For Christmas, my husband and I are never home. We travel between our two parents houses - which means we'll be gone from the afternoon of today (23rd) to the 27th.
Susie, our one year old (who's having her first Christmas in her furever home), usually spends the days home alone while we're both at work, and has been perfectly fine on the weekends we need to leave. I don't leave her for anymore than one night usually, two at the very most without someone coming to visit her.
This year, my mother in law has the idea in her head that she wants Susie to come over for Christmas with us, because our regular cat sitter and the only one I trust to look in on her is also travelling for the holidays. My mother in law also had one of her dogs pass recently, and loves the distraction that Susie is (playful, kittenish behavior).
She's not the best in the car. She gets upset and cries for the most part - we've only taken her from the shelter to home, and one trip to the vet and back. I find it extremely stressful, as I know she does too. The drive this weekend would be 40mins, and I've prepared myself for the anxiety filled trip.
However - my biggest concern is my in laws dog. She's a King Charles Cavalier, and is an extremely skittish dog who won't bark if you hold her. My mother in law is convinced that if we watch them that they will be fine, but I'm terrified that one - Susie will traumatize the dog on Christmas. And two, we will traumatize Susie.
Susie is a people loving cat and LOVES to be in the center of attention. We had my in laws over last night for dinner, so she's familiar with them and loves them but has never met a dog - she hasn't been around dogs at all since we've had her. We plan on shutting the door in the nights so Susie has full range of the house to explore while the dog sleeps in with my husbands parents, we're going to try to keep them on separate levels of the house as much as we can, and I'm going to put Susie in front of her litter box as soon as we arrive.
Thoughts/advice on this situation? I'm driving myself insane.
Susie, our one year old (who's having her first Christmas in her furever home), usually spends the days home alone while we're both at work, and has been perfectly fine on the weekends we need to leave. I don't leave her for anymore than one night usually, two at the very most without someone coming to visit her.
This year, my mother in law has the idea in her head that she wants Susie to come over for Christmas with us, because our regular cat sitter and the only one I trust to look in on her is also travelling for the holidays. My mother in law also had one of her dogs pass recently, and loves the distraction that Susie is (playful, kittenish behavior).
She's not the best in the car. She gets upset and cries for the most part - we've only taken her from the shelter to home, and one trip to the vet and back. I find it extremely stressful, as I know she does too. The drive this weekend would be 40mins, and I've prepared myself for the anxiety filled trip.
However - my biggest concern is my in laws dog. She's a King Charles Cavalier, and is an extremely skittish dog who won't bark if you hold her. My mother in law is convinced that if we watch them that they will be fine, but I'm terrified that one - Susie will traumatize the dog on Christmas. And two, we will traumatize Susie.
Susie is a people loving cat and LOVES to be in the center of attention. We had my in laws over last night for dinner, so she's familiar with them and loves them but has never met a dog - she hasn't been around dogs at all since we've had her. We plan on shutting the door in the nights so Susie has full range of the house to explore while the dog sleeps in with my husbands parents, we're going to try to keep them on separate levels of the house as much as we can, and I'm going to put Susie in front of her litter box as soon as we arrive.
Thoughts/advice on this situation? I'm driving myself insane.