She's beautiful, Lara. I can see why she thinks she's the Queen!
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What a lovely cat
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Yes, she is really beautiful.

Cats are really difficult to figure out sometimes, I agree.

Once a cat reaches 10...that is considered "senior" here by vets.
This is when illnesses start showing up. A cat who becomes more active? Does she demand more food too and remain slim?
This can be a sign of hyperthyroidism in cats. This is fairly common now. Some cats developing this will become very vocal at nighttime, too.

We have a cat door going to our closed in porch. Also one in the bedroom window. Our 10 yr old goes out some at night and some in the day. She can climb the tree along our porch roof and be safe on that high place and come in when I have the glass part of the window open. She is out mostly now in the day, as we have too much wild animal and two tomcats action at night lately.
Some nights I just catch her on the roof looking around.

If you don't let your kitty in, she will learn that, but it is hard on you (and was hard on me too). If it is really cold, it is not safe either. If only borderline cold, you could put a box out there with a lining to keep her less cold. A cheap styroform cooler turned sideways can be made into an igloo easily. A neighbor of mine did this. A fabric flap over the opening works.
If your kitty is hyperthyroid she will be warm all the time or hot, and outside where it is cool, is probably more comfortable for her?

I typically try to understand cats based on their body language and behavior..since they cannot talk. My husband thinks cats are just "crazy" type animals, but I don't agree with him that much. Most of the time they are telling us "something".

For example, Chemar's cat who puts objects in the water bowl?
I have had cats who cannot see the water level clearly, and hate to get water up the nose. Putting objects in the water may help this cat with that problem. Old Sheba used to paw the water to make it move, and in doing so made alot of messes for us to clean up. Sheba didn't like the water itself and would make it move onto the rim and drink it off there. Tippy never had a problem, I guess because her whiskers were longer? But she like to drink from faucets, instead.

Yes, she does want more food and remains slim. She's always been tiny though. Not a heavy cat. mrsD, Thankyou. I've also wondered about her having some thyroid issue. I'd better get her in for a check-up I think. She's older than me in human years and I'm more worn out than she is. Something is not right.
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I think she just is the "boss of me" though... but I need to get her checked. I need more prolonged sleep at nights. She's like a baby and I'm almost 60.
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Oh, Lara.... I understand completely.

My new kitty is totally my keeper now! If you could see you'd laugh your head off!

And I believe cats always remain "babies" in many ways. Like toddlers for life! LOL
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That's just the way it's supposed to be with cats.
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Gosh, Lara, it does sound as if she's getting some sort of evil pleasure from all this, but I'm really glad you're having her checked by a vet. Be sure to describe all those behaviors. They could have an organic basis.
I suspect she ignores your daughter after a bit because she knows the girl will be leaving soon. She doesn't want to get attached again.

Perseverance!
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I've had a bunch a cats, & when I can manage to be as stubborn & as imaginative as they are, we can usually work things out. These folks here have good ideas, & 1ce you've gotten any medical input they'll help you with a plan. Me too.
Your kitty is adorable. My 21-yr-old gal passed recently, so I adopted a 14-yr-old & a 7-yr-old whose owners had died. Turn about & karma, eh?
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"evil pleasure" lol

That's exactly what my daughter says, JudeLauren.

Need to update some good news though.
Hopefully mrsD will get to see this as well. I hope her kitty is OK. hug

So, took her to the vet. She said she was fine. Thought all the changes around her might be affecting her. I live in a unit attached to a rental home and there's been a lot going on. It's a little erratic to say the least. Cars. Motorbike. Hearse. Screaming toddler trying to chase her etc. etc. etc.

So, this is what I've changed.

Moved her comfy cushion from the front patio. Moved the furniture to the side yard. Changed her routine totally.

I also filled a little spray bottle with water. The first few nights she kept waking me up every hour or so. I am an awful mother I know but I sprayed her with water when she was scratching on the carpet at 11pm, 2am and again at 4am in the morning.

So, I only had to do that a couple of times. Now, she's in at around 7.30pm every night like clockwork. All I need to do is shake the water bottle and she goes straight to her bed and she's snoring when I wake in the morning. Hope this lasts. She seems so less stressed and calmer from the extra time asleep. Me too!!!

A routine helps calm the nerves. Knowing what to expect and having consistency is a good thing. Even for our pets.
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my last cat lived to be 24 y/o. that was a record here in our vets office. Broke me into peices to let her go.

Jack the cat stays stressed out,and we cant figure out why. We have tried many things, from pheromone collars to plug ins to time outs, and he ended up with a huge bladder condition anyway. As some time has passed since the old cats death (which is what we think was his trigger) he is starting to calm.