Animal Profile
Onyx
Hello, my name is Onyx. My animal id is #237848. I am a male black cat at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 2 years 1 months 2 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a aco - owner surrender on 9/27/2025, with the surrender reason stated as person circumstance- hoarding situation.
Onyx is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. 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 to adjust, 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. Onyx is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. 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 to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers. A volunteer writes: Onyx came to us from a home with many other cats and though he hasn't been sure what to make of the Care Center, we celebrate his progress and know that it can look different each day. We've heard his grumbles as he huddles up against the wall, but we've also seen him eat the treats we offer and even watched as he allows a couple of pets here and there. Onyx may not have had many opportunities to meet new people and although it kind of shows at times, we know that there's a family who will welcome Onyx for all he is and wants to be. Meet Onyx! Onyx came to us from a hoarding situation where more than 30 cats shared the same home. In places like that, cats often have limited exposure to people and learn to rely on other cats for comfort. Here at the Care Center, Onyx is still figuring out how to trust humans. He often retreats to his cubby, offers a few quiet hisses to ask for space, and then-when things are calm-may accept brief cheek pets with a scratcher tool and come forward to snack after the door closes. He's a thoughtful, sensitive boy who will blossom with a slow, predictable routine. My Ideal Home An experienced, low-traffic home that uses a dedicated decompression room, hides, and vertical perches. Keep interactions short and choice-based, pair your presence with high-value treats, and let Onyx decide the pace. Coming from a hoarding environment, he'll need extra time to understand that people can be safe and kind-but once he does, he'll show his quiet affection in his own special way. Good with Kids? Adult-only home recommended due to his fearfulness and need for quiet, consistent handling. Good with Other Pets? He previously lived among many cats. A calm, well-matched resident cat might help model confidence if introductions are extremely slow; he could also thrive as a solo cat while he settles in.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 7.36 lbs
9/30/2025
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2-5 years old Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned neg History: Owner surrender Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - tense and tries to flee, allowed all handling with towel Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective: T = not performed P = WNL R = WNL BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Minimal dental calculus PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Male, two scrotal testicles MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally normal Assessment: Apparently healthy Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks SURGERY: Okay for surgery
10/21/2025
EEN: clear ocular and nasal discharge. Sneezing RESP: Eupneic A: Mild uri r/o viral pet is eating P: Monitor
11/3/2025
No respiratory symptoms
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow
KNOWN HISTORY:: Onyx was brought in with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment. Onyx came from a home with 30+ cats.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 09/30/2025 PRIOR ASSESSMENT Onyx is in den laying down with his paws tucked under him. He peeks his head out of the portal to investigate treat presented on a scratcher tool. He sniffs the tool intently, and then allows petting on his cheeks. When pet along his body, he backs up further into the den, eyes dilating further. When assessor closes kennel door, Onyx moves forward again to sniff treat, but does not eat it. 10/10/25 Onyx is sitting upright at the very back of the cubby behind the litter box. His eyes are wide open, pupils dilated, staring intently. He hissed briefly as I dropped him some dry treats. He looked briefly at the scratcher tool with a treat, lowering his nose, and then lifting it again, then scrunching a little further to the back of the kennel and looking away when I move the tool closer. He followed the laser pointer with his eyes briefly, and then allowed a few brief pets on his forehead with the scratcher tool. I believe I detected a low growl and ended interaction. Needs more time. 10/11/25 Vol. Back of cubby, looking out to me when approached, spoken to and opened door. offered dry treats on scratcher tool. Ignored. stuck head through portal door. offered squeeze up on scratcher tool, Ignored. allowed petting by scratcher tool. lip licking and low growling. 10/13/25 Vol. Scrunched up at the back of the cubby, with dilated eyes. Remained frozen in place when spoken to and when the tool approached with a cup of treats. Licked some squeeze-up once then door was closed, then sat up at the back. Low growled when retrieving the cup but did not otherwise move. Did not eat a refilled cup of squeeze-up. Allowed a few head scratches with the tool but looked very uncomfortable with a tense body. 10/16/25 Vol. Onyx was lying behind the litter box in the bottom cubby. When I opened the door, he sat up against the back wall, eyes dilated, ears up and whiskers neutral. After a quick hiss, he ignores treats, but allows brief pets with the back of the scratcher tool on his head and on his back. Similar behavior as last week. 10/17/25 FB20 Onyx is laying inside his litterbox. When door is opened he gives a soft hiss. A scratcher tool with treats on it is presented to him, he ignores. When the tool is pulled away he hisses again. Staff member waits until he stops hissing and removes the tool. 10/20/25 FB32 Crouched down at back of kennel with tense body and wide eyes. Steps further back and sits up when spoken to and opening the door. Harshly hisses when reaching close to offer treats on the scratcher tool, but then leans his head forward to sniff. Lip licks and low grumbles when pet on the head, cheeks, and body. When he stops grumbling, I pull the tool away and end the interaction. --CONTINUED IN GAN--
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Moderate
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Curious,Timid,Independent
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization
Potential challenges comments:: Onyx is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. He is very apprehensive of people and may attempt to flee and avoid human contact. It is difficult to predict if he will respond to socialization but we recommend offering high value treats and food to help build a positive association to humans. Please be mindful that adult cats will require more time and skill in order for them to be comfortable around people.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home
Recommendations comments:: Adult only home due to fearfulness. Counselor discretion is advised.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Onyx was in his cubby when the assessor approached. When the kennel door opened he immediately sat further back in his cubby and hissed at the assessor. Treats were offered and he sniffed them but did not have interest in eating them. When the scratcher tool approached, he hissed and tried to avoid contact by starting to leave the cubby, but he sat back and stayed. When the tool made contact he tolerated petting on the head, chin and back while continuously hissing and low growling during the rest of the interaction. Pickup was not attempted. Onyx tolerates attention and petting but may be fearful or stressed in the shelter, and may be intimidated by small children. He may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to his new home. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.