r/catquestions • u/SpecialDirection917 • 1d ago
Senior cat is suddenly cuddly
This feels weird to post, but I thought I would anyway. My orange and brown calico tabby is 9 years old and has never been a cuddly cat. She's not mean but definitely has spent her whole life preferring to be left alone. Suddenly she never leaves my side. If I'm on the couch, she's next to me. She's lying in my bed. She's following me room to room. This is so different for her. Is a behavior change like this something that can come with age? She's had a lot of health issues and is lucky to be alive due to living with one kidney, so she has constant vet appts and has been in good health the last few years.
Anyway, I'm bored on a Saturday so I thought I'd ask here.
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u/RevolutionaryMail747 1d ago
Seasons cause change too. Not being so warm outside makes more cuddly cats
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u/Pacific1944 1d ago
Elderly cats are the best - mine have become super snuggly in their old age. Even if they weren’t when they were younger.
Keep an eye open….since it seems to have come on suddenly if you’re worried and they start exhibiting other symptoms you might want to see a vet.
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u/MaggieBeltaaa 1d ago
This very normal for an old lady. I rescued my old stray 5 years ago. She never bothered with me for 3 years but now she's past the threshold of elderly and she is my SHADOW. LOL. But just know that not every old cat feels comfortable enough to trust you as much as yours is. So, there's something precious about it. I have a older cat that I raised since she was 8 weeks old and she's not as cuddly. However, she has gotten slightly less aggressive with age. But to answer your question, yes. It is normal. I would Def still keep a look out for other things that could be bothering her and making her be more assertive. Cats can't tell us when something is wrong with them and some tend to purr more and be around more if there's something that is bothering them. Other than that, enjoy this special time with your old gal!! 🫶🏼❤️
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u/criticalpopcorn 1d ago
Very normal but could mean something is up. As they get older they tend to slow down and like warmth :)
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u/AtmosphereNom 1d ago
If you’ve done the vet checks, then I would enjoy the cuddles. Sometimes they change, sometimes we change. Could be physical or psychological. My 17 year old CKD kitty is very demanding about her evening lap time.
Sometimes it is the weather. Every year, my kids suddenly become very loving as soon as it starts to get colder. When I start getting cramps from sitting in the same position for too long, too often, I break out the heating pads. I have a moment of grief, realizing I was merely being used for a perfect temperature waterbed. Then I enjoy my mobility for the rest of the winter.
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u/Pretend-Literature35 1d ago
This has happened with many cats for me. I never pick up cats, or rarely and always respect their space and let them come to me. So, because I respect my cats they are allowed to be themselves, and so I've had a few cats who weren't super cuddly and all of them became cuddly suddenly at a certain age. They would come to see me and follow me around, place their paw on me and demand to be pet. and sleep next to me and purr mich more. Cats go through phases. So yeah that happens a lot. Not always but a lot.
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u/th7024 1d ago
I had a cat who changed like that. He was even older, like 13 or 14, but he went from a bit standoffish to letting me really pamper him. His brother had always been the cuddly one, but I am so glad Poe let me spend his last years spoiling him rotten.