Selecting a Loving Cat...

In the future (probably far off but...) I'll most likely adopt a shelter kitty; I'm wondering how to determine (within the confines of the shelter) if a kitten will be a real lover. I gravitate toward lap cats/ snuggle bunnies.

My MIL told me that you can gauge a kitten's adult purrsonality by holding her on her back in your arms: if she is content to be there, she's a lover; if she fights to get rightside up, chances are she'll be more active and less dependent upon you for affection. Is there any truth to that? Are there any other ways to determine the future affection once a kitten becomes a cat? (I'm sure that a cat licking/ rubbing on you are good gauges, too, but, to me, neither one indicates a future lap kitty/ snuggler. Plus, interacting with a kitten/ cat within a shelter's confines seems limiting.)

Thanks,

Jenk

Orange tabby males for the most part seems to be lovers. I don't know if there is really away to tell a cuddle bug. Cats that don't seem like they might be, will turn out to be. When we got sebastion he was kind of cuddley at the vets office but when we got him home he hide for the first night and now he is really really cuddly. For the most part all my cats are cuddley. Even granet who bite rich (husband) when he rescued him Neo is the cuddliest cat, but he does NOT like to be one his back. You can hold him for hours but he doesn't want to be held like a baby. Moemoe is less cuddley and you can hold him like a baby. So i guess it just really depends. i think most cats can be cuddley. When more and neo were little we would hold them and give them treats so they got used to being held and getting treats and they like to be held now with out treats.

If you adopt an adult cat from the shelter, his or her personality is already set, and the shelter employees can probably clue you in to which cats like to snuggle.

We adopted Coal when he was 10, he is 12 now, and a complete snuggle boy.

Actually, a lot of our cats are snugglers. It's been my experience that boy cats seem to like physical contact with their humans more than the girls do.

I think that theory just may be true. Zoey hates to be held like a baby.. she hates to be held at all. So she is not a snuggler. She likes to be near me but like to have her own personal space sometimes. Doesnt mean she doesnt follow me from room to room for headbonks and pets

Hmmm i'd tend to say that in my experience the boy cats are more in your face, when they want a cuddle, they really want a cuddle and will enjoy being picked up and cuddled.
Girls tend to want affection on their own terms, though i have to say when they give it they really DO give it well

I adopted Max from a shelter and I felt he would be snuggler because no matter how I held him, he just purred and snuggled. He is the most snuggly kitty you would ever want.

I just got back from vacation and there was no snootiness from him at all. He just wanted me to sit down so he could climb in my lap. What a cutie! I've missed him so much.

Really take some time to interact with the shelter kitty you are interested in...yes, as an adult their personality is set based on experiences in the past, but they can change...if they've never had quite that special owner, your love, kindness and patience may allow them to really blossum.

The kitty with the bar none best purr in our house, who gives hugs by wrapping his arms around our necks, is a formerly emaciated & starving stray who took me months to allow me to touch him while he was eating food I gave him in a bowl hidden behind a bush. Despite warming up to us both during this time, he bit my husband 3 times, two times seriously...once tamed enough for us to pick him up and get him to the vets for exam/shots/neuter and to bring him inside, he has never bitten again. He is just a sweetheart who took over 7 months to accept that we really, really did care for him and would never hurt him.

I can't say that males are more loving than females...I have incredibly responsive females, who talk, and interact often with me, and I have mushball males. I have to agree that usually though, a red or cream boy is extra loving Just look at their face, their eyes as they react to you, see what they do when you pick them up, and trust that the shelter folks want a good fit for both of you, and will discuss what they've seen of the cat's personality.

good luck to you!

Pat how many kitties do you have?

Originally posted by Sicycat
Pat how many kitties do you have?

Click to expand...

Not as many as it sounded in my last note! I have 2 senior catizen boys and some of their descendents, plus our two former strays.

Aww you should post some pics of them in the photo forum

I have the opposite thing happening in my family. I got Tattoo as a stray when she was a few months old and you could hold her however you wanted and she never fought you. Now, at just over a year, she will just walk away from you if you try to go up and pet her. She only wants to be touched when she is in the mood. Rae, however, HATES to be on her back. It makes her VERY uncomfortable, but she is the biggest snuggler I have ever seen. She purrs if you just look at her and she likes to sleep under the covers with me. I think it just depends on the cat. I have found that, especially at the humane society, the kitty that meows for your attention first when you walk in is probably the one that wants you most!

I have 1 male and 1 female, my boy is definitely the cuddler. He just loves to be rubbed and held and will always come find my lap. Hes like a dog, constantly following me around the house and talking, wanting attention The girl is less friendly in general, shes very "on her own terms" with affection and attention. But when she wants it, she lets me know. She likes to follow me in the bathroom and climbs in to the sink to be petted there Shes funny. So just from these 2, my first thought would be to get a boy

MamaKat, my "new" baby does the same bathroom sink thing. Chewie climbs across the counter and settles himself in the sink like he's curling up in a blanket!!! Then he lets out a tiny little meow to let you know he wants a pat on the head. I have never had a cat do this!! He even does it after I've washed my face or brushed my teeth and the sink is WET!! LoL Of course, this is the same kitten who HATES to be held at all, unless it's very early in the morning or very late at night. I'm hoping that once he is neutered he'll become more used to the idea of being held.

MamaKat, my "new" baby does the same bathroom sink thing. Chewie climbs across the counter and settles himself in the sink like he's curling up in a blanket!!! Then he lets out a tiny little meow to let you know he wants a pat on the head. I have never had a cat do this!! He even does it after I've washed my face or brushed my teeth and the sink is WET!! LoL Of course, this is the same kitten who HATES to be held at all, unless it's very early in the morning or very late at night. I'm hoping that once he is neutered he'll become more used to the idea of being held.

MamaKat, my "new" baby does the same bathroom sink thing. Chewie climbs across the counter and settles himself in the sink like he's curling up in a blanket!!! Then he lets out a tiny little meow to let you know he wants a pat on the head. I have never had a cat do this!! He even does it after I've washed my face or brushed my teeth and the sink is WET!! LoL Of course, this is the same kitten who HATES to be held at all, unless it's very early in the morning or very late at night. I'm hoping that once he is neutered he'll become more used to the idea of being held.

MamaKat, my "new" baby does the same bathroom sink thing. Chewie climbs across the counter and settles himself in the sink like he's curling up in a blanket!!! Then he lets out a tiny little meow to let you know he wants a pat on the head. I have never had a cat do this!! He even does it after I've washed my face or brushed my teeth and the sink is WET!! LoL Of course, this is the same kitten who HATES to be held at all, unless it's very early in the morning or very late at night. I'm hoping that once he is neutered he'll become more used to the idea of being held.

BriarRose, thats funny!! Abby goes in the bathtub after Ive been in the shower and she doesnt mind that its wet. The sink upstairs is broken and drips a bit, and shes always going in there for a fresh drink. She doesnt seem to mind that its wet but if I have water really running she stays far away. Very strange I have some cute pictures of Abby curled up in the sink, she fits just perfectly! I'll have to scan them soon to show you

BriarRose, thats funny!! Abby goes in the bathtub after Ive been in the shower and she doesnt mind that its wet. The sink upstairs is broken and drips a bit, and shes always going in there for a fresh drink. She doesnt seem to mind that its wet but if I have water really running she stays far away. Very strange I have some cute pictures of Abby curled up in the sink, she fits just perfectly! I'll have to scan them soon to show you


PS it looks like youre having some posting problems

BriarRose, thats funny!! Abby goes in the bathtub after Ive been in the shower and she doesnt mind that its wet. The sink upstairs is broken and drips a bit, and shes always going in there for a fresh drink. She doesnt seem to mind that its wet but if I have water really running she stays far away. Very strange I have some cute pictures of Abby curled up in the sink, she fits just perfectly! I'll have to scan them soon to show you

Geesh, looks like Im having my own posting problems! Sorry!