but
    especially reading is allowed to take place.  If I am on the sofa
    she will often lie along the back of the sofa.
    
    Smokey waits for bed. He likes to lie on my chest which when either
    reading or sleeping does not work too well.  Lately I have gotten
    him to lie near me while I am reading.  However, in the mornings
    he first nibbles fingers and then snuggles closer .... closer.....
    closer until he is on my chest.  During the day he insists on being
    in the same room, but rarely snuggles.
    
    Two cats -- two approaches.  Now, when Smokey first came and Bandit
    would not accept him, he lived on my lap/chest/clinging to pants
    legs as I walked etc.  but now they spend a LOT of time playing/
    chasing/wrestlsing with on another.
    
    I would agree a cat with a formed personality is safest, but kittens
    can be conditioned.  The shelter we got Bandit from had so many
    ferrel cats that she was only one of two that would snuggle.  The
    other one was sickly and the vet said it would have severe respiratory
    problems all its life and was not curable, so the shelter would
    not LET her be adopted.  The whole time I was there, she was on
    me ... as soon as I placed her down to look at other cats, she was
    back like a rubber band.
    
    Let us know which you choose.
    
    Cathy

    HI JEANNE:
    You are not being unrealistic.  Lap cats do exist. Out of my 3 cats,
    2 are lap cats.  The third one is getting used to me after 3 years!
    
    My oldest cat, Seamus, is a Russian Blue that is neutered.  He is
    by far the most affectionate.  I think this is because he was raised
    with direct contact with humans from day one.  His breeder has the 
    kittens sleep with them, eat with them, play with them, constantly.  
    I later bought another Russian Blue from her for my mother, and he is 
    just the same.
                                        
    If you really want a kitten, try to find a litter that is really an
    integral part of a household.  It is not a guarantee, but your chances
    of getting a lap cat may be better.          
                                                 
    Anyway, that's my theory on lovable cats.    In fact, I think there
    was a study by the University of Whatsyamacallit that has that as
    an outcome.
    
    Signed,
    Two-Cents-Worth-Annie
    
    
                                                
    

    re .6
    
    I think your right about getting a kitten that's had lots of human
    exposure.  Sam certainly had that and he was a lap kitten but now
    seems more interested in other things.  As I mentioned, he is only
    a year old and maybe he going thru a stage.  I'm hoping he will
    go back to his old ways when he in fact gets older and slows down
    a bit.
    
    It really funny, a few months ago, before he was neutered, Sam was
    all over me and wouldn't even pay any attention to my husband. 
    Now he's a lot more confident and a little ball of fire, always
    wanting to play.  I have noticed that he still sits on my lap during
    the day but nights are now reserved for play.  Well, if I could
    figure out how to stay home during the day, I'd be all set!!!
    
    
    Jeanne
    

    
    I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Siamese lap-sitters!  Our
    three are almost always glued to one of us in the evening - in fact,
    sitting almost anywhere in the house will get you a companion :^}
    I don't know if you're interested in buying a cat, but if you'd
    like more information, send me mail.  I know that the breeder we
    got ours from has some kittens available, and I could almost guarantee
    that they'll be lap sitters.
    
    Sandy
    

    re: .8
    Right on. My two Siamese *insist* on having a lap to sit on. They
    take out a little time to play like kittens (I keep telling them
    that at 16 and 18 they should be more dignified!), but in no time
    they are right back looking for a lap to sit on. ....sometimes trying
    to figure out how to sit on more than one lap at a time!  Of course,
    all this lap sitting can often make it difficult for the owners
    of said laps to accomplish anything ...including reading.  But the
    stories they tell ...and they sure have alot to say .are usually
    more interesting anyway!  What a joy.
    
    I visited a Birman breeder a few months back and she had a sweet
    little male kitten appropriately name "Lollipop" (remember, this
    is the "L" year) who solved the problem of how to keep the attention
    of two people by stretching out on the table with his back paws
    wrapped around my husband's arm and his front paws around mine ...and
    purring up a storm. What a PR agent!
    
    And then there is Thomas J. McGilicuty. He is a huge gorgeous male
    grey and white tabby (sure *looks* like a Maine Coon) who has been
    visiting our yard for the last several weeks. He won't let us in
    or out of the house without asking us to let him lap sit for a while.
    He has big white double paws and a sweet face with big green eyes
    ..and loves nothing better than to lapsit.  He was shy when he first
    showed up in the yard. ..Now he's a lovebug.  We've been going all
    the usual routes to see if he has an owner. He needs to be neutered
    and wants very much to come in. Everyone who visits our house wants
    to take him home. This weekend we are going to extend the door-to-door
    search for his owner ..and if no luck ..it of to the vet for "the
    works"  ...and then ....we'll see...  He sure deserves a home with
    alot of love!
          
    Linda                                          
    

    
    
    Lap cats???  Of course there are lap cats.  I have two of them.
    
    Lightning, my seven year old loves it when I sit in my chair in
    my red blanket robe.  She just sprawls all over my legs and 
    watches tv with me.
    
    Thunder comes flying out of nowhere to lay in my lap, in my arms,
    on my shoulders, on my legs (sometimes on top of Lightning).
    
    Deja is a little more stand-offish.  She will usually lay on the
    arm so that I can pet her.  Once in a while she will condescend
    to lay in my lap.
    
    One night I had all three cats in my lap and I am definitely not
    a big person.  89 LBS soaking wet.
    
    I love them all.
    
    Sandi (Lightning, DejaVu & Thunder's mom)
    
    

    Every one of our four are lapcats.  I truly believe that you contribute
    a lot to their development in that department.  We NEVER pass one
    of them without talking to them, and usually touching them. We acquired
    them as small kittens, and now they are what they are.  It might
    be bonding in the true sense.
    
    Max, the largest (12# at 11 months), is almost a pest.  I can't sit
    at the terminal at home for five minutes without him standing on
    hinders begging to be allowed up.  It's a lot neater than the other
    way.  Our last one was abused before we got her, and, in 16 more
    years, she never developed the lap habit.
    
    Gary

    re: .10
    Reminds me of the litter of seven Siamese many years ago. At the
    end of the day I settled down in my favorite chair with my feet
    stretched out on the old camel saddle.  TiJai (Gee, I still miss you 
    fella') climbed up and settled in under my chin soon to be followed by 
    the kitten's mother who cuddled next to him.  One by one the kittens, 
    then a few weeks old, climbed up to join them. From my chin to my toes 
    was a live blanket of nine purring Siamese.  Talk about lap cats!
                                              
    Linda
                                                  

    I've got seven, and all are lap cats (although Pip and the twins only
    want to be lap cats if they initiate the activity).
    
    According to Nikolas and Spiro (both of whom were feral), there is a
    house rule against any human's lap being without a cat. And it doesn't
    matter if the human lives there or is a guest.
    
    Deb

                   <<< NOTES$:[NOTES$LIBRARY]FELINE.NOTE;1 >>>
                               -< Meower Power >-
================================================================================
Note 1982.14              Any REAL Lap cats out there?                  14 of 14
APEHUB::STHILAIRE "Nothing But Flowers"               0 lines  21-NOV-1988 16:48
                                -< my lap cats >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    My Blue Point Siamese, Jade, (who is 10 1/2 yrs. old) is definitely
    a lap cat.  She's never happier than when she's sitting on top of
    a human being.  She's not very discriminating either.  If a strange
    person comes into the house for the first time and sits down she'll
    run over and climb on top of him or her.  Often though, she'll stare
    intently into their face for couple of minutes first, which looks
    really comical.
    
    Her son (who was born before she was spayed & is half Siamese- 8
    1/2 yrs. old), Frodo, is terrified of all humans except me.   As
    far as Frodo is concerned, I am the only human in the world who
    is not likely to turn into a cat killer at any given moment.  He's
    overly affectionate with me, as though to make up for the fact that
    the rest of the human race terrifies him!
    
    My third cat, Raven, (who is a fluffy, all black neutered male with
    double paws- age 3 1/2 yrs.) is a lap cat 1/2 of the time, at his
    own choosing and is particular about who the people are.  He's not
    afraid of people like Frodo.  He's just picky about who he bothers
    to be affectionate with.
    
    But, I agree about Siamese lap cats.  I think Jade would be happy
    if she could be touching a human being at all times.
    
    Lorna
    

    Solid black neutered male indoor outdoor cat but can often be found
    looking for a lap and some hugs and occasionally sneaks into the
    bedroom at night to curl up between a person and a mastiff would
    relocate to the right home.  Also have tiger and white male neuter
    who likes to be held upside down and have his belly rubbed and this
    one even talks! Interested parties please contact  MaryAnne
    DTN 264-9147

    I'd like to thank everyone for the advice that was given and I would
    like to give everyone a little update.  My husband and I took vacation
    last week so we got spend a lot of extra time with the cats and
    I noticed something that I had not realy seen before.  You see,
    Sam was very loveable and came over to sit on my lap several times
    but each time he did this, my husband would start playing with some
    toy or cause some type of distraction.  So, Sam would jump down
    and go off to play.  
    
    Seems like I have a problem husband rather than a problem cat!!!!
    
    Well, we had a talk about this and it seems that John feels that
    Sam is more or less HIS cat and would like to keep it that way.
    With this admission, he is now all for me getting another cat. 
    I'll probably name it MC (short for MY CAT).  Can you believe this?
    
    Anyhow!!!  I have decided that I do want a kitten.  I feel it will
    be easier to introduce a kitten into the household than adult cat.
    Cali is very sensitive and she will hate me for subjecting her
    to another kitten let alone an adult!  I'll be looking into getting
    either another Snowshoe or a Siamese.  Seems that the Siamese are
    very people oriented and affectionate and would be just what I want.
    
    Again, thanks for all the input!
    
    Jeanne, Cali and Sam 
    

I have a lap cat - one of my ferel adoptees, Nick....I'm not saying it
makes all the difference, but, Nick is indoor-only (as all cats at my
house are) and was neutered as soon as the vet approved.  I also spent
lots of time with him, holding and cuddling when I was taming him and
his brother, Sam.  Sam is now a "bed kitty", and will lay next to you
and ask to be petted by tapping you on the arm...Nick doesn't sleep
with anyone, but he would spend all evening in my lap if I had nothing
better to do.  It is not unrealistic to want a lap kitty, and you
can turn a kitten into a "cuddler" if you cuddle it alot when it is
young.

    I am SO dissapointed!!!  My husband and I went to see a litter of
    Snowshoe kittens on Saturday and I found just the kitty for me.
    She is a blue and white point kitty and it took her about 60 seconds
    to find my lap.  She curled up and slept there for the entire time
    we visited (about an hour).  The reason that I am dissapointed is
    that it looks like my husband has won out.  He really doesn't want
    another cat, no matter how cute it is!  So, it looks like we will
    stay at 2 cats.  Roberta, didn't you have this problem with your
    SO at one time?  I just don't know how I can get him to change his
    mind.  He keeps saying "the more cats, the more potential for
    problems". Our two get along so well that he just doesn't want to
    take any chances.  I wish he weren't so d*&%*# logical!
    
    Well, such is life!  I certainly hope everyone else had a better
    weekend than I did.  
    
    Jeanne, Cali and Sam
    
      
    
    

    Hi Jean,
    
    Yup!  I had the same problem with my fiance for a long time.  He didn't
    even want one cat, let alone two, three or four!!  And now we have
    five!
    
    The whole time he kept saying no, I never argued with him.  I just
    kept researching Ragdoll breeders and the literature kept coming
    in the mail.  I would leave it out where I knew he would see it,
    and a couple times, he even took messages from breeders who called
    me at home.  Then he started to complain and I still never argued
    back.
    
    When he finally began to realize that cats were a real interest
    of mine (like cars are to him), he changed his mind.  He saw me
    going to shows, subscribing to magazines, and catching up on
    Feline at home each night.  Then, when I finally narrowed my choice
    of breeders down to Linda in New Jersey, he told me to reserve a
    kitten from the next litter.  This took a year, but I'm glad it
    did because it gave me time to really research breeders of Ragdoll
    cats.
    
    Anyway, I understand where your husband is coming from.  Our household
    has definitely been affected with the addition of 2 new kittens.
    However, it only took a week before Chauncey and Nikki stopped swatting
    at the babies.  Nikki even let Shelby share his food yesterday.
    I know you are impatient and want your new kitten *now.*  Discuss
    the subject again with your husband.  What made my fiance more
    receptive to the idea is that the breeder offered to buy the kittens
    back from us if, worst case, things simply did not work out.  Like
    your husband, his biggest fear was that the cats and kittens would
    never get along.
    
    I hope you can convince him to let you have the kitten.  Perhaps
    if he knows just how much it means to you, he'll change his mind.
    (Does he realize just how disappointed you are)?
    
    /Roberta
    

    Re .19
    
    Hi Roberta,
    
    That's a great deal you got thru the breeder.  I'm sure John would
    feel better knowing that we could return the kitten if it didn't
    work out.  Maybe I'll discuss this with him tonight.  
    
    And yup, he knows that I am dissapointed.  That was evident by my
    exceptional quiet mood I was in yesterday!  
    
    Actually, John hasn't really "NO".  What he is doing is telling
    
    me all the negatives, how he wouldn't do it, how I'm being emotional
    and not logical, and how much I'll be hurting Cali's feelings by
    getting another kitten (Cali is an introvert and he feels she will
    regress even more with more compitition in the house - logically
    speaking, he may be right!)  So.....How can I insist on getting
    another kitty with that guilt trip put on me!  All in all he has
    worked this around to say no without really saying the word.    
    
    Under these circumstances I would be afraid to get the kitten. 
    If something went wrong I would be to blame.  I feel that any pet
    we get should be wanted by both of us.  At any rate, I'll keep looking
    into the kitten situation, maybe I won't be able to get this kitten
    but maybe he'll change his mind like your SO did.  Considering you
    went from 0 to 5, I guess there is always hope!
    
    Jeanne, Cali and Sam
    
    

    Jeanne,  maybe you both ought to come on up to the Party_in_the_North
    - your husband will be a bunch of cats of all ages getting along,
    if that is one of the things he is worrying about.  Sometimes,
    a shy kitty really enjoys it when a new baby is added to the
    household.  The shy kitty may only be shy with humans - it
    like to know the company of its own species - hence, another
    cat!  
    
    E.T.

    Jeanne:
    I subscribe to what I call the Irish Birth Control Method: what's
    one more?  If you've got one cat, what's two?  If you've got two
    cats, what's one more?  It's not so traumatic if you build up your
    "cathouse" slowly!
    
    ;-) Anne
                       

    I also subscribe to the Irish Birth Control Method, although I didn't
    know that was what it was called. ;^)
    
    I don't know what to tell you about whether or not to get another
    kitten.  But.... Birmans are notorious lap cats, so keep that in
    mind if your husband changes his mind and the snowshoe is no longer
    available.
    
    Jo

    I guess I REALLY subscribe to the Irish Birth Control Method!!!!!1
    I can't type I"m laughing so hard!  That's the best one i"ve 
    heard in a long time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!  and I"m not even Irish!
    
    E.T.

    Well, I guess I'll complete this note by giving everyone an update
    on my "2 or 3' cat family situation.  Well, John and I went to Elaine's
    party on Saturday and not only did we meet some great people but
    we also met some great cats.  John was so impressed that 19 cats
    could all get along so well.  He was also impressed by their beauty.
    He made a decision right then and there that any future cats for
    us would be of mixed breed.  He thought they were as pretty as
    purebreds and after all they are usually in far greater need of
    homes than purebreds.
    
    So....now for the next part of my story.  We met Mary Tamir at the
    party and she had pictures of Honey, Chauncey, Meg and her two
    remaining kittens, Julie and Sarah.  Well, Sarah was the picture
    of what John and I feel is a beautiful cat!  She is an orange tiger
    with white on her face, feet and tummy.  What a doll!  
    
    As soon as we got up on Sunday morning, John said "give Mary a call
    and lets go and get that kitten today!"  I couldn't believe it!
    Talk about a compete turn around.  Well, needless to say, we visited
    Mary last night and brought little Sarah home with us.
    
    She is just adorable.  Very sweet, she loves to purr and cuddle
    and she is adjusting to our home very quickly.  
    
    She and Sam are already playing (just a few little hisses now and
    then).  I'm so proud of Sam, he's being such a good boy with her.
    
    Cali, well, she's another story.  Actually she is about 90% better
    this time than she was when I brought Sam home.  She has hissed
    and growled a bit but hasn't even spit yet!  Right now she is just
    watching, keeping her distance and going about her business.
    
    All in all, I figure they will all be friends within the week. 
    I'll tell you, this was a much better weekend than my last one.
    Thanks, Mary and Elaine!
    
    
    Jeanne, Cali, Sam and (Sarah - Mary, I hope you don't mind but I
    think we are going to change her name, but I not sure to what! 
    I thought Peaches would be cute and John likes Tangie (short for
    Tangerine)  Any ideas out there for naming an organe tiger cat?
      

    
    Re: .25
    
    	Good luck changing Sarahs name.  You had better do it fast.
     It took me two weeks to decide that I was going to call Bandit
    by another name.  But by then I was so used to calling him Bandit
    that it felt funny to call him by another name.
    
    	Karen

    Congratualtions on the new addition to the family Jeanne.
    
    Elmo is an orange tiger.  I hope that Sarah isn't as impish as Wlmo
    though.  My vet keeps telling me that the orange tigers are super
    affectionate beast.
    
    Too bad the party didn't convince Larry to let me add #4 
    
    	-Nancy

    Re. 25
    
         My orange tabby is named Loki, but my vet calls him "Pumpkin"
    :-) !
    
                                     - Andrea
    

    Well, I gotta admit that before the kitty was called Sarah, she
    was called "Pumpkin"!!  She's so sweet...Sweetie fits too!
    
    Good luck Jeanne and John...she'll make you both very happy!
    
    Grandma Mary
    

    Congratulations to all 4 of you!  Can I be God Mother???
    
    Keep those stories commin'
    
    E.T._holding_at_16

    Nope, Julie is your favorite face and she's found a good home, too...
    WITH ME!!!  I've decided to keep Julie to be the little sister that
    Honey and Chauncey never wanted!  And of course you can be God Mother!
    
    Mary_holding_at_3_plus_Meg!
    

    Ah, FunnyFace is home to stay - at least I can read fun stories!!!
    
    All's well that ends well!
    Gee, if we have another party, how many kittens can we find homes
    for?
    
    E.T.

    Congrats, Jeanne!!  That's wonderful news.
    
    Your new addition sounds wonderful and I'm so glad things worked
    out for you.  Didn't take John long to come around, thanks to Elaine
    and her brood!!
    
    /Roberta