Our cat only "likes" me. :(

Hello everyone, 

We recently adopted a cat about a month ago. She's approx. 5 years old...little background is known about her as the family we adopted her from, rescued her from a family that left her behind.

The intent of adopting her was to give my 11-year old some pet experience and responsibility. The issue is, is that she only "likes" me, not my wife or son. I used quotations on like as, it's not that she's mean to them...she either ignores them and/or gives me her full undivided attention. This includes: only sitting on my lap, purrs like a lawn mower next to me, sleeps on me when I'm sleeping, follows me everywhere (and I mean everywhere) and meows like crazy when I leave or come back home. I even have my wife and son feed her and play with her now to help with the bonding and familiarity...but no dice.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the attention, but I feel my wife and son get a bit jealous at times, frustrated and the fact we adopted the cat for him.

Any thoughts to why this is and/or suggestions to help spread her love? 

Thanks in advance!

Your wife and son need to become involved with her.  First allow them to spend time with the cat alone.  Food is a often a way to a cats heart.  Get some yummy cat treats or even better try some plain cooked chicken.  Have them sit with her and offer a few special treats while petting her.  Once that goes well, they need to move onto playing with her.  Do you have a laser pointer or da bird wand toy.  Really get her moving and after a play session reward her with a yummy treat.  Just allow them some 1:1 time with her along with some delicious treats. 

I think it will take some time for your kitty to form a bond with the rest of the family. Just have them keep playing with her daily and have them take part in her feeding. Sometimes it takes a bit for cats to warm up to people, but if you guys keep at it I'm sure you will see some improvement

It is also going to take some time. Cats pick their own favorite human and not much you can do about it. Get them to feed her and play with her, and you should not be involved at all (heartbreaking, I know). It will take months for her to come around. Be patient, be consistent.

As said above, keep playing/feeding/cuddling her and she'll warm up. After all, you're the one that brought her into a new, safe home, so obviously she'll look to you for comfort. But over time she'll feel safe and secure around everyone in your family.

My girlfriend's cat is only now starting to show affection towards me, and we've been living together for little over a year now. Before that she would only chill on my girlfriend's lap or follow her around.

These days the cat will sleep on my lap whenever the missus isn't home or come rub up against me. But the moment she comes home, the cat switches laps.

Super depressing sad fact: we actually got a second cat so I would also get non-stop affection. But that one too prefers to be sleeping on or next to my girlfriend. Though that is slowly changing as well.

Thanks everyone for the advice. 

Some cats give their heart to one person.  Doesn't mean to say they won't come to be friendly with others over time, and as everyone has already said - but they will have their heart totally given to their special person.  In the meantime, its helpful to know cat affection moves and what cat affection can look like when it is not the overt affection that may be especially reserved for their person.  This helps feeling so heartbroken!! (Yeah, been there - hubby seems to be the cat magnet, but it has evened out now we have two, although not as expected as original cat switched his aliegance to me!)

This is part of several posts on understanding cat affection: http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/picking-up-on-presence-part-1/3166

This is interesting too, as it shows the subtle differences in how cats react to preferred and non-preferred (but still liked!) people: http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/page/3