old lady kitty is chilly

[fizzgig]

she's not a lap cat, but she's been camped out on me for two days now. we hit 3 yesterday, about -15 overnight and now we're in the mid-teens. we keep the heat low in our garden-level apartment and we're all looking for a bit of extra warmth.

[iscooterliberally]

1. My old lady kitty was cold last year too.

We were living in Boston and she liked to stay up on the attic of the old house that we rented. I bought her and the other kitties a space heater and they would lie around it together for warmth. My other cat still sleeps on my amplifier. We moved back to south Florida so everyone is warm now. My old lady kitty turned 19 this year and she's still as feisty as ever. I hope your kitty does well!

[fizzgig]

5. space heater would be great for all of us

i've been in a hoodie and a couple robes the last few days.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. I have never had a good lap cat

until the temperatures fall. Then all those aloof kitties get very friendly. It always feels nice, if short lived.

[fizzgig]

6. the other one more than makes up for this one

the dim one is in my lap as soon as i sit down.

[Mosby]

3. a relative gave a special little pillow

A few years ago, it's filled with dried corn, you pop it in the microwave and it's really hot for a long time, wonder it your cat might like one?

[fizzgig]

7. sounds like something the husband would mistake for food

i might check those out.

[mopinko]

4. aww. poor kitty.

dont they make heated pet beds? seems like an old lady kitty deserves one.
not to wreck your lap time or anything. that is a luxury you deserve.

[fizzgig]

8. i'm going to dig out the heating pad for her

she's been on the perch over the heater a lot, too.

my old lady deserves all the luxuries we can give her.

[ginnyinWI]

9. She really could use a heated bed

I have an old lady tabby who is almost 12 and she's on hers day and night. It's at cat body temperature, 104 degrees

[fizzgig]

21. i'm looking at them

she would love one

[ginnyinWI]

22. this is the one I bought

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00403MXBM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That was over three years ago and it's still going strong! Has been machine washed a few times (with the electric pad removed) and comes out good as new.

I bought a second one in red, so that now we have two.

[shenmue]

10. Hugs tiem is nao plz kthx

Dr. Tinycat prescribes extra cuddles for warms.

[LiberalElite]

11. How old is she?

I have an oldster kitty. I adopted him at 18 y.o. That was 4 years ago...

[catbyte]

13. Wow, he IS an old timer!

I lost my tuxedo cat, Junior, on New Year's Day 2010. He passed away in his sleep, and, as far as I could tell, he was at least 24. He "adopted" us when he decided that he'd had enough of the shrieking kids at his old home, next door, lol. He was at least 2 years old when he came to live with us. The neighbors couldn't care less--they ended up getting evicted and abandoning their 10 cats. It's a good thing we had a large, 2 story, 3 bedroom house because our feline population exploded, lol. We went from 3 kittehs to 13. We took all of them in. We lost the last member of that feline family in June 2014. It was a LOT of work, but so worth it!

I hope you have lots and lots of time with your old man. It's so awesome of you to give the guy a new home at his age.

[fizzgig]

20. 14ish

we will have our ten year anniversary in september.

and thank you for adoption a senior kitty.

[CrispyQ]

12. I sleep with a heating pad by my feet & my one cat has discovered it.

I love her, so I share.

Scratches for your sweet little one.

[fizzgig]

16. you mean she shares with you

[CrispyQ]

19. Duh, how could I forget the natural order of things?

[MadrasT]

14. There is a reusable heating thingy called a "Snuggle Safe".

It is a plastic disc filled with some kind of wax or gel, about the size of a dinner plate, that you microwave for about 5 minutes, and then it stays hot for 8 to 12 hours.

They are a little pricey ($25 - $30) but they last for years and they are really great because they stay warm for so long, and you don't have to worry about electricity like with plug-in heating pads.

I used them with kittens in the past and also use them any time I have an ailing cat that could use some extra warmth.

Hugs to you and your kitty. I have several senior kitties right now, and we're all trying to stay warm, too.

[fizzgig]

17. i'll look into those

i've been pricing the self-warming beds, too, and they look pretty affordable.

[TorchTheWitch]

15. other than some kind of heating element have you tried down?

I've used a down comforter for years and years, and even when I lost the heat in my house in the middle of the winter one year when the boiler busted I'd still sweat under my comforter. Maybe you could get a few down pillows and make a little kitty cave with them or even a smaller sized comforter she can burrow in.

I'm in the same weather as you right now, and when I walk the dog wearing my lovely down coat I actually get overheated in it though the parts of me that aren't covered by the coat freeze. Last night when I walked the dog I had to unzip it because I was actually sweating a little in it though I'd lost all feeling in my bum (even with my long johns on!) and my whole head despite scarf, hat and all that. Even my hands are fine with no gloves because I tuck both hands up inside the down sleeves.

[fizzgig]

18. we have a couple of down pillows just chilling in a corner

but i've never seen her curl up on them. she's got the perch over the heater and i'm pricing self-warming cat beds for her, which is the route i think i'm going to go.

[HeiressofBickworth]

23. We have an old kitty who is about 19 (don't know exact date)

In her early years, she was a cuddly thing and my then-little granddaughter loved to play with her. In her middle age, she became more aloof, but still a sweet thing. She is now in her dotage and is very anti-social, seems very frail and is down to about 5 pounds. She sleeps on my bed all day and all night. She comes out now and again for her food dish and water. She was having accidents on the carpet in my room. The other litter boxes are in the garage but it must be too far away for her to visit. I moved a litter box in my room just for her convenience. She is very good about using it and we have no more accidents on the carpet. She doesn't like to be picked up, but she will come sit by my leg when I'm in bed. When it's very chilly in the house, she will dig under the covers. I have a rice-filled tube that I can heat in the microwave for her. Thanks so much for the suggestion -- she will appreciate it, I'm sure.