My Cat is No Longer Interested in Me

Hey all! So for some context I adopted my 9 yo cat about the first week of January. She was adopted and then abandoned to the elements, twice. When she was found and brought to the shelter again in Nov 2023, she was so emaciated she basically looked like a kitten. Knowing what we know about her now, confirmed deaf, it's hard to imagine how my sweet girl made it out there. Due to her medical trauma she was held a lot when she was found and her foster mom theorizes she doesn't like being held as a result, and may never be a lap cat. She was also a cat that showed 0 interest in playing.

Since I got her she has been the sweetest little thing. She started purring within the first hour and constantly sought me out at night to sleep by my head or on my pillow. She also did all of the typical things when she came, hid, didn't leave her safe space (which had to be my bedroom because of space). It took her about two months to start to explore the house and feel safe. She began to play! Which was huge because she went from a cat that her foster mom only really slept and then came to ask for pets, now actively engaging and finding interest in toys! The other piece around the being held, my younger brother started picking her up briefly everyday and let her down whenever she fought his hold. Almost like exposure therapy lol. But now she's gotten to the point that you can hold her for periods of time and she just remains super chill.

And then it was like a switch flipped lol. While before she would explore downstairs and scurry off with my parents, she now actively will sit on the sofa and beg for pets for HOURS on end. It's like she's obsessed with them!!! If I go to pet her she scurries off from me. She still comes to join me in bed some nights, choosing to lay herself on top of my stomach or thighs. But now that she knows the schedule of the house, she leaves me by 4AM to be ready downstairs for when my parents wake up lol. This has been going on for 3 weeks now and I guess I just miss her? Her litter has been moved out of my room and she has a second water and food station downstairs. She's definitely getting a lot more independent and walks around the house knowing its hers. Which makes me incredibly happy because clearly we're doing something right. But I guess I just miss her because shes no longer asking me for pets and is so busy seeking everyone else. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right and that while she continues to bond with my parents, she also knows I'm here ):