Are instant air fresheners too scary for her

Hello,

My Tortie is about 8/9 yrs old. We adopted her when she was about 1 yrs old from a vet's staff who took her in. They told us that she was neglected & abused.  We took her home and gave her TLC  and today she is loving, sweet, moody, territorial, and very special to me.  But every now and then you can still tell that she was traumatized.  Therefore, we are very tender with her.

My QUESTION:   I really like the instant spray fresheners that spray when you walk by.  But when she walked by and the sudden whiff of spray shot off  it seemed to upset her a bit.  It wasn't that the mist hit her.  She doesn't like the sudden sound. 

 So, we just set them (3 -4 total) to go off every 30 minutes instead.   But then she seems to stay anxious 10 minutes before the spray.  

She is older and has a history so I worry that this may be a bit much for her.  Then again, maybe I am making a big deal out of nothing.  

Should I wait a little longer and see if she will get used to it?  Or, is it time to find a new way to freshen the home?

Thank you everyone. 

Honestly, I'd find a new way of freshening the home.
Your cat sounds like Ritz--she startles at the most innoucous [to us humans] sound. Ritz too had a rough couple of months after she was born. Neglect certainly.
Also remember that cat's can smell stuff we can't smell--and much more stronger, intense smell.
I make my own potpourri (did so even before I adopted Ritz) which I put in pretty bowls throughout the house. My crafts room--full of dried flowers and the like--is off limits to her unless I'm in the room with her. I'm lucky in that Ritz doesn't bother/eat the potpourri, though I do keep it out of the way. Same with dried flower wreaths (she can't jump that high and there are no bookcases or similar tall objects close by). I will occasionally use a microwave oven to scent the air (put some of my spice potpourri in a microwave proof cup, add water and heat for about 1 or 2 minutes).
I use to burn candles, but am very leary of leaving them lit where Ritz could find them. (When given candles I simply put them in my dresser drawers and closets--both smell quite nicely).
BTW: have you ever used Feliway plugins. They don't smell to us humans, but do tend to calm cats.

hi and welcome to TCS!

i think it's going to be a judgement call, for you to decide how upset/stressed your girl is by the instant air fresheners. how long have you had the instant air fresheners going so far?

i don't use store bought air fresheners, so i can't speak to how cats may react to them. i use a 50/50 mix of cider vinegar and water placed in a jar for my kitchen air freshener, and that keeps the air very fresh in the kitchen. i've been considering using lavender oil soaked into cotton balls and placed in small dishes in the rest of my house -- not specifically for air freshening, but to deter moths that seem to get into the house during certain times of the year. the lavender scent would be a very pleasant air freshener, imo.

Hello Ritz,

I didn't even think of the heightened smell aspect!  You are so right.  

So she is not just hearing it more loudly than humans but she is smelling it also. Intensely.   It sounds like you all don't even really use store bought fresheners.  That might be the best practice. 

Many thanks to you all.  I am learning so much.

I will also pick up those plugins that you mentioned. 

Thanks!!

Several houses burned down near where I live. Ritz smelled the smoke days/weeks after I did.
I also think cats have a heighted sense of hearing; that's why the can hear a mouse a house away. Ritz definitely hears thunder before I do.