Out of our three cats, one can be picked up and flipped over and held like a baby on her back, one can be picked up for a few seconds whilst the paws stick out and flap around wildly and you have to chase the last one around the house to have any chance of picking her up at all.

So I think it depends on the cat.

When he's in the mood the Beast loves a good hug, if he bashes in, he gives a different squeak to his I want food squeak.

But he wants hugs from me.

If he is in hug mood and the OH gets him first, he is polite, but puts his head back and stares at me with big eyes as if to say "I want you"

He comes over to me and I can hold him with one arm underneath him and stroke him with the other.

We go through a few minutes of our male bonding ritual, whereby we bash faces, and he closes his eyes and dribbles on me.

He will let me cradle him in my arm for ages, I can pick a glass of wine, chat to OH whilst she is preparing dinner, and he just purrs and dribbles.

When he has had enough he will wriggle, and OH calls out "climb the daddy" and the little sod clambers up over my shoulder and down my back, claws out all the way.

Hits the floor with a thump, and either shows his arse or does a flip top head yawn, and clears off.

The OH gets a bit disappointed that he prefers hugs from me, she is the one that makes me buy treats for him, and scolds me if I am telling him off.

But at the start it was just the Beast and me. When he was just a ball of fluff, I was all he had, and although the OH is more tolerant of his gitness and panders to him more, it's like he remembers who played with him, protected him, cleaned up his poo and who he slept with when he was teeny.

And although he is now big and annoying, he comes back to what he knows.

The soppy git

Another waffly Beast post, sorry about that

No, great post actually

If I tried to cuddle mine he'd have my arm off.

I've only had one cat and that started way back in the early 80s when a cat owned us for about 18 years.

At the time I lived in a farmhouse so we had a huge kitchen. The cat had an old stool with a cushion on the top next to the Aga cooker and she'd sleep there during the day. She was essentially nocturnal as we'd put her out at night to have the run of the farm when we went to bed.

She would have her breakfast outside, then sit on top of the Aga (just the back bit, not the hot plates!) washing her face until her pads got too warm and then she'll climb down onto her cushion and finish off the cleaning and go to sleep for most of the day. I liked to stroke her but once she'd had enough she'd let you know and would go back to sleep.

She was ok with being picked up, but she wasn’t one to really look for affection although she did love getting her chin and cheeks rubbed if she was awake. If you did lift her up she’d push away from you when she wanted down but wouldn’t really like being held for too long – don’t know if she didn’t feel safe or something. But if I was laying on the recliner next to her stool and whistled (just a quiet continuous tone) she would come and sit on my chest above where my arms were folded and purr away as she rubbed your chin with her cheeks and showed off her bum to you before finally settling down curled up with her head against your neck. Or if I whistled as I lay on my side, she’d park herself on top of my side with her front paws hooked over my shoulder, chin resting on her paws and she’d purr and drool away into my ear. But only until there was a noise outside or if I tried to stifle a sneeze or cough, then she’d be back onto her cushion in a flash.

The only time I remember her actually coming to look for affection was the day my dad died. Mum and brother had been up to the hospital as dad had deteriorated through the day. I had got home from work and found no-one about so phoned bro to ask if he wanted the calves fed. So as I was cleaning up after feeding them, bro came in to the byre to say dad had died. I finished washing up and went inside and sat on the recliner. I must have been there for a few minutes just staring at the floor, thinking about the news I’d just heard when Purrdy got up off her cushion and came and sat down on my lap looking at me. She extended her front legs up my chest, lay her chin on her paws, half-closed her eyes and started purring.

It's 15 years since she died and 23 years since dad died but I still remember that day vividly and wonder what it was that caused her to come sit on my lap. I'm sure she must have sensed something, just wonder what it was.

Sorry for the long post.

Winnie hated it from day one (we got her at roughly 8 weeks old). Bungle was an affectionate kitten and now she's a not-so-affectionate adult cat. She hates being picked up.

Yes, I've had my cat for 13 years and she loves her cuddles and always sleeps in the bed and cuddles up every night. My other cat doesn't like cuddles though.

My cat likes being picked up and cuddled (when it suits him, of course!) but won't sit on laps. He's pretty big and finds it too much bother to balance in the classic lap-sitting pose for long!

I think cats can be very particular about cuddles!

My Patty was very grumpy, and hated being picked up by anyone ever. I don't think she ever sat on my lap. But she did love to sit next to me and lean her head against my leg, especially if I tickled her ears too. She liked to lie on the bed and have me stroke her, sometimes even letting me stroke her tummy as she got older and more relaxed. But right up until she died, she didn't like being picked up.

My outdoor cat, Mickey, likes being cuddled - he'll jump into my arms if I bend down and reach out to him. He then sits up against my chest and puts his arms round my neck (sometimes kneading away on the back of my shoulders) and nuzzles his nose into my ear or neck. He'll let me hold him like that for hours. He doesn't like laps though.

My new indoor cat Fergus loves cuddles. He's always jumping up onto my knees when I'm on the loo, or trying to use the laptop, and will fight to get onto my lap as much as possible. At night he gets under the duvet and snuggles up against me, sometimes stretching right out along my back with his head on the pillow and his feet on my back.

My litle girls cat will only sit on her lap if she puts his rug on her lap first you could try this to see if it will help. he is only 6 months old.

Sat all night last night with their bed throw on my lap, I didn't have a lap companion, but was toastie warm all night!!
Maybe my girls' habits will change in time but who knows? The main thing is they are happy and adore a stroke and fuss on their terms!!
Loved reading everyones stories on this thread

It’s my experience, (I’ve got three cats now, and I’ve had a total of over 15 home-cats over the years), that cats want everything on their terms. LOL. This includes the much sought after cat-cuddle.

My present cats (all boys), will come and sit on my knee, or drape themselves around my shoulders) when they are in the right mood - but they will flip out, if I try to cuddle them. I’ve found it’s not worth upsetting them for a fleeting cuddle, so I patiently wait for them to come to me, and enjoy them when the mood suits them.

That’s cats for you, I am afraid.

My dogs on the other hand, want all-day cuddles. So I never go short on pet-cuddles.

Over the last 4 years we have given a home to 7 stray cats
They were all very,very young kittens
All but one of them loves being picked up & cuddled etc
Another stay cat , in the past few months has taken to sitting on the window sill waiting to be let indoors.
Once in , she has a wander round, then comes to us for a cuddle. then sits on my wife's shoulders.
When ready to go, the cat jumps back on the window sill & waits till one of us lets her out
Because were are softies, when the rain is really heavy at night we let the cat stay & she sleeps on our bed in between us

No, they absolutely hate it.

When Toby was a tiny kitten he used to love having a hug and would fall asleep in my arms. Now that he's 6 months he doesn't have time for cuddles and if I pick him up he ends up chewing my hands and wriggling

Cats peddle because its their first instinct as a kitten - they peddle their mummy cat's teats to activate the milk. Its a huge compliment that they think you're they're real mummy!

I have 3 cats....

One would happily lose the use of her legs if it meant I had to carry her around all the time. One often seems to be trying to pick me up and carry me about but reaklly he's just trying to get my spot on the sofa and the third you attempt to pick up at your peril.

If i pick my cat up he will wriggle around and meow his head of until I put him down.
He does like to lie at the end of my bed and sit next to me on the sofa though,& when I'm in bed he will come lay on my chest or just sit on me until I stroke him
If i ignore him he meows constantly & sometimes I get a swipe of his paws lol I have no idea who he thinks he is a king or something

I have 3 cats, all with different personalities.

My boy, Chi, sleeps on my bed every night without fail, if i'm sitting at my desk he'll jump up onto my chair with his front paws on my back and look over my should at what i'm doing, he'll then jump on the desk and sit right in front of me! He's quite happy to be picked up, and loves a cuddle, if I pick him up he'll either rest his chin or paws on my shoulder and just sit there as long as he can put his back legs in the palm of my hand, or he will climb up and stand on my shoulders and the back of my neck. He'll also jump up on his back legs like a dog if i go and stand in front of him. If hes really in the mood he climbs up my chest and sits on my shoulders. he loves a bit of Star Trek too! If i put it on (any series) he'll stop what hes doing and sit and stare at the TV for ages lol)

My other cat Rosie, (all 3 cats are bothers/sisters) is rather unsociable. She likes to be on her own, and doesnt like to be picked up, and on the odd occasion I do get to make a fuss of her or give her a cuddle she will only stay as long as I dont touch her belly.

My other cat Daisy is very affectionate. She loves a cuddle, loves to be picked up and the moment someone in the house sits down, shes there next to them and lies right up against them and purrs endlessly. If we have visitors she'll sit on the back if the sofa where they are sitting and play with their hair!!

My other 2 (above cats Mum Pushkin, and brother Thai) both got run over outside the house by people speeding down our little country lane. Thai was a bit of a cross between the 2 girls and Pushkin was the same. She loved to lie on my back and nod off! I miss them both dearly.

My oldest does. He's very tolerant. My youngest however will fidget if you pick him up and will only cuddle you when he feels like it.