Annie's Excellent Vacation

While we've travelled with our cats before, it was usually for an extended period, and never on a plane. For this summer's trip, we had made plans to bring Annie with us on the plane. She seemed to like her under-seat carrier from the start, and according to Melinda was great on the plane (though the drugs might have helped!). We were encouraged on our May trip by the couple bringing along 2 cats a few rows in front of us, though put off a bit by the price ($100 each way), we decided to try it!

So it has been a couple weeks - time for a report. She grew up in the Illinois cottage, and ran through it when she arrived, seemed to adapt very well. She seemed surprised to be alone for the first time in years, and still searches behind the couch and under the covers for imaginary creatures or for the cats that she's sure must be around somewhere. Annie has never been a lap cat, but for the first part of her stay here she followed us around, getting lots of attention, even with company in the house. She's not seemed to miss running around outside like she does in Tucson, but spends some time looking outside at the strange green stuff on the ground...

But when her "cousin" Jack (the rather large golden retriever) came to visit, she disappeared under the bed until hours after he left. She really hasn't recovered, disappearing to that or other hiding places, and her favorite spot is now way up out of the way on the mantle - an appropriate hiding place in a high spot. The return trip is in a few days and she's expected to do well - it will be interesting to see how she reacts to all her brothers and sisters in Tucson...