~ The Kitty Thread!! ~ Take 2!

So my cat has recently had a behavioural change that is making me a bit sad. She's 13 and I've had her since she was a kitten, and she's never done this before. She simply lost a desire for a lot of affection. Up until recently, she was obsessed with snuggling with me, especially in bed. She used to sleep with me, next to my pillow. But all of a sudden she just doesn't. She isn't interested in the bed or in snuggles, and she now sleeps out on the couch. I miss my snuggler. :( No other behaviour has changed. She's no more or less active, her appetite is fine, eyes are still bright, she doesn't seem depressed, she is just as capable of jumping on and off stuff, etc. The only other difference is that she is also spending more time outside than she used to, like hanging out on the balcony, chillin'. Whether I'm out there or not makes no difference, so she doesn't seem to be avoiding me at all. She actually seems to appreciate my general presence in a room as much as she always did, unless it's my bedrooms. She'll still come say hi when I'm in bed, or ask for a few scratches in the bed (she lures me there) so she's not totally avoiding the space, but then she leaves again. And she's not snuggly elsewhere either, like on the couch. She just hangs out on the back of it near me instead of going for me directly like she often used to (what, do I stink?? Lol).

I haven't changed my behaviour or routine either, nor her diet. Nothing. I thought it was maybe the heat wave, but that's been over for a bit now, and she's still being relatively unaffectionate. She still asks to be pet and stuff, so she's not outright avoiding me or anything... but this is a big change for her. Obviously I'm not taking her to the vet with this, since without any other symptoms to go on, the vet (aka ripoff artist) would just suggest a bunch of insanely expensive random tests without even knowing what to look for, and I can't afford that.

Anyone experienced this kind of thing before? I'm not really worried about her physical health. I just miss her sweet cuddly nature! And am concerned she's got some kind of emotional/mental thing going on, but I can't think of anything that would have caused such a thing.

Are you using any new products? Soap deodorant toothpaste shampoo? Remember how sensitive their sense of smell is.

hedonist said:

PJ, I think it's just age. Not you - there's obviously love there - it might be simply her.

Our Beans is about nine years old and she's become more affectionate (and talkative) very recently.

They do what they need to do - they reach out and pull back in the same way.

From what you've said, she seems happy and healthy - and LOVED - and, adjusting.

We do that as well; so should they.

Hope you don't stress too much

Yeah, so maybe she's just becoming a crotchety old lady, in other words? That's possible.

PJ_Soul said:

hedonist said:

PJ, I think it's just age. Not you - there's obviously love there - it might be simply her.

Our Beans is about nine years old and she's become more affectionate (and talkative) very recently.

They do what they need to do - they reach out and pull back in the same way.

From what you've said, she seems happy and healthy - and LOVED - and, adjusting.

We do that as well; so should they.

Hope you don't stress too much

Yeah, so maybe she's just becoming a crotchety old lady, in other words? That's possible.

Probably, though you best know her temperament - and it's easy for me to opine from a distance (though I wish her well!).

Also remember she's now in her teen years!

PJSiren, love those eyes.

Siamese Eddie! Sweetness.

An oldie but a goodie...this never fails to make me crack up!
Meet Collective Soul Cat!
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ns7Z8ag4oSY

Hey have you ever heard of Pam Johnson-Bennett? Shes an expert on cats. She hosts Animal Planet UK's Psycho Kitty. She also writes books about cats. Maybe she has an answer for you?