Grumpy cat suddenly really affectionate

[UrsulaBee]

We have an 8 year old cat who we got from a rescue when she was 1.

She has always been standoffish and a bit grumpy, and would only occasionally come up to us for a stroke.

But now it’s like we suddenly have a completely different cat! She’s becoming really affectionate and a bit clingy, and tonight she walked up to me and head butted my hand until I stoked her!

I’m not complaining, I’m enjoying all the cuddles, I’m just really curious as to why this might be. Do they just get softer in old age?

Yes, mine has mellowed.
Had her from a rescue as she had been found with a collar injury when her leg had become stuck in the collar. She was vicious! No touching whatsoever, hissing if she thought you were about to touch her. She’d bite to the bone!
It took 10 years before she would allow us to touch her. She changed overnight and now comes to sit alongside us and paws on the cushion for strokes and head scratches. A totally different cat now.