Does this mean my cat likes me and would this help?

Cats don't think the way humans do. If I didn't like you and would wake you up in the middle of the night, I would do so to annoy you. However, your cat is just hungry and wakes you up for food. It doesn't have anything to do with him liking or not liking you, he just knows you give him food. And he wants food.

Why don't you close your bedroomdoor if you don't want him to wake you up?

Also, cats can be "taught" things like not sitting on your laptop etc. But it takes a lot of dedication. You need to be persistant, don't give up, and not even allow him 1 second of time on your laptop EVER. Else he will be like "But I was allowed to sit on it 50 days ago, so I can still sit on it now.". Punishing doesn't help either, as cats don't really understand what they are doing wrong, they are doing what feels natural to them.

Best way to keep him of your laptop is as I said above, being persistant and continue to "shoo" him off. If he lays next to it and not on it, you can pet him to and talk to him saying he did well, so eventually he will understand that he doesn't need to be on the laptop to get the attention that he wants. (Meaning that putting a pillow in the floor doesn't help. He wants attention, not a soft space to sit on and being ignored).

However, as you said he's already 12 years old, I think he might be too old to change things. But it doesn't hurt to try And if it doesn't work, love your cat for how he is. He sounds lovely to me, he just wants attention

But my mother and brother are out in the house all night and are more accessible. Also, I close my door; cant function with it open. He's stripped it down to the wood underneath-THATS how often he comes to me. Also, the dishes are always full.

I don't know how my folks taught him not to meow, jump and scratch things. It was like one day he was wrecking the house, dad yelled at and swatted him and boom. He was trained. He also knows I am scared of him. (I have good reason as when he was younger he, out of nowhere, came over and sunk his claws and teeth into my face. Mostly my eyes and the surrounding area. I was 8.)  I get what you're saying and it makes sense. I shooed him off 25 times in the span of a minute this morning. I honestly wanted to kill him. Like I said above; the house could be on fire and I would STILL yell at you for daring to wake me up. He only lived because he is an animal and I love animals.

If ever he was ignored, the world would end. He sleeps with me during the day. And when I was sick, he stayed there. (And off the laptop that entire week) I give him lots of love; I even let him sleep under my pillows while I am using them. (I didn't know he could purr until I let him...the sound scared me) Knowing he doesn't do that to anybody, I assume its only me he wants specific love from. Thing is, he didn't want much to do with me till I got another, smaller, more tame cat. (He's, like I said above, kinda half feral) And even now, when he comes up to me and plops on my chest, if I pet him I get his teeth in my flesh.

Yeah. He's the crabby old man that lives on my bed and pays rent with purrs.

DogPerson2Cats said:

 
But my mother and brother are out in the house all night and are more accessible. Also, I close my door; cant function with it open. He's stripped it down to the wood underneath-THATS how often he comes to me. Also, the dishes are always full.

I don't know how my folks taught him not to meow, jump and scratch things. It was like one day he was wrecking the house, dad yelled at and swatted him and boom. He was trained. He also knows I am scared of him. (I have good reason as when he was younger he, out of nowhere, came over and sunk his claws and teeth into my face. Mostly my eyes and the surrounding area. I was 8.)  I get what you're saying and it makes sense. I shooed him off 25 times in the span of a minute this morning. I honestly wanted to kill him. Like I said above; the house could be on fire and I would STILL yell at you for daring to wake me up. He only lived because he is an animal and I love animals.

If ever he was ignored, the world would end. He sleeps with me during the day. And when I was sick, he stayed there. (And off the laptop that entire week) I give him lots of love; I even let him sleep under my pillows while I am using them. (I didn't know he could purr until I let him...the sound scared me) Knowing he doesn't do that to anybody, I assume its only me he wants specific love from. Thing is, he didn't want much to do with me till I got another, smaller, more tame cat. (He's, like I said above, kinda half feral) And even now, when he comes up to me and plops on my chest, if I pet him I get his teeth in my flesh.

Yeah. He's the crabby old man that lives on my bed and pays rent with purrs.

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It has nothing to do with them wanting food (waking you, I mean).  It is just that they want to be near you is all.  Cats are nocturnal.  If it really bothers you, you can play with them really good either with the laser toy or Da Bird or Neko Flies for a few minutes before bed to wear them out.  That seems to help a lot of people. 

You dad did not "train" him.  All he taught him was to fear him.  People that would yell at and hit an animal that cannot understand why should not have animals.  Do not take this path... All you are doing is furthering this fear and mistrust. 

He gets on the laptop because it's warm.  It's common for cats.  It's not to "annoy" you.  None of this is to annoy you.  Cats do not think that way.  Instead of getting mad and yelling (and scaring him which causes him to hurt you) just calmly put him down on the floor.  And say a quiet "NO"  True, he's older but he'll get the message after a couple of times.  I have one friend that has a heated blanket that she keeps on low while she is on her laptop.  It's a compromise. 

Cats do not respond favorably to punishment or lost tempers, as you have witnessed.  So keeping this up and expecting different results is just silly.  He's a cat.  Not a person.  He doesn't understand your rage.  He just knows you have a lot of it. He probably wants to help calm you down.  If it really is a problem for you, you need to consider not having pets until you can get it under control.  I am sorry to be harsh.  But animals are not ornaments or perfect and a lot of times, having one means you have to make certain compromises. He does know that you are nicer to him than your dad was, so he considers you gold. 

Above all, remember that losing your temper has gotten you nowhere and only made it worse.  Try to stay calm and just deal with it calmly and compromise. 

He doesn't play. He just looks at you like you're crazy. He used to, though. It was cute.

I disagree; the cat actually shows so much love to my father- he acts like a kitten seeing its mother. They also have the same personalities. But, yes, I have witnessed a lot of animal abuse in the town I live in so I do see what you are saying.

He doesn't go near it when its warm; after being off all night its ice cold. My younger one (who has me wrapped around her paws) is currently asleep under it. (Shes my laptop stand most the time. And massager cause of her purrs) Also, I have tried that. I believe he is either stupid as anything (cant tell mirror from wall) or brazen as anything. Maybe both; he's a cat. They're cute as babies as hellish as teenagers and we love them anyway, right? I don't care what he does usually. But he's a BIIIG cat and laptops nowadays are flimsy.

If I didn't have animals, I would probably be dead or locked up. While I see what you're saying...both my cats give me more happiness than any human ever could. And yes my animals know I have rage; they learned to let mama drink her coffee in peace those days. Once I do; well, theres catnip and treats everywhere. And, I know you're not being harsh. I have animals for the same reason many people drink; I cannot be happy without them. And though I complain about my male a lot...when I chose him over his bigger and stronger brother in that breeders house, his eyes weren't open but he sure as hell looked at me and purred. He's also the only one I 'wanted' as I never asked for any of my pets except like one dog; they were just given to me. (Seriously. I would often come home to a new cat. They never lasted though as there was always 'something wrong' (health wise as we take in abused and strays) and my folks would take them away.)

Can I say I asked these questions because in his 12 years, he NEVER showed me any affection once he came home with me? It's only now that he's older and I want to make sure he actually loves me and isn't just senile?

Anyway, enough getting sappy for now. Thanks for the advice. I know it seems I am being difficult but both my cats are...different somehow. It seems they sometimes 'forget to cat'.