a lot of of us have had one or a lot more of these cats: they are happy, sweet, maybe even affectionate on their own terms, but they simply refuse to sit in our laps. Allegra is one of them. It took months after I first adopted her at seven months of age before she would even come near my lap. She liked being in the same room with me, even sit ideal next to me, but my lap? That was off limits territory as far as she was concerned. After nearly four years with me, she has just recently started to come around and is starting to ask for some lap time.
Stephanie Bouchard can relate – to the point that she published a captivating little book about the topic. The Lap-Reluctant cat will make those of us with cats suffering from Lap-Reluctance Syndrome feel a little less alone. Bouchard captures the “syndrome” with humor and empathy. While I’m not sure the book will actually help you cure your cat’s LRS, it is guaranteed to make you smile from start to finish.
I can’t decide what I loved more: the beautiful illustrations by Beth Zyglowicz or the witty captions by Bouchard. I think it’s probably the combination that makes this book the joyful, creative and oh so relatable book it is.
If you have a lap-reluctant cat, or even if you just love cats with all their special personalities and quirks, I pledge you, you will thoroughly take pleasure in this book. available from Amazon for Kindle and as a paperback.
Do you have a lap-reluctant cat? how do you deal with Lap-Reluctance Syndrome?
Ingrid King
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13 comments on Review: The Lap-Reluctant cat by Stephanie Bouchard
sue Brandes says:
January 25, 2014 at 7:57 pm
Thanks for the review. sounds like a good book. Tubby does not sit with you or like to be held. He loves to be looked at on his own terms. Cashew & Garfield aren’t really either but; every once in awhile surprise you for a few minutes. Charlie loves laps.
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Debi says:
January 24, 2014 at 11:49 pm
Zoe was mostly Daddy’s little girl, but considering that he died 5 years ago she hasn’t been up for much lap time. She just seems to be coming around again recently and will come sit on my lap for a few minutes, then dash off! It’s okay, we both still miss him very much. She never stopped loving petting, kisses and scratches though, and has become even a lot more attached to me than ever. especially considering that her brother, Cholla died. Makes it tough to leave the house without feeling a bit guilty. She’s ideal at the door when I come home. ?
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Bernie says:
January 24, 2014 at 8:30 pm
My kittens all are lap resistant. however they are very affectionate and take pleasure in being with me wherever I am in the house. A 4 share my bed by cuddling and curling up against me. I get lots of kitty kisses and rubbing.
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Patty says:
January 24, 2014 at 12:20 pm
I adopted a 5 year old retired female Ragdoll queen, Ena, 8 months ago. She does not do laps, does not sleep with me, hates other cats and seriously balks at grooming and any other attempt at ‘futzing’ with her diva-ness. She has a powerful left hook which, thankfully, she seems less interested in deploying to my face of late. (Fortunately, the swats have been sans claws so far.) However, she loves to be around me or know where I am in any way times, rubs on me, purrs, kneads nearby soft surfaces, rolls on her back and solicits and enjoys petting. She is clean, quiet and respectful and scratches only her Brawny cardboard furniture. She adores her multiple daily sessions (obsession?) with DaBird.
Ena is unlike any cat I have previously known. She is the first that has not slept in my bed — she does not even care to sleep in the same room. She is a mysterious mix of aloof and sweet with a streak of demanding diva thrown in. Her detestation of the comb has resulted in one large mat that will now need to be shaved off. maybe living the first 5 years of life in a cattery does this to a cat. maybe she often sees me, at times, as just another large cat who needs to be kept in line. but she is at last now complimentary of cages and the anxiety of being around multiple un-related queens she mostly hated. She was one of the smallest queens but she was the alpha. She is clearly kicked back and very delighted here. She may even be slowly ceding the role of alpha queen to me. We are working on it.
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Ingrid says:
January 24, 2014 at 1:51 pm
It sounds like Ena found the best home with you, Patty. I bet that she will gradually kick back a lot more and a lot more as she gets a lot more comfortable in your home.
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Lauren says:
January 24, 2014 at 10:59 am
Hi Inull