Kittens are not going to be super snuggly to begin with, because they're busy attacking and playing. Our girl kitten (adopted at 2 months, now 9) will go in for 2-3 5-20 minute snuggle sessions a day where she need to check in with humans and get her warmth and affection. I can't pick her up and cuddle with her (because she's a ferocious kitten) but will approach for snuggles on her terms. I do think their personalities are evident when they're young. Our kitten girl will probably mellow down as she gets older, and her ratio of attack/play to snuggles will shift. She's sitting on my chest purring up a storm as I type this right now. |
| I haven't read all of the replies, but my male cat is an a-hole and a bully who is mean to other people (including the rest of the family and our other cat) when I'm not there to see it. My girl is loving but nervous and shy, and very demanding of my attention. I love them both but the boy is definitely harder to live with and meaner. I had a number of cats growing up and did not find these stereotypes true. Cats have individual personalities, so I would adopt an adult whose personality is formed if I were you. |
DP. I also have a neutered orange male tabby who is a jerk and bites (I've had him since he was a kitten so he's not, like, a former street cat or anything). I just posted above but he's a bully whenever he thinks he can get away with it. He does love me, but no one else. |
| Seems like the sex stereotypes aren’t true esp if you socialize them young and fix them early |
| Has anyone experienced female cats being more of a lap cat than male? |
This is PP with the other orange jerk. We have had him since he was 3-4 weeks old- he was found in a ditch. He just has an extremely high prey drive- mice and moles galore have appeared on my porch. |
We had littermates from the time they were 10 weeks old. Both fixed. Part Siamese. Boy was a love bug. Girl was only interested in a couple minutes of attention until she was about ten years old. Excellent mouser though. |
| Our girls have always been affectionate, boys more of a mix. So it's unpredictable. Most kittens will cuddle but then they mature and some change and lose that interest. |
| If you neuter/spay them young, does it matter as much? |