independence

Question
I have a wonderful Maine Coon with the dream disposition.  Nothing rattles this cat.  He loves people.  Run to meet them.  Doesn't mind being handled.  But. . . he only sits in your lap on his schedule.  If I pick him up hoping to hold him.  He will let me, but jumps down at the first opportunity.  Is there any hope that I can train him to be a lap cat.  Would this quality prevent him from being a therapy cat?

Answer
Bunny,

The best thing to do is make your lap a happy place to be. Try not petting him EXCEPT when he is on your lap. Do that for awhile. He will want to be petted and soon should learn the association between your lap and petting, and jump on your lap to be petted.

You can also keep him on your lap until YOU are ready to let him jump down. Keep holding him there if he tries to get down, when he sits still THEN let him down.

He sounds like he has great potential for a therapy cat, but you would have to ask an organization that provides therapy cats to see exactly what behavior they prefer and/or accept in a cat. Being a lap cat per se may or may not be a priority.

Tabbi