BONNIE’S CAT DIARY

I Thought Cleo Was Just Getting Grumpy
After almost ignoring the signs I found a real solution

By Bonnie | Bonnie’s Cat Diaries
Dec 2025

I used to joke that Cleo was turning into a grumpy old lady.She’d been the most affectionate cat for years — always waiting by the door, always curling up next to me on the couch. But slowly, that started to change.She slept more.
She jumped less.
And if I touched her lower back, she’d quietly move away.No hissing. No crying. No drama.Just… distance.I kept telling myself what every cat owner tells themselves: "She’s just getting older. Senior cats slow down. That’s normal."So I let it go.
For a little while....

The Moment I Realized Something Was Off

One night, I noticed Cleo had stopped sleeping in all her favorite places.Instead of the couch or the bed, she kept choosing the most random spots to restAt first I thought it was strange. Then I realized she’d been doing it for weeks.She wasn’t choosing comfort.
She was choosing warmth.Sun patches. Heating vents. My laptop keyboard, near the stove...That’s when it hit me:
Cats don’t complain when something’s wrong. They adapt.They get quieter.
They move less.
They avoid what feels uncomfortable.And if you’re not watching closely, it’s incredibly easy to miss.

What Most People Don’t Realize About Senior Cats

I learned something that honestly changed the way I look at aging cats.Many senior cats experience stiffness and discomfort — especially after resting or in colder environments — without ever showing obvious signs.No limping.
No crying.
No “something is clearly wrong.”They just stop doing the things they used to love.Jumping.
Climbing.
Cuddling.And because it happens gradually, we tell ourselves it’s just age.I did too.

Why Cold Surfaces Make Everything Worse

Here’s the part I really wish I’d understood sooner.Even in a warm house, cold floors and hard surfaces pull warmth away from a cat’s body — especially when they’re resting for long periods.After naps, after sleeping overnight, after lying still for hours…That heat loss can make stiff joints feel even stiffer when they try to get up again.That’s why so many older cats gravitate toward:

They’re not being weird.They’re trying to stay comfortable.

What Finally Helped Cleo

I didn’t want to force Cleo onto a new bed.If you’ve owned cats long enough, you know how that usually goes.I also didn’t want:

What I ended up trying was surprisingly simple.A thermal reflection pad — no electricity — designed to reflect a cat’s own body heat back upward while insulating them from cold surfaces underneath.I placed it in one of Cleo’s usual spots and walked away.No coaxing.
No training.
No forcing.She chose it on her own.

The Change Was Subtle — and That’s What Made It Real

The first thing I noticed wasn’t dramatic.She slept deeper.Then she started greeting me at the door again.A few weeks later, she climbed onto the couch by herself for the first time in months.No miracles.
No overnight transformation.Just small signs that she felt more comfortable being herself again.And honestly?That was everything.

If Your Cat Seems “Different,” Please Trust Your Instincts

If your cat:

It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.Cats are incredibly good at hiding discomfort.But now that you’re aware, there is something gentle you can do to support them.

What I’m Using Now

I’ve been using a thermal reflection comfort pad designed specifically for senior cats.It doesn’t heat up on its own.
It doesn’t use cords.
It simply helps maintain warmth during rest — when cats need it most.If you’re curious, you can see the exact one I’m using here:(It comes with a 30 day trial period, which made it easy for me to try without worrying about wasting money if Cleo ignored it.)

• 👉 View the thermal pad I use for Cleo

One Last Thing

You don’t need to “fix” your cat.You don’t need to make them young again.Sometimes, the most loving thing you can do is make sure they’re comfortable — especially when they can’t tell you what they’re feeling.I’m really glad I didn’t ignore that quiet change.