20 yr old cat suddenly reclusive

[sandrawg]

My boyfriend and I have a 20 year old cat. She's always wanted to be around us and was a lap cat. She also used to sleep with us. Now she spends most of her time in the kitchen, lying close to the refrigerator. It looks like she wants to be near the vent at the bottom that feels kind of hot. She likes to keep her back to it. I'm wondering if it acts like a sort of heating pad for her, and maybe she has arthritis? It's the heat of the summer where we live, and she's a furry cat, so it makes no sense why she'd want to be near a heat source. Any insights?

[sandrawg]

Thanks! Yeah, last time we got her checked out they said she was in amazing health for her age..just some teeth problems..she's a bit overweight :( I thought maybe it was arthritis or something..maybe the refrigerator acts as a heating pad. Thanks for hte reply!

[opus88]

hi and welcome....without tests its pretty difficult to say what could be going on...but in my opinion only, with a kitty that age it would be similar to 90 yr old human..and working with seniors for years as I did I know their circulation isn't good, usually due to the heart not pumping like it should..and when circulation isn't as it should be they feel cold all the time..
if you can I would certainly get your kitty checked out and some blood work done...to live to be 20 she's done amazingly well thanks to love and good care:)