I don’t travel often, but until recently, Olga never seemed too upset when I returned home after spending a few days away. For several years, I traveled out of town to spend Thanksgiving with my family, and Olga was always friendly when I returned. However, she wasn’t very happy when I left her alone a few weeks ago. I only spent two days in the woods, and my cat sitter dropped by to feed her and play with her.
She meowed when I walked in the door, but when I approached to pet her, she hissed and backed away. I tried to tempt her to play with a silvervine stick, but she looked insulted and ran under the bed to hide. The only time she had hissed at me before was when I returned home after being overseas for 10 days.
When I mentioned Olga’s reaction to a veterinarian, she said the strange odors I absorbed from 30 hours of traveling probably bothered her. I didn’t think a weekend away would cause the same reaction, but the woodland odors on my clothes seemed just as repulsive as those from an airline’s cabin.
Olga didn’t stay angry for long, and after I took a shower, she greeted me with a happy cry instead of a hiss. She eventually fell asleep in my lap and seemed to forget the odd scents I brought into the house. Olga used to be more independent and didn’t hold a grudge when I left her alone.
Now, she spends most of the day around me and has become a spoiled cat. She still enjoys her “alone time,” but when she sees me walking toward the garage door, she attacks my legs and whines. She doesn’t mind when I go out the back door because she can observe me in the yard from one of her window perches.
Leaving Olga alone wasn’t a problem until I started working from home full-time. She’s friendlier now and enjoys begging for dinner a few hours before I finish working, and she’s probably happier that I clean the litter box more often, but she’s also more dependent on me. She follows me around the house and is more vocal when I ignore her pleas for an early dinner.
It’s fascinating how much my new schedule affected Olga’s personality. Although the change was gradual, I’m surprised that she’s no longer aloof and quiet. She doesn’t look happy when I return from a short trip, but I’m glad she’s capable of hissing.
It’s not the reaction most cat owners want to see from their pets, but it’s a vital defensive measure that serves as a warning before an attack. Olga has never interacted with a dog or cat face-to-face except when she’s in her carrier at the vet’s office and hasn’t felt the need to hiss at another animal. She’s never been scared by or threatened by another creature, and I’m honored she only hisses at me when she’s angry.
