Why do cats crawl into peoples lap that hate them?

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A Husband and wife team, from a local church came to my house, I think trying to get us to go to church, Well any way, I have 6 beautiful cats, that live with us, in the house. I quess the lady didn"t like cats, but being the good lady that I am sure she was, was dieing a slow death, because everyone of my cats came over and started to rub her legs, So she moved to another chair, And then one jumped into her lap. And she pushed that one off. And then she said, Don"t you think animals should live outdoors? And these cats have never been outdoors. I don"t know what was right in this situation, but there again it was my house. They didn"t stay long.

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), February 28, 2002

Answers

Because cats are sadists at heart! I love my cats, past and present....when I was a teen, I had an obnoxious Aunt who always talked too loud and stayed too long. I also had a Siamese cat named Ling who also didn't care for Aunt Grace. Aunt Grace had to weugh in at over 200 pounds, yet she wore tight dresses and spike heels...when she sat in an overstuffed chair, she couldn't cross her legs, so she'd cross her ankles instead.....the chair had a "skirt"....The instant she sat down, Ling would magically appear behind her chair...slowly creeping under the skirt, he would wait a good half hour.(my mother and I would be trying so hard to stifle our giggles)...all of a sudden, he would literally slide on his back from under the chair, wrap all four paws around Aunt Graces' fat ankles and kick with his back feet for all he was worth...during this, he would throw his head back and close his eyes as if in ecstacy..Grace would naturally commence to try to unhook her ankles, screaming obcenities all the while..the more she screamed, the harder Ling would kick with those back feet. Ah, those were the days..it was my job to run over there and extract the cat....he never used his claws or hurt her at all..he just liked to torture her..why? She hated cats...they "know"...LOL

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), February 28, 2002.

Irene---you made me remember something this moring---- I probably should not post----but I'm going to-----my first husband was not a good husband or father---- my daughter was very young & she had a cat that adored her & kind of liked me also---but hated my then husband----my daughter called him "Fat Cat" which fit him well---- When this cat heard my husband pull in the drive way---the cat would run & jump up on the stove & then on top of the ref. next to the back door---when he would come in the door/ the cat would jump on him!!!!! Now this happen many-many--many--many---times---why he didn't come in another door---or watch out for the cat---- I have no clue!!!! But he would run around the kitchen yelling & cussing until Fat Cat had-- enough & would run to my daughter's room!!! When ever/ my then husband was abusive to my daughter or my self that cat would attack him & I do mean attack him!!!!!!!!!! I think cats are a good judge of character!!! That story was something I probably should have left unsaid----but it came over me & I told it!!! Sonda

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), February 28, 2002.

Well...as you can guess, I am extremely biased when it comes to cats! I think they are fascinating and Yes, they are excellent judges of character. I have five of them.

I have a good friend who had a Siamese named Ling--Ling lived to be twenty-one years old.

I've never had a situation in this house where our cats reacted strongly (in a negative sense) to a person, though I have noticed them be quite pronounced about giving extra attention to certain lucky people. Each cat is very unique. To the poster with Fat Cat, I don't doubt that Fat Cat was trying to protect you and your daughter. My cats have done many very intuitive things--intentionally cuddling with me when I'm stressed, comforting me when I was getting over the death of my first cat, etc.

Just a cat crazy person....

-- Cat (catcrazy@somewhere.com), February 28, 2002.


You're all right! Cats just know how to torment people soooo well! I have one named Brat who is an expert at tormenting DH in the morning. he isn't called Brat for nothing. One of these days, i'll post the saga of Brat and the duct tape!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), February 28, 2002.

I am a cat person, but Lance is allergic, so...we have lots around the neighborhood and they kill the birds and rabbits, which my mother- in-law (who lives across the street) loves, so.....

I used to have a cat named Tigger who wouldn't let anyone but my oldest nephew or myself have anything to do with him. He would just turn tail and walk off or glare at them, but he actually used to let us pick him up and he would wrap his front legs around our neck and give us a "hug" while he purred at us. It's strange how they pick their owners for themselves!

A college roommate's sister had a cat that she threw out of her room one morning because he was annoying her as she tried to get ready for school. Her mother told her he wouldn't like that, but she did it anyway. When she came home, the cat had cleared off her entire dresser of all the makeup, curling irons, hairspray, and other assorted junk that covered the ENTIRE dresser top, and used her favorite bed pillow for a litterbox. He was sitting on the chair in the middle of her bedroom waiting for her with that "HA" look on his face. Her mother laughed!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), February 28, 2002.



My dear departed Skitzo (he came with the name--he was a shelter cat) always pestered people who didn't like cats. He was friendly to all, but would not leave cat haters alone. I always thought that he was trying to convert them into cat lovers. He would rub on them and purr. If they pushed him away he would come back and purr louder. My neighbors did not like cats as a rule, but adored Skitzo--they said he was the friendliest cat they had ever seen. We lost him in October at 18 years old. He was the king of the house and completely ruled my two 75 lb dogs. When Skitzo wanted to drink out of the dog dish or nibble a piece of dog food the dogs would back off and wait for him to finish. Cats--gotta love 'em !!

-- colleen (bean@northwoods.net), February 28, 2002.

We have a beautiful cat named Tigger too. He is the cutest thing. Brady says he is his brother and carries him around everywhere.

When the weather was still nice, Cale would take a nap on the porch swing, and Tigger and Carly (our other cat) would both lay across him and sleep!!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 28, 2002.


I like cats, but I am not really fanatical about it. I don't mind them in the house. I like them cuddled on my lap when I'm reading, and I like watching them play.

As to what to do in a situation like yours, I would say that when I visit someone's house, I try to put up with whatever unpleasantness I may encounter without letting the owners know that I am bothered. On the other hand, I have seen owners put their pets in another room if they are bothering the guests.

-- Cathy N. (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), March 03, 2002.


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