Hey guys,

My wife and I took a vacation with our bengal Zara to visit my Dad in California. She did great on the 9 hour car ride, and almost slept the whole way. We stopped in Las Vegas on the way, and she had a great time exploring our hotel room while we were asleep. No bad behavior to report (except hating her carrier).

Upon getting to my dad's house after a 4 hour drive the next day, she was absolutely terrified. Zara comes from a litter of 2 boys and 1 girl; my dad bought the other two boys and they have been living with him since they were able. I didn't expect Zara to remember her siblings, so of course, as soon as we walked in she was hissing and growling at them. We put her in a separate room for the rest of the day, but she is still acting so strange.

She doesn't want to be held or touched, she meows every time you try and pick her up, and NONE of her toys, not even DA BIRD are enticing to her whatsoever. We just got her vaccinations done a couple of days ago. Should I be worried? Any recommendations? As of right now she is curled up like a loaf of bread, sitting in the shower. Refusing to come out. Help :(

That's not strange at all. She feels insecure in others cats teritorry. She needs a small secure room without any cats until she feels comfortable to come out on her own.
How long do you intend to stay there?
Not the best idea to take cat out of her environment and bring her into others cats home. Poor thing is scared.

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The little monsters 3

That's good to hear that it is normal. Our breeder told us to bring her, and we didn't know any better. We will keep her in our room with all of her toys and food and cozy her as much as possible :)

Yeah, that sounds pretty predictable. I am planning a 2 night trip with my two kitties at the end of the year and I'm already fretting about it. I have never left them and kind of want them with me, but it means a 3 hour drive each way, and I have not taken them more than 2 miles in the car so far. They meow like crazy in that short time. Then we would be staying in a house with a territorial cat and a dog so they would be sequestered to a bedroom the whole time most likely. Any interaction would end in upset so I would like to avoid even trying but that's just how I feel. I know the people I will be staying with will want to try introducing all the animals (it has happened in the past with bad results).

I could pay some stranger to come in twice a day and leave them at home, but they would not interact with them and they would be totally confused as to where I was for 3 days. I guess I could board the two of them but they would not be happy at all with that scenario and a pet sitter stopping in twice a day would probably cost about the same amount. If I leave them at home I guess a Christmas tree would be out of the question. I keep changing my mind and it's only August.

Perfectly normal behavior for your kitty to be in an environment with other kitty smells. While the traveling with you and hotel room with you were fine ... now there are other people and other cats! No wonder she is terrified! Hopefully, you'll be back home soon and she can settle back in, although it may take a while. Not sure this was a good decision on your part. As for the vaccinations, most cats do not have any type of reaction to them. This is totally an environmental thing ... you've got the reassure her everything is okay, but that may not even be possible.

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~*~Holly~*~

Orion ~ Light Gold Black Rosetted Bengal, born 5/19/15
Apollo ~ Tuxedo Marbled Tabby, born 1/7/12

I don't currently have a neighbor that I have that sort of arrangement with. I have the contact info of a pet sitter that lives close by so I would try that I guess, but over the holidays might be difficult to arrange. I might do the trip down and back in one day and leave the kitties home with food in their timed feeder. I think all three of us would be happiest with that.

I have a terrific pet sitter who would come by twice a day, however, I don't trust Raiden to not bolt through the door when she arrives or leaves! Mine is a little pistol who still longs for that outdoor adventure without being on a leash!