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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/independence
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Question
I have a wonderful Maine Coon with the dream disposition. Nothing rattles this cat. He loves people. Run to meet them. Doesn't mind being handled. But. . . he only sits in your lap on his schedule. If I pick him up hoping to hold him. He will let me, but jumps down at the first opportunity. Is there any hope that I can train him to be a lap cat. Would this quality prevent him from being a therapy cat?
Bunny,
The best thing to do is make your lap a happy place to be. Try not petting him EXCEPT when he is on your lap. Do that for awhile. He will want to be petted and soon should learn the association between your lap and petting, and jump on your lap to be petted.
You can also keep him on your lap until YOU are ready to let him jump down. Keep holding him there if he tries to get down, when he sits still THEN let him down.
He sounds like he has great potential for a therapy cat, but you would have to ask an organization that provides therapy cats to see exactly what behavior they prefer and/or accept in a cat. Being a lap cat per se may or may not be a priority.
Tabbi
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Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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