KNOWN HISTORY:: Aiden was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on his behavior history in a home environment.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 9/8/24 Vol. Aiden was in his den, curled up. I put Temptations into the den, but he did not want them. I left to get him some Squeeze Up. When I returned, he had crawled towards the den door, looking as if he wanted to run out. He did not eat any of the treats offered to him. He allowed me to pet him on the head but he seemed to be very tense. I ended the interaction because he needs more time to adjust. 9/17/24 FB79 Inside his den, Aiden gets startled when i lift the den cover for a better view; he backs up as much as he can into the corner of the den but allows pets with the pointer tool as he slightly leans in to cheek rubs. Left some treats and toys for him. 9/22/24 Vol. Aiden was in his den. He hissed as I lifted the cover. I put treats inside the den, which he did not eat. I put Squeeze Up outside the den but her refused to eat that also. He retreated to the far back of the den, staring at me with wide eyes. He wrapped his tail around his body and did not respond to small talk. Did not pet him because he would not leave the den. 9/29/24 Vol. Aiden was in his den. I lifted the side panel and spoke to him. He remained lying down, watching me. I offered him Squeeze Up and Temptations but he did not take them. I was able to pet him with the tray containing his Squeeze Up, on his body. He just looked at it, not really responding, but not trying to avoid it. 10/6/24 Vol. Aiden was in his den, as he usually is. When I opened the cover, he hissed at me. I placed Squeeze Up and other treats inside. He pulled away from me. I petted him with the scratcher for a few moments. He accepted it, licking his lips nervously. He began to grumble, so I ended the interaction. He sniffed the treats but did not eat them. 10/12/24 FB58 In his den and hidden from view, low growls and hisses when the cover is lifted and backs away from the front, curling up and pressing against the back of the den. He is tolerant of some touch but remains uncomfortable. 10/13/24 Vol. Aiden was lying down in back of the den.  When I lifted the cover, he stared at me, licking his lips. I spoke to him and put a tray of Squeeze Up inside the den. He lashed out with his paw, tearing my glove. I spoke to him for a little while, then attempted to pet him with the scratcher once he calmed down. He lashed out at the scratcher, so I decided to end the interaction. He hissed and grumbled a bit, so he need more time to relax. 10/15/24 FB58 in his den with the cover not on the den, tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated. He lunges at the front of the den when I move to open the cage door. I leave a tray with treats and fix the cage so his den cover is back on, and place a cage cover on his cage. 10/18/24 FB79 Inside his den, Aiden hisses and reached out to swat at the tool when i bring it near the den opening - he continues to hiss and started to grumble when i lift the den cover - he has tilted ears and wide/dilated eyes as he watches me from the back. -GAN

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Shy ,Timid,Independent

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

Potential challenges comments:: Aiden 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. Although Aiden will swat hard at the Assess-A-Hand and may not tolerate hands on handling, he at times during his reassessment, returned slow blinks for an extended period of time with the assessor and was tolerant of some touch with the scratcher tool while inside the den (remaining tense and low growling). Aiden appears to have an incredibly high level of FAS and due to being in a den/cage in a foreign environment for such a prolonged period of time, may be in a constant "fight/defense" survival mindset. He would benefit from a calm and quiet space where he can have a long decompression period to come out and explore on his own terms and may even benefit from a slow re-introduction to his sibling (Ronan 209227) should they end up together.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: Due to the behavior seen in shelter and needing a longer time to warm up, the behavior team feels Aiden would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 9/5/24 Inside his den out of sight, Aiden has a neutral face/body but his eyes widen and dilate when the den cover is lifted for a better view. He is not interested in any treats that were offered and closer watches as the pointer tool is brought inside the den; he allows all pets on his face as well as around his back and body and remains still/frozen with no reaction. Pick up was not attempted due to not being able to be coaxed forward. 10/5/24 Upon re-eval, Aiden is in his den and completely hidden from view. He cannot be coaxed out when offered treats or spoken to softly. When the den cover is removed, he is hisses and is sitting with a tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated, shifting back with eyes wide and dilated. He is tolerant of touch but remains tense and frozen. Pick up is not attempted. 11/5/24 On approach, Aiden is sitting in his den with the den pushed so the side is angled to the front. With a slow approach, he allows the portal to be closed and the den to be adjusted. he sits with a tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated and swats hard when the assessor moves to list the clear door to move the scratcher tool into the den. He returns a slow blink to the assessor as they allow him to adjust to the scratcher tool and is tolerant of light touch with the tool along his side as he remains tense and low growls. He swats again as the tool is being removed and the assessor moved their hand to lift the clear door to get the tool out. After the interaction, when the assessor returns to spray some feliway, he is standing partly out of the den and stays in place watching the assessor and returns slow blinks for an extended period, hissing once. When the assessor, later offers the Assess-A-Hand in the cage, he swats at the fake hand multiple times. Pick up is not attempted. Aiden is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and/or may require further investigation before placement in a home. He has tried to swat, is extremely fearful in the shelter environment and does not currently tolerate hands on petting or handling. The behavior department feels that placement with a New Hope Partner is the best option at this time.