I'm starting to think it's a personality-based thing with pets. My old cat would sit on any lap she could find as soon as it was available, and loved the electric blanket. Our new cats only very occasionally sit on our laps (one of them almost never), but are almost as affectionate, being around us all the time and almost always sleeping right next to our feet.

*edit*
and thank you for the delightful distraction for the current hot thread