Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga.
I don’t travel often, but until recently, Olga never seemed too upset when I came home after 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, he wasn’t too happy when I left him alone a few weeks ago. I only spent two days in the woods, and my cat sitter stopped by to feed him and play with him.
He grinned when I walked in the door, but when I approached him, he hissed and backed away. I tried to tempt him to play with a silvervine stick, but he looked insulted and ran under the bed to hide. The only time he ever hissed at me was when I came home after 10 days abroad.
When I mentioned Olga’s reaction to a vet, he said that the strange odors I had absorbed from the 30-hour journey must have bothered her. I didn’t think a weekend away would cause the same reaction, but the woodsy smells on my clothes seemed as repulsive as those from an airline cabin.
Olga’s anger didn’t last long, and after I showered, she greeted me with a happy shout instead of hissing. Eventually he fell asleep on my lap and seemed to forget the strange smell I brought home. Olga has become more independent and doesn’t hold grudges when I leave her alone.
Now, he spends most of the day with me and has become a spoiled cat. He still enjoys his “alone time,” but when he sees me walking toward the garage door, he attacks my legs and whines. He didn’t care when I went out the back door because he could watch me in the yard from one of his window perches.
Leaving Olga alone wasn’t a problem until I started working from home full-time. He’s friendlier now and likes to ask for dinner a few hours before I finish work, and he’s probably happier that I clean the litter box more often, but he’s also more dependent on me. He follows me around the house and is more vocal when I ignore his pleas for an early dinner.
It was fascinating how much my new schedule affected Olga’s personality. Although the change was gradual, I was surprised that he was no longer aloof and quiet. He doesn’t look happy when I come back from a short trip, but I’m glad he can squeak.
This is not the reaction most cat owners want to see from their pets, but it is an important defensive measure that serves as a warning before an attack. Olga never interacted with a dog or cat face-to-face except when she was in her carrier at the vet’s office and never felt the need to hiss at another animal. He was never scared or threatened by another creature, and I was honored that he only hissed at me when he was angry.
