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Polka Dots

Hello, my name is Polka Dots. My animal id is #244767. I am a male black cat at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 5 years 4 weeks old.

I came into the shelter as a stray on 1/2/2026.

Reserved

Someone has already placed a deposit on me. I'm no longer available.

Polka Dots is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and is deteriorating in the Adoptions room. He is now displaying distance increasing behavior including hissing and swatting. Due to his stress levels, it is in his best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.

You may know me from such films as...

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Polka Dots is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and is deteriorating in the Adoptions room. He is now displaying distance increasing behavior including hissing and swatting. Due to his stress levels, it is in his best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers. Polka Dots tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. He may be a little more independent and may need time to warm up to his new home. We recommend this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, he may not be a great fit for young children. Any home with older children prepared to adopt this cat should conduct a thorough interaction and endeavor to monitor this cat around their children to prevent these behaviors from being reinforced. A volunteer writes: Polka Dots is a 5-year-old tuxedo gentleman who arrived at the Manhattan Care Center thanks to a compassionate citizen who found him exhausted and unwell in a parking lot. This sweet boy was clearly down on his luck-underweight, dehydrated, and battling a cold when he came through our doors. Despite his rough start, Polka Dots seems to understand he's finally safe. He's a well-behaved kitty who accepts affection graciously, purring softly as he receives the TLC he so desperately needs. His gentle demeanor suggests a cat who's grateful to be in caring hands, and he's working hard to regain his strength and health. Thanks to that Good Samaritan's quick action, Polka Dots got the help he needed just in time. As he continues to recover, we'll learn more about his personality and preferences. What we know now is that this resilient boy deserves a loving home where he can leave his difficult past behind and enjoy the comfortable, safe life every cat deserves. Stay tuned for updates as Polka Dots heals-and consider opening your heart and home to this deserving survivor. It could be with you! Click here to learn more about the adoption process!

My medical notes are...

Weight: 7.6 lbs

1/2/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 3-5 years based on dentition, but difficult to determine. May be younger and just unthrifty. Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Stray Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - tense but allows all handling, eats tuna during exam but no ravenous. Soft stool on tail. Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective T = P = WNL R = WNL BCS: 4/9 Delayed skin tent, 5-7% dehydrated EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean AU, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition, mild tartar, some gingival recession on canines PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, no murmur noted, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic but referred airway noise. ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated. U/G: Externally WNL, intact male, 2 scrotal testes noted MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally WNL Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment Dehydration Underweight Soft stool (PARVO SNAP NEGATIVE) Dental disease Mild URI- r/o viral Intact male Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks + exam House in medical to monitor URI signs/appetite Await sort SURGERY: Okay for surgery after conclusion of URI signs

1/3/2026

SO: In medical isolation on treatment for URI BAR, tense inside of den, but ate all wet food offered on plate in den eent: eyes clear, serous nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: URI-mild P: continue monitoring/current treatment plan

1/7/2026

Moderate audible congestion, not eating wet or dry food well but ravenous for tuna when offered. A: Moderate URI P: Doxycycline 50mg/ml 0.7 ml PO SID x10d Nebulize SID x4d

1/8/2026

Ate well o/n and throughout the day, moderate audible congestion P: CWCT

1/9/2026

Hx: URI (moderate), dehydration, dental disease S: QAR, in den. All wet food eaten o/n. O: EENT: Eyes clear, clear nasal discharge noted H/L: Eupneic but mild to moderate audible congestion MSI: Ambulatory x 4, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate/ alert A: Moderate URI Appetite improved P: Move to Cat ISO for quieter environment and to conclude meds course CTM appetite

1/17/2026

SO: BAR, poking head out of den eent: eyes clear, no ocular or nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: URI apparently resolved P: monitor for recurrence of clinical signs

1/20/2026

QAR and eating. A: No URI symptoms P: Move out of isolation

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 1. Green

KNOWN HISTORY:: Polka Dots was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on his behavior history in a home environment. Upon intake, Polka Dots allowed to be pet and walked into the den on their own.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: PRIOR ASSESSMENT 1/5/26 Polka Dots was lying down hiding in the den with a neutral body and eyes upon approach. He sniffs treats offered and welcomes petting on the head. He slightly leans in for cheek and chin rubs and is unbothered when stroking his back. When reaching around his body and applying gentle upward pressure, lifting him up to the ceiling of the den, he remains calm but tenses up a little bit. After placing him back down, he continues to tolerate more petting and attention. 01/31/26 ACFR Polka Dots was crouched in the side cubby resting his face in his paws when handler approached. When handler opened cubby door and called out softly, he lifted his head and pressed his body against the back wall. Handler offered squeeze up with a scratcher tool, which he came forward to sniff and took a small amount of. He remained tense in a crouched position with forward ears, squinting eyes, and tail wrapped tightly around his body. When touch was attempted with a scratcher tool, he leaned into chin/cheek rubs for a few moments before hissing and moving away, pressing against the back wall again. Interaction ended to avoid increasing FAS.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,Other,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: Please note that this cat is being treated for a medical condition at the time of evaluation. It is difficult to determine at this time how the medical condition may be affecting the behavior. Polka Dots has displayed fearful behavior during their stay in the care center and has displayed distance-increasing behavior with extended handling. Fear aggression can occur when a cat perceives a threat and may escalate if they cannot escape. A fearful cat will feel more relaxed when given options, so provide him with the chance to move closer, investigate, or interact with you. Be sure to offer incentive such as treats or play time whenever the cat makes a small positive step. Please speak to an adoption counselor for additional information on methods to desensitize your cat to their fear stimulus.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children

Recommendations comments:: Due to behavior observed in the care center no children under age 13, respectful older children only. Counselor discretion.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Polka Dots is laying in his cubby, body held low in his litter box with his eyes peeking slightly over the edge of the box, eyes wide, pupils dilated, ears back, and body tense. When the cubby door is opened, he moves to sit upright behind the litter box, pressing his body against the back wall of the cubby. He is tolerant of brief petting on the head and cheeks with the scratcher tool before beginning to hiss, swatting at the tool twice. A squeeze up is offered and he sniffs it briefly before tensing and hissing again. Interaction is ended to reduce FAS. Polka Dots tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. He may be a little more independent and may need time to warm up to his new home. We recommend this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, he may not be a great fit for young children. Any home with older children prepared to adopt this cat should conduct a thorough interaction and endeavor to monitor this cat around their children to prevent these behaviors from being reinforced.