I’m guessing that your cat is bored.
I think she’s just old. I don’t remember exactly what year I adopted her, but it’s been well over a decade. These days she’ll hop on any lap and assume this position, especially if said lap has a blanket on.
edit: dangling modifier.
Older cats usually like to cuddle more to keep warm and/or feel safe and stable if they are having sensory issues (like going deaf or blind). I’m sure you don’t mind the cuddling, but she will probably enjoy a heated pad at this age :)
I think I need to take her to the vet anyway. She has sinus issues. Often, I’ll walk into a room and think I’m alone, only to realize she’s also there because I can hear her breathing (which is so loud that sometimes I think it’s my dog, who’s a gazillion times her size). One risk of letting her cuddle is her rather dramatic sneezes, which will douse you. I relatively recently moved a long distance with her and hoped that it would help, but it made no difference. Poor kitty.
Her name is Maze, by the way. I did some thinking and I believe I adopted her as a kitten 13-14 years ago. Same with Hex, whom I also posted in this community recently.
I’ll look into a heating pad. Thank you for the recommendation.
From Wordnik.com: ennui (on WEE) - noun - A painful or wearisome state of mind due to the want of any object of interest, or to enforced attention to something destitute of interest; the condition of being bored; tedium. … A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom. … from Old French enui, from ennuyer, to annoy, bore; see annoy.