Feline Safe Haven in an Underarm

cat snuggle

Question:

I have 2 cats, 2 years old, that I got at a shelter 1 1/2 years ago.  They had at least one feral parent and they are fine except they are almost impossible to be lap cats.  I have one trained to sit on my lap but she is very skittish and finicky.  The other one won’t sit on a lap unless she kneads my female partner’s underarm.  It can get quite irritating.

Dr. Nichol:

Your kittens might have been cuddle bugs but who they turned out to be was the product of multiple factors. The sensitive period for their socialization to people dogs, and other cats was 2-9 weeks of age. It was during this window of time that their immature brains formed early memories and neural connections that became indelible parts of their personalities. It’s a safe bet that they missed out on exposure to nice folks like you. That’s a bummer.

Genetics is another driver of snuggliness.  Research has shown that some cat’s brains come hard-wired for a lifetime of fearful behavior. Your job is to sit quietly with tasty treats next to you on the couch – before breakfast and dinner. Allow your nervous nellies to approach when they feel brave and ready. Make success easier for them by providing an indoor plethora of quasi-natural feline activities. They’ll be calmer if they can function more like their inner savage.

Your house can be a wonderland of opportunities to hunt, stalk, and maim “prey.” Your kiddos need to climb and perch high above it all. Add hide boxes, at various heights in different rooms, so they can get small and invisible as they sometimes must. You’ll find a full list of feline environmental enrichments on my website, drjeffnichol.com. A safe and tasty antianxiety supplement, Zylkene or Anxitane, can help diminish the heebie jeebies. Both are available online.

I encourage adoption planning. Before falling for the first pretty kitty, prospective cat parents should review my article and video on “Choosing the Greatest Kitten for Your Life,” also on my website.

Finally, human armpits have their own ecosystem: insects and bacteria are known to thrive there. Thanks to your partner, we now know that cats can as well. Now that’s a commitment.

For help with behavior problems, you can sign-up for a Zoom Group Conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com.

Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist. He provides consultations in-person and in groups by Zoom (drjeffnichol.com). Each week he shares a blog and a video to help bring out the best in pets and their people. Sign up at no charge at drjeffnichol.com. Post pet questions through my website, drjeffnichol.com/contact/ or by US Post to 4000 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuq, NM 87109.