Two cats, one lap. What gives?

Dear Fisher,

We are very loving, happy kittens and we love each other very much. We cuddle with each other a lot. But, when we are all in the same room together, we don’t like to cuddle with our human or even let her touch us at all. When we are separate we cuddle with her all the time and are very friendly. She thinks this is very odd. Do you have any idea why we would be this way? An explanation could help us all.

Harley and Honda

Dear Harley and Honda,

Your behavior is not bad behavior or the type that can or should be trained out of you. The fact that you are very loving cats comes out loud and clear in your letter. Life must be very good at your place, except for one little oddity. Cats in general have a certain responsibility to do something odd occasionally or even perpetually. That is one of the things that make us so lovable.

After much research on this subject, I found there is no real research. However your letter did bring to mind two cats I have known named Burt and Boomer. They cuddled together a lot. They never sat together on their human’s lap, but the minute she stretched out on the couch, they were both on top of her. Boomer was always closest to her head – obviously the alpha cat. Neither of you seems to have alpha cat tendencies. At least they are not overt alpha tendencies.

I listed my thoughts on why you may behave the way you do and I invite my readers to send me some of their thoughts. One good idea might help your human understand. Here is my list:

1. Her lap is not big enough for both of you to cuddle on at the same time.
2. You are both peace-loving pacifists and determined not to create any rivalry.
3. One of you likes scratches under the chin, and the other likes petting behind the ears. You both know she is not ambidextrous.
4. You have a private bet going on as to which of you is the most independent.
5. Each of you is covertly working toward alpha cat status and will not reveal your intentions until the real alpha cat comes out to play.

In the meantime, your human might try something odd herself. She can get a new, very flashy cat toy, sit on the floor and begin to play with it. Let us see how serious you are about staying aloof when the three of you are together in this situation!

Your friend,

Fisher