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I adopted Juno as a kitten during the first year of Covid, so it was just she and I for more than a year. Since then, I've taken her to my mother's house about 9 times in the last year, including various holidays when I'm there with her. She seems mostly comfortable there now and she likes my mom. She'll rub up against my mom as soon she gets out of her carrier; once I leave, she hisses at her on occasion but also cuddles and sleeps with her. She hates the transit, though-- whether to or from my mom's house.
I've had a lot of work travel recently: five trips of 4-5 nights since March. Up until the last two trips, Juno would be so excited to see me when I came to pick her up; she would purr nonstop and rub against me for a long time. The second-to-last trip, she hid under the bed at first, which was new. But after a few minutes, she seemed to realize who I was and came out to greet me with her usual enthusiasm.
This time, she wouldn't come out from under the bed for a long time and even when she did, she was observably afraid or distrustful of me. She even hissed at me, which she has never done before. It took me 1.5 hours to be able to get her in her carrier so we could go home.
I know that kind of reaction may be within the norm for cats in general, but I'm trying to figure out why it's gotten worse over time (or so it seems). She appeared to be getting more and more comfortable each time, until this month. The last two trips were overseas; is it possible that caused different scents? This time, I also made the mistake of putting on a random perfume in the airplane, which I won't do again.
I should add that on the ride home, she panted the whole way (it was hot in the car at first but not the whole way, so it must have been stress). She's never liked the car but I've never seen her like that, ever. It broke me heart.
Any thoughts on her changed reaction would be appreciated. It was so sad to see her so distressed and scared of me, when she normally is so excited to see me. And I really want to make this work with my mom's house, because it gives me peace of mind and makes my mom super happy to have such a lovely visitor.
I've had a lot of work travel recently: five trips of 4-5 nights since March. Up until the last two trips, Juno would be so excited to see me when I came to pick her up; she would purr nonstop and rub against me for a long time. The second-to-last trip, she hid under the bed at first, which was new. But after a few minutes, she seemed to realize who I was and came out to greet me with her usual enthusiasm.
This time, she wouldn't come out from under the bed for a long time and even when she did, she was observably afraid or distrustful of me. She even hissed at me, which she has never done before. It took me 1.5 hours to be able to get her in her carrier so we could go home.
I know that kind of reaction may be within the norm for cats in general, but I'm trying to figure out why it's gotten worse over time (or so it seems). She appeared to be getting more and more comfortable each time, until this month. The last two trips were overseas; is it possible that caused different scents? This time, I also made the mistake of putting on a random perfume in the airplane, which I won't do again.
I should add that on the ride home, she panted the whole way (it was hot in the car at first but not the whole way, so it must have been stress). She's never liked the car but I've never seen her like that, ever. It broke me heart.
Any thoughts on her changed reaction would be appreciated. It was so sad to see her so distressed and scared of me, when she normally is so excited to see me. And I really want to make this work with my mom's house, because it gives me peace of mind and makes my mom super happy to have such a lovely visitor.
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