Kitten just won't cuddle

[love.my.cats]

Sounds similar to Meeka. When we first got her she seemed really sweet and cuddly but soon, she decided she didn't want to be cuddled. She was never ever unfriendly, just didn't want too much love. It took about 2 years and now she loves a snuggle, she's even been known to push Sammy off our laps when she decides she wants some attention!

[Kobster]

I just posted a similar thread a few days ago. I would bet its a phase. Spaying will help, as she's going to be hormonal at this point in her life. Also time. My Ninja is just coming out of his stroppy teenage phase at 18 months old, but they don't normally last that long. Usually just a few months.

[wondercat]

My kitten Max is a total mommys boy, he sleeps with me all the time and runs to me when i get home. He also climbs me like I'm a cat condo and just purrs and wants to lay down on my shoulder. Zeus on the other hand likes sleeping on the couch or under the bed. They are both around the same age. Just have very different personalities. Shrug I love them both.

[Syrena]

It reminds me of my cat. When we`ve got her, she wanted to cuddle and play with me and my boyfriend all the time. But since last 2-3 weeks, she just does not require our attention so much. I can be happy when she wants me to pet her for 1 minute when I wake up in the morning (she is not allowed to sleep in our bedroom) or when I come back from work. When my boyfriend sits on the couch and watches TV she is all over him (but also only for 5-10 minutes). But she just doesn’t want to come to me. But otherwise, I am the one who she follows everywhere I go. Bathroom, kitchen, living room….when I go downstairs she goes downstairs, when I go upstairs, she goes upstairs…when I am in the showers, she jumps on the door handle and opens the bathroom door and comes inside, sits and waits until I am finished. I have impression that she wants to be with me, she just does want me to pet her so much. She is 7 month old, so I hope it is only her “Teenager” phase.

[beakerpatience]

Hi, i found your post after a random search to find forums. I own a 3 year old laperm. Ive read through other posts you have made to get an idea of what problems you have. I think the main problem you have is that the laperm is a very active natural hunter. Because they came from free roaming barn cats on a little cherry farm back in 1982, they have a very strong hunting drive. (and healthy gene pool )
Luckily they are also massively intelligent, and loving but you have to "earn" the hugs.
A young laperm is massively inquisitive. It looks on you as a mother figure and will always want to at least see what you are doing. Be it in the kitchen living room or the bathroom. This is why she spends so much time following you and watching. If mine hasnt had her playtime yet, its not uncommon for me to sit and watch her paws coming under the bathroom door.
You will probably not get a good nights sleep unless it has had a good 30-60 mins playtime before bed. This has a bad cycle of making you grouchy and see playtime as a chore. She wont want to go to sleep and she will meoow, and pick fights so she can play "run away". Its essential that you cat gets a good rotation of toys that you play with, with it. My laperm wont play alone bar the odd slap of a ball once in a blue moon.

Like yours she wont stay if i pick her up and sit down, and hugs are on her terms. She will now and again come under covers for a bit, and on days off i will almost always find her on my chest after 10am, but never before. If your up early thats maybe part why you get so few hugs. Mine isnt fond of laps, and will sit near me rather than be on one. But she likes chests so if i lie on sofa, she may come if the mood takes her. Thats just cats personalitys thought and not a laperm trait. It took her months to go sit on my mother, yet she loved my dad staright away.
Now the most odd thing, but its the best tip i have to bond with a laperm. I have her trained to hunt on command. She can be on top of the wardrobe dozing, she wont come if i call her name, or go in fridge. However no matter where i am and she is, if i make the noise i use when we hunt moths together, she will come bounding in, fully alert on actively looking for prey. Food is of little intrest to her, bar noodles (to paw at as they look like string) or fresh baked pork/chicken she loves. None of the cat treats wil get touched, and she only eats one brand of food (dry luckily) and she never over eats. But hunting she takes to a new level. I will leave a light on in bathroom, and tilt the window. She will sit there for hours waiting on a moth or daddylonglegs or spider. When one comes she will nyig nyig nyig (chatter thing). Ive always joined in, helping her get to ones she cant reach or pointing out one she missed etc. She bonded with me by hunting together more than any treat ever did. No moths? hide around a corner and wait for her to stalk you jump out and kiss you with her nose.
Get an old blanket, spread it over a peice of clothing elastic ( i replace all wand toys cords with it as if it tangles and she panics it wont do as much damage due to stretchage) Slowly pull that cord through and watch her ears lock on, then pounce. Make playtime as much as a hunt simulation as you can. They dont want to play alone much, its too easy for them to bat the ball etc. But swing a da bird around and boom she is in heaven.
I cant really describe the noise i make but can show you to a youtube video i made of her so you can figure it out. A tired kitty is much more loving and happy.


As for the climbing, save up and buy her the tallest tree you can. It makes there life so much better, and will really save your furniture in the long run .You cant disclipline them for jumping up on things, they just take it as a game and will do it more to get chases. They can and will be able to get to almost any ledge or shelve in a house, so assume anthing on it will get knocked off if to close to edge or small and easily lost like usb sticks, lighters etc.


Sorry for the big wall of text, if theres anything else i can do to explain it better just let me know. Its just a laperm is so faraway from the lapcat breeds but just as loving if not more when they feel the need, and once u understand them and listen to there voices you will learn what your cat wants and needs from its best friend.

[marie73]

Wow, I was thinking that was one of the best posts ever, until.....

Originally Posted by beakerpatience

None of the cat treats wil get touched, and she only eats one brand of food (dry luckily)...

Not to knock dry food if that's all your cat will eat, and my girls get a bit as a treat now and then, but have you tried wet? Here's a link, I know - LOTS of reading - but you might find it interesting.

Info. & Links on why canned is better than all dry diet

Again, what a great, helpful post! I googled pictures of laperms - gorgeous!!!

[beakerpatience]

She ate wet food as a kitten and wouldnt touch the dry stuff i put down as nibbles. Then one day she just switched. She wouldnt even lick of the gravy/jelly etc. Ive tried pretty much every type on market, and same with the dry food to try promote diversity. Think ive fed my friends cat for 6 months on all the unwanted food. Ive tried gradually mixing through and such, but she just leaves it. Still she is fit as a fiddle and regular as clockwork, enjoys a bit of chicken etc when its fresh but she doesnt beg or hound anyone when in the kitchen.
She has her own fountain for water as she prefers it flowing or straight from the tap. One other problem i had with the wet food is because i work shifts, and live in cold scotland my heatings on pretty much all winter so wet food drys out very quickly so she would be even less likely to eat it. i shall go read through other topics though for tips to try, as to keep this thread on topic Id much rather her diet was more varied even though she seems perfectly happy.

[Catatude]

I have two dogs and three cats. They all have their own personalities. The cats all seem to show catitude frequently. They do what they want when they want! For some reason this makes me love them even more and tells me I have to work harder for their affection. It is kind of cute! Try rubbing lightly behind the kittens ears. This seems to always start purring.