OK cat lovers.. question for you

[LDS Jock]

I've been thinking of getting a dog as I've mentioned on another thread. I like cats too, but my beef with them is that they aren't as affectionate as dogs. I want a pet who wants to snuggle with me and play with me, not come to me when its time to eat, then ignore me. Different dog breeds show different levels of affection. I'm sure cats do too. What breeds are affectionate and loving?

Plus, how do you keep a cat off the table and counters? That would really bug me.

Thanks

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. My tabbies have always been snuggly and affectionate.

I held them a lot as kittens and that really seemed to help. Spray bottles with water help with the counters....but, they are going to do whatever the hell they want to do when you are not around/asleep. :hi:

Merlin is very affectionate. He even intrigues and draws in non cat people.

[Padraig18]

2. Cats are individuals: SOME are very affectionate.

It all depends on the individual kitty. As for keeping them off of counters, etc., one word: 'training'.

:)

[Placebo]

4. Exactly, Cats Are Different From Kitty to Kitty

You can never know what you're going to get, like you can with a dog.

I've had cats that are VERY affectionate and some that only come to see you when its time to eat. It's a 50/50 shot that you have to take a chance on!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

3. My cats greet me at the door when I come home

they are both lap cats and very people-focused. If you pay a lot of attention to them, they respond in kind.

[Guy Fawkes]

5. Don't go for a Savana...

While they are awesome (and HUGE), they aren't easy to train. Most will just come around to eat, or when they get bored.

[calico1]

6. I never used to be a cat person and also

thought that cats weren't affectionate. They are. I was wrong. Its just that cats like to do things on their terms. For example, I have one that likes to come over when I am sitting on the sofa and sit next to me and lean on me with his paws on my lap and get his head scratched. However, if I were to go pick him up and sit him next to me he'd probably jump off. I have to let him wait until he wants to. If you live in a place that gets cold in Winter, most cats love to snuggle when its cold. They make good space heaters! I would advise that if you get one, make sure you get nail clippers and several scratching pads. Also, you might want to look into adopting an adult cat who might already be trained to not scratch furniture. As for counters, a spray water bottle and some stern "no's as you put the cat on the floor should train them. I have 5 and none of them get on my counters.

[Shoeempress]

7. I find our "boys" although neutered are more affectionate than the "girls"

who are spayed. The girls will accept affection, but the three boys are constantly trying to edge each other off our laps. The Counter thing is totally trainable. Just repeat, every time they get up on the Counter, "I want them there", before long you'll believe it and will be trained.

[jukes]

8. you have to have

LOTS of cats; that way there's always 1 in the mood to play or snuggle.

:7


but you won't keep them off counters.

[MichiganVote]

9. Counters? Don't leave food on the counters or otherwise leave

interesting toy like objects there such as string, balls, you get the idea. Cats like to be on high, old hunting thing, so try to give them one area that is acceptable for them. We have a bench in front of a large window. Outside the bird feeders at the window will keep our cats busy for hours.

All our cats are affectionate but in different ways. One is a lap dog, another likes to burrow next but not on our laps and a third thinks that its great to just rub up against us about every third day.
They all like a random scratch and we pretty much mess with them whenever we want. Keeps them connected.

[LWolf]

10. I've never had a cat that didn't like to cuddle.

Some are more reserved than others. None obey. They have their own agenda and schedule for attention. They often really, really need to snuggle when you are typing, reading, etc.. They rule the space on the bed. As far as keeping them off counters...there's not much you can do to stop them. You can help yourself by NEVER EVER EVER feeding or watering them on a counter. I don't know about cat breeds; mine have been mixed breeds, pound kitties, alley cats, etc.

My current cat came with the house; she was spayed and about a year old.

[smiley_glad_hands]

11. Himalayans are cats for dog owners.

Our cat is at the door when we get home, and likes to talk to us alot. He follows us around (primarily my wife) and always wants to help you do whatever it is your doing (ie: get in your way). He is a very affectionate cat and I am told that Himalayans typically have more of a personality than most cats.

[ET Awful]

12. My two both greet me at the door . . . .

purring loud enough so I can hear it on the other side. Quinn isn't as big a snuggler as the new girl Althea is, but when he's in the mood, he's affectionate as all hell.

Althea loves to cuddle and play.

I don't think it's so much a breed thing as an individual cat thing.

Of course, Maine Coons are very affectionate, very friendly, and very big :).

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

13. Cats can be VERY affectionate!

If you give them lots of love and they haven't been abused as kittens, they should love you wholeheartedly in return. I don't know about breeds, as I've only had alley cats, but I know orange cats are extremely affectionate.

As far as keeping them off counters and tables, I've heard double-stick tape works. They don't like to have stuff stuck on their paws. Just roll pieces of the tape into circles and place them on the countertops. They also don't like to walk on crinkly stuff. Good luck!

[soothsayer]

14. My GF's 11 cats sleep on top of her in a big mound, climb on her on the

couch just aching to be in her lap, and we even take them for walks around the pond. My parents used to walk their cats, too. (no, not on leashes, silly.)