How to Get Your Kitten to Lay on Your Lap

Bonding with a new kitten can take days or weeks, but your kitten will look to you for affection and attention. Cats will tend to pick out their favorite spots to sleep, and a preferred choice is on or around their favorite person. Set the stage early while your cat is still a kitten by encouraging her to snooze in your lap. As your kitten grows into an adult, she will find your lap to be a warm and cozy place to spend quality time with you.

  1. From the Ground Up

    • Spend time on the floor with your kitten. Kittens become accustomed to what is within their reach, and most of those objects are on or near the floor. Sit or lie on the floor and engage your kitten with toys. Use your voice so your kitten becomes familiar with you. When your kitten seems to tire, gently place her in your lap, and she will settle down to sleep. This may take several weeks, but your kitten will soon look at your lap as a wonderful place to spend some quiet time.

    Affection and Grooming

    • Give your kitten undivided attention throughout the day to endear her to you and encourage her to be close to you. Establish a grooming routine with your kitten early on. This will remind her of her mother and instill good habits early on. When your kitten is in your lap, gently brush and scratch her, paying special attention to the spots she likes. Your kitten will associate your lap with affection and a massage that makes her feel at home.

    Routine

    • While cats are widely known as independent creatures, they also respect a routine in regard to feeding, grooming or play. If you notice your cat is playful in the morning but relaxed and sleepy in the afternoon, use the afternoon to encourage your kitten to sleep in your lap. A kitten is much more likely to stay if you follow her natural routine. Drape a cozy, fluffy blanket across your lap to encourage your kitten to curl up.

    Food Reward

    • If your kitten seems reluctant to snuggle in your lap and prefers to lie in another location, provide a small reward when she does approach your lap. Choose a treat your kitten will love, but make sure it is appropriate for a kitten to eat. A very small piece of cubed, cooked chicken is a choice she will love. Be careful not to feed your kitten so many treats that she refuses to eat her kitten food, which provides the nutrients and vitamins she needs to grow and thrive.