A Solution to No Lap Cats: Cold Weather

Duncan snoozing in a warm blanket

November 5, 2009 -

I always wanted a lap cat. Kate is a wonderful cat, and she cuddles and she purrs and she will even groom my face if I rest near her, but she is not a lap cat. She is a next-to cat. Before Duncan, she would sit on the back of the couch while I watched TV, or possibly curl up on a blanket on the other side of the couch. If it’s warm, she might sit in a whole different chair. Mostly though, she sat in another room. She was always open to petting and love, but she didn’t need to be touching me. When we sleep, she has one side of the bed (or the other – I have to sleep in the middle).

When Duncan came on board, I hoped that he would be the little lap cat I always wanted. Of course, at that point I was imagining that Duncan would be a smaller cat, like his mother is. I very patiently waited for the day that Duncan decided to stop tearing around and started recognizing the joy of my lap, but until a recent cold-weather snap, I was waiting in vain.

Last week though, the temperature hit the 60s (finally!), and with all the windows open, my house finally cooled off. I was overjoyed to find Duncan walking around with his fur puffed up, looking even bigger than usual. Then, on my work-at-home day, he settled into my lap. Duncan is almost 13 pounds now, so I had to augment my lap with my arm as a rail, but he settled down and then even took a bath. He was content to sit there while I typed on my computer and conferenced in for a meeting. Since then, he’s been spending more time on my lap, curling up and hanging out for awhile or just sitting still and watching TV with me.

I guess I’ll have to make due with being a cold-weather lap and enjoy the three winter months we get in Phoenix. I think by next winter Duncan may have reached 15 pounds, so we’ll see if he can still fit, but I will continue to look forward to it. Nothing makes a day better than coming home to a cat who wants to sit with you and just enjoy being there.

Michelle T. – PetSmart Charities, Inc.