Zeitgeist, I don't have time to read back through lots of old posts, so
here goes anyway:  It sounds to me like you two are just mismatched
somehow.  You're a college student... so I'm sure you understand the
concept of empathy.  So ok... try to put yourself in your cat buddy's
place, remembering that one day to him is like a week to you. What is
his daily life like?  Also... cats are no different from humans in that
they are as inidividual as we are, and they have the same emotions as
we do... even though they are cats.  You know how some people are
content in factory jobs... day after day like a cog in the ol' wheel...
and at home they are content to do little else than sit there and watch
tv... and other people need more stimulating vocations, need to be
physical, and need more activity in their entertainment, etc.  Well,
remembering this, try to empathize and determine exactly what might be
going on for your cat buddy.

You shouldn't hate him and admonish him for what may be for him his
only way of reaching out and trying to tell you something.  Cats are
highly intelligent, beautiful, perceptive creatures, and although they
may seem "independent", yes they are in many ways, but they also have
many needs similar to our own.  Your cat may be one of those that needs
more loving (emphasis on loving!) attention and play time with you.
You can't just put some cats in a little box (house) with nothing but
human things in it that are supposed to be off-limits, and expect all
cats to respond well to this kind of environment.  Some cats are
content to lie around, just happy to get food and clean water every day
and a cleaned litterbox.  Other cats just need more to do and more
interaction with the human they live with.  Especially younger ones,
under 4, for sure!

Nothing feels better than to "bond" with a living being other than
human.  You can feel that connection and its awesome.  You can read the
many expressions in the eyes and face and even if eye contact is
fleeting, you can see the emotion there at the moment.  You can see the
affection, happiness, the total trust, the playfulness, everything.
Even if you and your cat are not bonded yet, there is still hope.  But
you have to break out of the limitations of the human shell and
understand what **he** might be going through every day.

Also, older kitties are not as exciteable and active as the younger
ones, like up to at least 4 years old generally.  If you can't spend
more time with him personally, make sure the time you do spend is with
affection and even if he doesn't look directly at you for a while, look
directly into his eyes when possible when you are with him... he will
percieve your emotions when you are trying to connect with him.  Give
him more to do around the house.  He might enjoy an extra-tall
scratching post or two better than the short ones, and use the very
short-napped carpet type or rope type (rope wound tightly around post).
A safe spot to lounge in front of a window to watch any activity out
there, would be great.  Wad up some plain computer paper into a ball,
and toss it, and watch him have the greatest fun with that!  Leave a
few on the floor for him to skitter about.  Also try  leaving on the
floor a corrugated cardboard box that he can jump into, most cats love
those.  And cut one down so its about half height... many cats love to
lay in boxes and bite the edges and spit them out... sort of playful
stress relief or maybe it just feels really good to them too!

And did you remember the loud  "PSST PSST PSST!!" sound I recommended
you make when he jumps on your hands when you are trying to work?  And
also a water squirter (not a hard squirt and never on the head) ?  A
tin can filled with something that will rattle loudly, like small
rocks, to shake immediately after he does some unwanted activity?  All
methods are effective without making him think you don't like him.
Doing what you describe that you have been doing is accomplishing
nothing but making yourself feel ugly and alienating this wonderful
creature with whom you could otherwise be sharing an awesome
friendship!

See now?  It quite possibly could only be him crying for attention.
Imagine... being on some alien planet... away from everything you love
and know... trapped in a small space... with an alien who sometimes
shows up... and you, in the only ways you can, scream for attention..."
Help me... I'm going nuts here... I need to play... I need to know I'm
even alive... I need to be happy too... I need to connect with you..."
only to be yelled at, possibly struck, roughly handled and tossed into
a smaller space alone... Empathy... please...

Catgirl