Cat changes color.

Has anyone else seen a cat change color .I first thought i was seeing things, let me explain . Last winter i had to move the trip was to take approx 8 - 9 hours drive so i packed the car loaded up my grey tabby girl who also is a great companion but has never been in a car. Well the weekend planned to move also had the worst winter storms of the year, 21 hours it took us, My poor girl did not handle it well at all ,she started off in her carrier but right from the get she very loudly howled ,yowled and didnt stop until i put her on my lap she mellowed out a bit then i noticed she looked different i pulled off the road to have a look and to my amazement she was red yeah my grey cat was red not bright red but a burnt kinda brick red and she was flat very very flat it freaked me out so i just stayed and held stroked consoled her for a while but she was definitely red I think she was so distressed that it caused her chemistry to change i dont know what do you folks think