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MIButterfly

(3,432 posts)
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 12:37 PM 3 hrs ago

My cat Holly is not a lap cat

For 14.5 years she has never once laid in my lap. The closest she's ever come is to rest her two front paws on my thigh while lying next to me. Well, guess who's laying in my lap today? I looked down and there she was! She's even purring! This is such a happy day for me. My heart is about to burst with joy.

Uh-oh, there she goes! It was wonderful while it lasted. I hope she does it again soon.

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My cat Holly is not a lap cat (Original Post) MIButterfly 3 hrs ago OP
Aw, that's so sweet! Maybe it took her awhile, but she finally decided the lap was a good thing, Ocelot II 3 hrs ago #1
Yay! Only a cat lover would know that pure unadulterated joy. JMCKUSICK 2 hrs ago #2
Awwww 💙 the purring is wonderful 💙🐾🐾💙 TommieMommy 2 hrs ago #3
That means there is hope KT2000 2 hrs ago #4
My crabby little white guy Teacher of the Year 1 hr ago #5
How nice and funny. Figarosmom 1 hr ago #6
I love it! MIButterfly 1 hr ago #7

Ocelot II

(131,751 posts)
1. Aw, that's so sweet! Maybe it took her awhile, but she finally decided the lap was a good thing,
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 01:10 PM
3 hrs ago

though even the paws on your leg showed her affection for you. I get it - back in December I adopted two big gray brothers, 4-1/2 years old at the time. Chet warmed up immediately and got in my lap almost as soon as I took them home, but Dave was much more shy. He spent the first couple of days mostly under the bed. After a couple of months he was following me around and talking to me, but never got in my lap (even when Chet wasn't occupying it) - until just a few weeks ago. To my great surprise and without fanfare, he got up from where he had been napping on the couch, strolled over to me, hopped into my lap, curled up, purred, and went to sleep. I was just thrilled! He still doesn't get in my lap as often as Chet, but he still does now and then and it delights me. Both of them sleep on their backs on warm days, which also tells me they feel safe and at home now.

There's nothing like having a cat who loves you.

KT2000

(22,272 posts)
4. That means there is hope
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 02:04 PM
2 hrs ago

My cat is not a lap cat either and I miss that. He will walk across my lap to get to a fuzzy blanket for a nap but that's it.

I think your cat gave it a trial run but her nervous system kicked in. Like allergy shots, she will adjust and be back for longer and longer periods. That is what I hope.

5. My crabby little white guy
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 02:59 PM
1 hr ago

is kind of mad at me. I have to bandage his leg every day and he holds it against me. I've been sleeping on the couch with him for over a year to keep his leg healthy. Last night he tucked into my armpit (where he sleeps) and for the first time in months and months and months he just broke into the loudest purrs.

Makes it all worthwhile those little purrs!

MIButterfly

(3,432 posts)
7. I love it!
Sun Jun 21, 2026, 03:30 PM
1 hr ago

Doug and The Business Cats are hilarious. They're my latest favorite thing. Thank you, Figarosmom!

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