BONNIE’S CAT DIARY
I Thought My Senior Cat Was Aging Gracefully — Until I Learned What I Was Missing
By Bonnie | Bonnie’s Cat Diary
Dec 2025
I don’t usually write posts like this.
But after what I learned with Luna, I felt like I should share it — especially for anyone with an older cat.For a long time, I truly believed Luna was just “slowing down.”She slept more.
She played less.
She stopped jumping onto the bed at night and started spending most of her time in the spare bedroom.I told myself what most people do:
She’s just getting older.At first, I didn’t think much of it.
The Moment That Made Me Pause
One night, I watched Luna try to jump onto the bed — something she’d done every night for years.She crouched.
She hesitated.
Then she stopped and quietly walked away.No crying.
No drama.
Just… hesitation.Later, I noticed something else.She was always choosing the warmest spots in the house.The sunny patch on the floor.
Right next to the heating vent.
The windowsill in the afternoon light.That’s when it finally clicked for me.Maybe this wasn’t just about age.
What I Didn’t Understand About Senior Cats
I later learned something that surprised me.Cats are extremely good at hiding discomfort.
It’s instinct — in the wild, showing weakness makes them vulnerable.
So instead of crying out or limping,they adjust quietly.
They jump less.
They move less.
They rest more.And because it happens gradually, it’s easy for us to miss.I don’t think most of us ignore the signs.
I think we just don’t realize what we’re seeing.
The Part No One Talks About: Cold Surfaces
Here’s the part I had never considered.As cats get older, they don’t regulate body heat the same way they used to.
Warmth becomes more important — especially when joints are stiff after resting.But most of our homes are built for humans, not senior cats.Hardwood floors, tile, and even thin rugs pull warmth away from the body.
And regular plush beds don’t do much to stop that heat loss underneath.So even in a “warm” house, resting spots can actually make stiffness worse.That explained something I’d been seeing all along:
Luna wasn’t just resting — she was seeking warmth.
The Small Change That Helped
I wanted to support Luna’s comfort, but I wasn’t looking to turn her routine upside down.I didn’t want cords.
I didn’t want anything she’d have to be forced to use.
And I didn’t want to start with medication if I didn’t have to.That’s when I came across the Yeti-Pet Thermal Reflection Pad.It’s a simple, cord-free pad designed to reflect a cat’s own body heat back upward, while insulating against cold surfaces below.No electricity.
No noise.
Nothing for her to “learn.”I placed it in her favorite sunny spot and let her decide.
What I Noticed After That
That evening, Luna curled up on it almost immediately.Not because I put her there —
but because she chose it.Over the next few days, I noticed small things.She rested more comfortably.
She moved more easily after naps.
She started meeting me at the door again in the mornings.Nothing dramatic.
Just… subtle improvements that added up.It felt like I had finally addressed something I hadn’t understood before.
If You Have an Older Cat
If you’ve noticed your cat slowing down and you’re not sure why, you’re not alone.It doesn’t mean you missed something on purpose.
And it doesn’t mean you need to “fix” anything overnight.Sometimes, comfort starts with something simple — like giving them a warm, joint-friendly place to rest.Yeti-Pet offers a 30-Night “Picky Cat” Guarantee, so there’s no pressure and no forcing anything.Your cat either chooses it… or they don’t.If you’re curious, you can learn more below.