Pretty selfish post for me really - I wish my cats liked being picked up and sitting with me!

They are really happy cats and adore being stroked and fussed, flopping down and inviting you to tickle them but they never jump up to sit with me and don't really enjoy a pick up & cuddle. I pick them up for a little cuddle when I get in from work but I might get 10 seconds ... if I'm lucky!! I always put them down the instant they wriggle and i never place them on my knee or anything, just keep "inviting" them up!

I wonder if this might change in time or if cats are either fussy cats or they're not? I admit I always thought all cats loved sitting on a warm lap and a big cuddle!

Mine like a fuss on their own terms. i.e. if they initiate it by jumping on my lap, having a quick pet only for as long as they want, which generally isn't long!

They don't mind a quick pet in between if they are sitting somewhere and I stroke them in passing, but they don't relish being picked up. One grumbles and the other one nips!

Mine used to hate being touched, but over the years has slowly mellowed. She now comes and asks for a cuddle. She flops on the floor, I pick her up and cradle her and she will stay like that for quite a while. It used to be 5 minutes on my lap and no touching. Now she will sit on my lap for hours and now looks at me when she needs a stroke. Bless her, I spent all day in bed feeling rotten yesterday and she kept me company the whole time.

Mine like the odd cuddle when I want to cuddle them, but only like me picking them up for a few seconds.

I find they want to lie on me when they want to, but like my big fluffy blanket, so if I spread that on my lap, they are more likely to want to lie on me, rather than just on my legs.

My late Tabitha hated being picked up but she loved to come and sit on my lap for a good stroking/sleeping session - but it had to be at her instigation, she wouldn't tolerate me putting her on my lap. My Bernard is just not a lap cat but he loves a good cuddle/ petting session and will always stay very close beside me. He hates being picked up too.

I've got 2 rescues like yourself. Millie is very affectionate but again this has to be on her terms and, when I come home from work, she shows she is pleased by repeatedly rubbing herself excitedly against Bernard, never against me and she's not really a lap cat except when I'm in bed. I just don't bother even trying to pick her up because she's too wriggly. Little Lucy was very reserved when she first came to live with me but I've now realised that she responds very well to me picking her up and placing her on my lap where she'll curl up and purr for hours (if I let her). She's the only cat I can pick up and cuddle - she seems to like it. She's also the only cat I can easily place in her cat basket! I encounter so much stress and difficulty with putting Bernard and Millie in their cat baskets that I have avoided using the cattery for the last couple of times that I've gone away - I'm dreading their annual vet visit.

It's lovely having a lap cat but my problem always was not wanting to disturb their comfort and happiness - I'd stay in a really uncomfortable position for hours and delay things I needed to do because I didn't want to upset my Tabitha by removing her from my lap or chest. I'd sometimes avoid sitting down if, I was planning to go out soon, if I could see Tabitha watching and waiting expectantly for a cosy lap to appear. There are definite advantages to not having lap cats.

Mine doesn't like to be picked up - she'll tolerate it when I get her out of somewhere I dont want her to be, but will soon start wriggling.
She likes to sit on me and to be stroked - but on her terms only - once she's had enough stroking she'll growl or give a pressureless bite to stop me.

I don't think many cats will put up with a real 'hug' which is probably why ragdolls are gaining popularity since they do.

Lovely posts everyone

My previous cat (male) loved to be picked up by either me or my OH (but no-one else) and would happily stay draped over a shoulder for ages. Izzy (female) on the other hand will only tolerate that for a maximum of about 10 seconds before she's wriggling to be put down. She does now jump on to my lap and will stay put usually until I get up. We've had her 11 months now and she's only just started to sit on OH's lap as well. You may find that they will start jumping on your lap eventually - hope so !

My male cat, Cato, loves to be picked up and cuddled. He sits on my knee and likes being cradled like a baby.
Lily my feral cat, behaves like we're cat murderers during the day but at night jumps on the settee next to my husband and wants to be stroked. She's ruined my cream leather settee by kneeding it and rubbing her mouth all over the corner. If he tries to pick her up though she's off like a shot.

I won't give up hope yet then!

no she hates it she actually goes all stiff when you pick her up and try to cuddle her. She will however happily sit next to you and have cuddles on her own terms. My partner picks her up and cuddles her though, he is determined to break her and make her into a lovable cat.

She likes it if it's my partner who cuddles her - but she hates being picked up by me. It might be because I like to pick her up and then hold her on my shoulder like she is a parrot.

My partner does that to ours, if I did it she would dig her claws in but with him she just lies there

Apart from when they were kittens none like being picked up.but they do give affection all the time.perhaps as adults they are embarrassed to be treated like a kitten.

haha true - mine are about 2 years old so I guess that would make them "teenagers" just not cool to be cuddled at that age!

I really do believe that.

Gizmo loves being held and cuddled and will often climb her way up my trousers to get to my arms , as she used to when she was a kitten, she just doesnt realise that now it bloody hurts.

Bookend her sister is not a great one for being picked up but she likes attention and to come and sit with you or lay on top of you and be cuddled and have her tummy and paws rubbed.

Maybe try some kind of fluffy blanket on you, so that encourages then to want to come and sit on you.

Yes I will - they jump onto the bed when I'm sleeping and there's a fluffy throw on there ... that might make a trip downstairs tonight

Just be prepared to get kneaded if its one they lie on usually

Leto loves a cuddle she likes to lie on my chest and snuggle right up! Apollo will also come and have a big cuddle he especially likes a tummy rub Haven't got any photos of them online yet (really must get round to it - have certainly taken enough they are 21 months old now)

Photo below is of Charlie our first cat he loved a cuddle as well, sadly Charlie died In 2011 aged 4 of heart failure, we will never forget our beautiful Charlie or his cuddles - he was cuddling my daughter back in this photo

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...haliiehugs.jpg

My cat Yoshi loves a cuddle. He'll sit in my arms and purr. Never really struggles and has never scratched at me to get down. He'll even come over at night to sleep on my bed when I go to sleep at night.

He's 6 years old now and still the same. He'll be a cuddlebug into his old age.

I've got three cats, and elderly mog, and two brothers about 4 years old. One tolerates it for short periods, one will do it on his own terms, and the old boy loves it. They all like cuddles, but they usually instigate it, and mostly when I'm on the laptop. They'll try and sit across my chest, while I'm trying to type or, if I've gone for a lie down, one will sit on top of me and 'peddle' my face and neck, complete with needles and drool.

Uncomfortable for me, but it seems to be the ultimate in pleasurable stuff to do, for him.

My late cat loved to be picked up and cuddled and be on your lap, (ouch the kneading) but only after we had spent a couple of years taming her. She had been a stray in the countryside around us for a few years and was rather wild and spiteful for a while.

I've got 4 - one hates to be picked up and will whinge loudly if you do. The other three tolerate it more than anything.

However, three out of the four will come and lie on people and sleep when they want to (usually when you don't want them) and even old misery guts will come and have a knead at times!

Cats - they just like to show you who's boss!!!