Thread: Not very affectionate

Our last moggy was a real lap cat and Sidney simply isn't. He will be in the same room as us (follows me everywhere) but just needs his own "personal space".
Seeing as he's getting quite heavy, this isn't the end of the world for me! At bedtime, he comes and pads on us, then needs a head rub and a good stroke and lies on the bed till the lights go out, then he heads off to sleep on the carpet. I can't help but appreciate having space to roll over without being attacked for disturbing the cat!
We have noticed recently that he is starting to join us on the sofa and has a couple of times jumped up onto a lap for a few moments, so maybe things are changing? He will be 2 in 2 months and was neutered at 7 months.

As you've probably heard before, Maine Coons aren't fully mature until they're 4 or 5 years old. It seems that along with this loooong adolescence is the tendency to be more kittenish that most breeds. Maine Coons ARE affectionate, but as kittens generally don't like to hold still enough to be true lap cats. Of course, it also depends on personality, but many Maine Coons will become cuddlier as they get older. However, older might be 4, 5, or more years later. My first MC was very affectionate, but only for short periods, when she was a kitten. After about age 6 or 7, though, a lap or a chest was her favorite place to be.

The only Maine Coons I've had were already mature when I acquired them and neither is/was a lap cat. (Casey, the boy, sadly has passed away). They both like to be nearby and will lie next to my pillow all night, fortunately barely moving, and since the bed is king-size there isn't a problem with space. A good thing too since Lacey weighs 21 pounds (Casey weighed 18 pounds). I personally like a cat who is more subtle in showing affection and doesn't want to be a constant lap sitter, but wants to be nearby and likes to be stroked, although not for long periods of time. Since they were/are quite heavy I really prefer them to lie next to me on the couch, which gives me their sweet company without the strain of all that weight in my lap, and it works really well since I frequently sit on the couch with the laptop on my knees.