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.
they’re just experiencing eepiness
Angst, weltschmerz, fin de siècle ennui… call it what you will… your cat is in a rut, and urgently needs to be confused.
Time to call:
CONFUSE-A-CAT LTD.
Europe’s leading cat confusing service.
I had the same question a few days ago. My voidling is only 3 years old and sometimes has the same attitude as shown on your picture with a long and deep exasperation breath (like hoomans when they are bored/depressed).
So I guess they can feel ennui if your cat is used to be very playful and you stop playing with them.
But we will never know for sure, because this is only based on observation :).
I mentioned in another comment, but in this case I think she’s just old, tired and cuddly. I’m the only one home today, so I guess she defaulted to me (in fact, in this picture the dog is also in my lap), but if anyone else is in the house and has a blanket, good luck keeping her away. Even if you’re a stranger to her.
Cats invented ennui.
