Animal Profile
Alberta
Hello, my name is Alberta. My animal id is #194772. I am a female orange tabby cat at the . The shelter thinks I am about 5 years 1 months 3 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a aco - owner surrender on 3/2/2024, with the surrender reason stated as person circumstance- moving.
Reserved
Someone has already placed a deposit on me. I'm no longer available.
Alberta is on the emergency placement list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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. Alberta is on the emergency placement list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers. What my friends at ACC say about me: Please check here for updated adoption hours. I have lived with cats. I have medical needs that staff will address with you when you meet me. Alberta is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. She is apprehensive of people and while showing no aggressive behaviors, she tolerates attention and petting but may be fearful or stressed in the shelter, and may be intimidated by small children. Please be mindful that older cats will require more time and skill in order for them to be comfortable around people, we recommend offering high value treats and food to help build a positive association to humans. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 6.5 lbs
3/15/2024
3/2/2024
Your newly adopted pet has been diagnosed with a heart murmur and the staff veterinarians are issuing a PERMANENT waiver from the spay/neuter requirements of the City of NY. ACC does not have the facility to safely sterilize your pet with his/her current condition. However, your veterinarian will provide consultation on whether this procedure can or should be performed under their supervision. Follow up care at your regular veterinarian is recommended to ensure continued treatment and proper oversight of your pet's health. All costs for follow up care and subsequent surgery is at the expense of the adopter.
3/2/2024
3/2/2024
Your newly adopted pet has been diagnosed with a heart murmur and the staff veterinarians are issuing a PERMANENT waiver from the spay/neuter requirements of the City of NY. ACC does not have the facility to safely sterilize your pet with his/her current condition. However, your veterinarian will provide consultation on whether this procedure can or should be performed under their supervision. Follow up care at your regular veterinarian is recommended to ensure continued treatment and proper oversight of your pet's health. All costs for follow up care and subsequent surgery is at the expense of the adopter.
3/2/2024
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 5-7yrs Is this an orphan kitten? no Is the kitten eating on own? n/a Is the kitten suckling? n/a Microchip noted on Intake? negative History: owner surrender Subjective: Cat is Q/BARH Observed Behavior - laying low at back of carrier, pupils dilated OU, will flee. Sedated with Zoletil (100mg/ml): 0.1ml IM once, which provided adequate sedation for exam and intake tasks. Is there evidence of Cruelty? no Is there evidence of Neglect? no Is there evidence of Trauma? no Objective T = N/A P = N/A R = N/A BCS 4-5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears mild ceruminous debris AU, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Moderate-severe dental dz PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, Grade III/VI murmur, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Female intact MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: NE Wood's Lamp Exam: NE Assessment Approx 5-7yr old intact female DSH Dental dz Heart murmur Prognosis: Good Plan: Completed intake tasks Recommend bloodwork and echo prior to spay and dental on placement SURGERY: Permanent waiver due to heart murmur
3/15/2024
Start gabapentin 20 mg/kg PO BID for FAS in shelter
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow
KNOWN HISTORY:: Alberta was brought in from a hoarding situation with limited information on her behavior history in a home environment.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 3/11/2 In box, feet and tail tucked with pupils dilated and eyes wide. She watches me as I offer some treats and a toy and she remains frozen in place. She does not show any curiosity towards the offerings and I do not push petting today to reduce stress. I speak to her softly and slow-blink before ending the session. 3/14/24 Sitting in her box with a tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated. When the tray is placed in front of her, she hisses but remains frozen in her box. She is tolerant of touch with the scratcher tool. 3/20/24 In hidey box when approached, frozen with ears tilted, pupils dilated and face tense. She does not respond offered treats or a catnip toy. I spend some time speaking to her softly before I end the session. When I check on her later I see the treats have been eaten! Will continue to build positive associations. 3/27/24 Was reunited with Alberta today. When I placed her den in Alberta's kennel, Del Rio stepped right out to sniff Alberta. They both sniffed each other and Alberta gave Del Rio one lick on her scruff before they both settled down in opposite sides of their kennel. They did not eat treats when offered. Hopefully being reunited will help reduce stress for both cats. 4/3/24 Hunched in back of kennel, body and face tense and tail curled tightly around her body. She sniffs the treats offered while maintaining eye contact, but she doesn't eat them until I walk away. I speak to her softly and keep the interaction brief. 4/10/24 Crouched in back of kennel, pupils dilated and face tense. She backs away with a low body when offered some treaties but she after a few moments of sweet-talk she begins to eat them. She is tolerant of petting on the head as she's eating. I click and reward to build a positive association. Skittish girls - might not be able to clicker train all the time. 4/12/24 Alberta has been showing consistent behaviors in our care center and has not shown improvement with daily interactions or enrichment offered. For this reason, the feline behavior team is going to discontinue recording daily behavior notes in Shelter Buddy. She is still going to receive daily enrichment and we will continue to monitor their behavior. Notes will resume if we notice any changes in behavior.
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Independent,Skittish,Timid,Shy
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Adult cat socialization,New home adjustment period,Fearful
Potential challenges comments:: Alberta came from a home with about 19 other cats, it is likely that she was not appropriately socialized to humans. Please see behavior flyer for more information.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home,Other
Recommendations comments:: Alberta is likely an undersocialized cat who has not had much experience around humans. When ACC gets hoarding cats who have been socialized with other cats primarily above humans, we always recommend that they go home with a housemate or that they go to a home that has another resident cat. Our hoarding cats have been observed to warm up more when placed in fosters that have other cats in the home already.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Alberta was lying in her hidey box as the assessor approached, body and face tense, pupils dilated and tail wrapped tightly around her body. Alberta avoided eye contact when spoken to and she looked around the room with wide eyes as the kennel door opened. Alberta tolerated petting along her head and body while turning quickly to watch the assessor's hand, then retreating to the otherside of her box with a low body and tail. Pick up was not attempted at this time to reduce stress. Alberta was looking around her kennel like she was trying to find a way to flee. Upon re-eval, Alberta is at the front of her cage for a moment with a tense face and body but then moves to the back of her cage into her box and sits down with her tail wrapped tightly around her body. She continues to sit loafed with eyes wide and ears tilted but sniffs the hand offered to her and allows pets on her head with the assessor's hand. When dry treats are offered to her and dropped into her box, she shows interest and begins to eat them. Alberta is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. She is apprehensive of people and while showing no aggressive behaviors, she tolerates attention and petting but may be fearful or stressed in the shelter, and may be intimidated by small children. Please be mindful that older cats will require more time and skill in order for them to be comfortable around people, we recommend offering high value treats and food to help build a positive association to humans. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.