Tiffany, my spaded 2 year old, She is 3/4 MC, has always been socialble. Her temperment is very MC like. My concern is that recently, in the evening, she will come into the living room, jump up on the far end of the couch, slowly walk over to me and gingerly climb into my lap and up to my shoulder, she places her head next to my neck, and stretches her body across my chest, purr loudly and bump my cheek with her nose. She will lay like this for 15 to 20 minutes then climb down and go lay at the end of the couch. This "ritual" has been going on for several weeks and alway after the kids are asleep. What's wrong? Is she lonely? Sick? Being mistreated by someone? Does she sense my unease? Unhappiness? (Although I don't let my feelings about my personal life alter the way I deal with my loved ones). Or am I just trying to attach a deep meaning to nothing? none of her eating or litter box habits have changed.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 1998

Answers

It sounds like your cat has discovered he can have this love you up time without competeing with kids. I have lots of pets & mine has claimed bathroom time his & only his.

I really don't think you have a problem, enjoy!

Pam

-- Anonymous, December 16, 1998

I own a MC look-alike. Her favorite place to curl up is on my chest/draped across my neck where her loud purring (sounds like a race car engine!) resonates through my chest. I find it to be extremely relaxing, especially after a hard day at work. I agree that your cat is finding that this behavior is her way of "reconnecting" with you without the children around.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 1998

Your Maine Coon Cat is not acting odd, just acting like a Maine Coon Cat! Mine does the same thing. When it bumps your face with the top of it's head it is playing and showing affection to you.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 1999

My last kitty had a lot of Maine Coon in her. Every night when I got in bed and every morning before I got up she would come up on the bed and give my cheek a head-but that would sometimes last several minutes then lay down on my chest and bury her head in between my neck and shoulder and purr and knead my neck (always the left side - maybe she liked the heartbeat?). It was our special time together. She also did this sometimes in the car on the way home from the vet (standing up on her back legs). I had heard that cats have scent glands on the tops of their heads and on tips of their tails and that is why they head-but you and do the "figure eight" around your ankles. They are trying to mark their favorite humans. My kitty also seemed to have a unique way of sensing my mood and would give a sympathetic look when I would cry and sometimes give extra snuggles if she thought I was down. Please enjoy your time together. Our kitty died of FeLV (she contracted from her mother) two months ago and I would do anything for her snuggles.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 1999