First things first, I’ll be out of town for two days and I’m leaving tomorrow night. Pixel has a vet appointment scheduled on Sunday but I can also take her tomorrow morning. Please read below and decide if I should:

🧡 Pixel is a neutered female who has just turned 7. She has a resting respiratory rate of 60/minute. I took her to the vet a month ago and they found out that her lungs were filled with fluid, her heart had grown in size and her heart was beating too fast. They immediately put her on meds to get rid of the fluid in her lungs, a week later her heartbeat had turned back to normal. The vet instructed me to keep giving her the same meds along with some vitaminsfor 3 weeks, put her on a diet and come back for a check up. Since then she has lost 300 grams. The breathing is the same.

🧡She has never been the affectionate kind. Not as a kitten, not as an adult, never. You might get a sneaky kiss, occasional snuggle time if it’s cold out, but she has always been the kind to yell and eventually smack you if you attempt to pick her up, hold her for too long, and she doesn’t even like to be brushed. I have always respected her boundaries, she has always come to me in her own terms, when she wanted and how she wanted.

🧡A few nights ago, while I was snuggling with my other cat who is an attention seeking affection monster who will cuddle and kiss the heck out of you for no reason, I noticed Pixel was watching us from the corner, on her cat tree where she likes to lounge. I said to myself “Oh Pixel, if only you liked affection too. I would kiss and hug you day and night.”

🧡 The next morning, everything changed. When I sat on the couch to watch C dramas Pixel actually came and sat on my lap. Which isn’t uncharacteristic of her, but then she followed me around all day. She yelled at me whenever I entered my room, leaving her on the other side. I thought she wanted food. No. She wanted me. And for a few days now we have been inseperable. She wants to be on my lap all day every day. She purrs like a truck. Making endless amount of biscuits. Rubbing her head all around me. SHE LICKS ME. She NEVER does that. I can’t even go to the bathroom without her calling for me. And she lets me pick her up. I can’t explain it but even the way I carry her around has changed, she doesn’t bury her nails into my shoulders and yell at me to let go. She just… purrs. And is happy to be there. Even right now she’s on my lap.

🧡I’ve had this cat ever since she was 2 months old. Although it’s all extremely sweet, it still is a major behavior change. I should be happy and don’t get me wrong I am THRILLED that she lets me be that close to her after 7 years together but I am also very concerned, given her current medical condition and age. Am I overthinking this? Like I’ve said, I’ll be out of town for 2 days and maybe it’s just mom guilt but I just can’t go on this trip leaving her behind :( I can still squeeze in the vet appointment before the trip if I sleep very little tonight.