My cat is 12 years and some months old, which equates to mid 60's in people years.

[raccoon]

Last year (this year too) I've noticed that she is very cold sensitive. Once the least bit of coolness comes around (say 55-60 degrees F and below), she just wants to hibernate in the house all the time.

I've never had a cat that lived as long as this one. Is it the case that older cats always get cold sensitive?

[Flaxbee]

1. Humans tend to, as well - get colder easily as they get older.

As we age, we lose muscle mass. Makes it harder to stay warm. Just provide her with warm little nooks (I have a heating pad wrapped in a towel set on the 'low' setting for my older girl - she's 14). If she's an indoor/outdoor cat, keep her in much more during the cold months. And no animal can stay warm in the wind - make sure if she's out, she has a place to get out of the wind.

I asked my vet once how cats can handle long cold winters, and she said that if they can find a dry place to curl up OUT OF THE WIND, they're usually fine.

12 really isn't that old for a domestic cat with a good home - you could have her for anywhere from 4-6-8 more years if she doesn't develop health issues. Just keep her warm!

[Arugula Latte]

2. I've got an 18-year-old and she spends most of her day under a lamp I set up for her.

She's up high, has a comfy bed there and stays warm and happy, perched happily above my computer and squinting at me happily as I type.

[GoCubsGo]

3. I'm surprised, actually

Most cats I've known have always been heat seekers. The one planted on my chest as I type this is black. She is has been known to bask on a stack of hot concrete cinder blocks, in the sun, on 100+ degree days. Cats are descended from desert animals. They like warm.

As cats get older, they do tend to sleep more. My 16-year-old spends at least 21-22 hours a day napping or lying around. I have some of those self-warming pads for him. He loves them.

[raccoon]

8. Where do you get those self-warming pads? At a pet store? nt

[barb162]

4. I think most of the time older cats like warm more than younger ones.

BTW, I had cats that lived until 20. Both died last year at a very ripe old age.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. Cats seem to always like warmth. Sunbeams, heater vents,

the crook of your legs. A cat's normal body temperature is higher than ours, so they feel cold at a higher temperature then we do. This is normal. Don't sweat it.

[applegrove]

6. My younger cat Twilight, 6 years old, spent all summer sleeping on the digital tv box

because it was warm. Cats just like the warm!!!

[emilyg]

7. Mine does that, too.

[TZ]

9. Older cats tend to lose weight

and any excess fat they have, so yes, they will feel the cold more. You might want to consider a covered/enclosed cat bed for your kitty, probably would like that alot...

[joeybee12]

10. Probably not unusual...cats really crave warmth...even here in Vegas

when it's 110 outside, my cats will try to find a sunny place to lie down...probably just old age, nothing to worry about, I think.