Spartacus does this very thing. He will sit next to me & very close when I’m sitting on the couch, but rarely goes for the lap (he does like SO’s lap though) UNLESS I just happen to be headed for the bathroom! This cat has the superpower of knowing when I am headed that way, and will jump into my lap as soon as I sit on the throne. If he wants attention from me, he will go into the bathroom and sit in front of the toilet and start mewing.
Bella likes her kisses as long as you dont go overboard & likes to rub against the face.
What I dont understand is why they “nip” you at times - Sparti will sometimes go for the face (and no, not looking at him) when petting him as he requests & bite. The first couple of times he’s done it, I let him know it hurt so now he is more gentle (but it still kinda hurts!). If my hand is not petting him & he’s next to me or on my lap, he will take my hand in his mouth and gently bite down to let me know he wants to be petted.
You just have weird cats, like everybody else. I no longer kiss Dewey’s face because he slipped me the tongue once. I’m not sure who was more surprised.
I have to sneak up on my kittycat to get face time. (Confession: I like to snorgle the top of her head.)
She’s a lap lounger, but only with certain people (basically those who aren’t always chasing after her). She doesn’t nuzzle anyone, and is even a little nervous with eye contact.
My (cat) does not like my bare face (except for jumping up on the bed and biting my nose, when I’ve slept too late and it’s time to fill the food dish). But if I bend my neck and present the hair on the top of my head, he will lick that or rub his head against it.
Perhaps cats expect a hair-covered surface, rather than bare skin? Or they’re just weird.
I no longer kiss Dewey’s face because he slipped me the tongue once. I’m not sure who was more surprised.