Animal Profile

Willow needs at risk placemen for a medical reason and behavior. He has a persistent corneal ulcer that is not responding to treatment. 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.

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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Willow needs at risk placemen for a medical reason and behavior. He has a persistent corneal ulcer that is not responding to treatment. 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. What my friends at ACC say about me: My history is a mystery and my friends here do not know much about me yet! I have lived with cats in my previous home. I'm an independent kitty who likes to do my own thing. Willow 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: I think Willow's been feeling a bit lost and I can't really blame him. It's not always easy to find your place in such a big world and Willow's been through some pretty big chances recently. He was brought to us with many other cats when their guardian passed away and making sense of the Care Center has him mostly coming up empty pawed. Willow seems to appreciate and sometimes even enjoy our attempts at pets, and though he hasn't been one to put himself out there and ask for them, he's grateful when a new friend can make the first move. Snuggled up in the back with ears in some variation of airplane mode, Willow's doing the best he can while he waits to meet you.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 5.7 lbs

Medical Notes

9/12/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2-3 years based on dentition Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Owner passed away leaving behind 10+ cats Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - tense/frozen but allows all handling 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 EENT: Eyes clear OU, ears clean AU, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition, mild tartar PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Externally WNL, intact male, right inguinal cryptorchid MSI: Ambulatory x 4, no ectoparasites noted, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally WNL Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment Slightly underweight Otherwise healthy Intact male, RIGHT INGUINAL CRYPTORCHID Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks + exam Await sort SURGERY: Okay for surgery, RIGHT INGUINAL CRYPTORCHID

10/15/2025

Disregard

10/15/2025

SO: BAR eent: eyes OD eye closed with mucoid ocular dc, no nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: conjunctivitis OD P: erythromycin OD BID x7d

10/18/2025

SO: On treatment for conjunctivitis. Reported tense for treatment, but allowing cleaning QAR, sitting in cubby in kennel eent: eyes clear, mucoid ocular dc apparent h/l: eupneic, repeated sniffling appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: conjunctivitis URI-mild P: continue erythromycin adding cidofovir 1 drop OU BID x7d allow 5 minutes between eye medications fortiflora 1 packet with food PO SID x7d

10/25/2025

BAR in kennel, keeping OD closed and will close tighter when approached Mucoid discharge resolved OU OD conjunctiva inflamed and swollen, third eye lid elevated when attempting to examine eye A: OD suspect corneal ulcer P: attempted fluorescein stain OD, but unable to see cornea to assess for ulcer applied zorbium for weight changing drops to ofloxacin OD BID x7d-extend if needed

10/28/2025

Pet is eating. OD: opaque cornea, epiphora, chemosis, blepharospasm A: persistent corneal ulcer despite cidofovir & ofloxacin. eye lids are more open than 10/25 exam Prognosis: Poor Plan advise emergency placement Stain corneas +/- atropine +/- onsior Repeat zorbium 0.4 ml topical tonight

10/28/2025

Pet is eating. EEN: Squinting OD prior to sedation. Stain cornea: Positive (image attached of large geographic ulcer) UG: MI. Right inguinal cryptorchid Plan sedated with DKT feline premix 0.3 ml im (Dexdomitor 0.5mg/ml 0.0125 mg/kg + ketamine 100mg/ml 5mg/k + Butorphanol 10mg/ml 0.25 mg/kg) Atropine 1 drop OD Ofloxacin 1 drop OD Onsior 20mg/ml 0.3ml SQ Antisedan 0.06ml IM Onsior 6 mg 1 tablet po sid x 2 days. Start tomorrow Advise at risk placement

10/29/2025

Meds team noted that Willow fled from them when attempting to give ophthalmic drops. A: High FAS for medication administration P: D/c eye meds Monitor conjunctivitis

11/1/2025

Recheck corneal ulcer OD S: QAR, in cubby. Food eaten. O: visual exam only due to behavior EET: Clear OS, large corneal ulcer OD (photo in vet docs), no nasal discharge noted H/L: Eupneic, no sneezing or audible congestion CNS: Mentation appropriate/alert A: Conjunctivitis resolved Corneal ulcer OD, behavior does not allow for ophthalmic meds to be applied P: Zorbium for appropriate weight Onsior 6mg tab PO SID x4d

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Willow was brought in with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 9/15/25 PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT Willow was in the den and stressed, hissing when addressed with the treat bag. He allowed approach with treats on the scratcher tool and sniffed them, but hissed several times, then allowed petting with the tool while remaining tense. 9/26/25 Vol Asleep, tightly curled in litter box. Woke up quickly when cubby door opened, eyes narrow, body tense. Put in treat bowl, ignored it. Approached with hard treats on scratcher tool - moved back, wrapping tail tightly, pulling head back. Allowed some scratches with tool before pulling back dodging head and lip licking. Approached again and he allowed scratches - seemed to relax a bit and drop head before pulling back once again, ears almost flat, lip licking. Removed tool and ended interaction. Willow came forward eat treats 9/29/25 FB32 Lying down at back of top cubby behind litter box with front legs tucked under body. Hisses when opening the door and removing litter box. Steps back and sits up when reaching close to offer treats on the scratcher tool. Sniffs treats and allows brief petting on the head and body but then he tilts his ears to the side and retreats to the shelf to avoid attention. When attempting to reach close with my hand, he eyes widen and he hisses. 9/30/25 Vol Hiding in privacy den. Hissed and growled when kennel door was opened. Attempted to eat a little Squeeze-up but then started to growl and backed off. Not interested in the cat dancer. Growled at the laser. Did eat up the tuna I placed in his den. 10/3/25 Willow was sitting upright against the back wall with ears turned to the side, appearing anxious and hesitant. He briefly allowed petting on the head and body with a scratcher tool but remained uneasy, scanning the room throughout the interaction. At one point, he rushed into the main compartment with a low body posture and tail, continuing to watch his surroundings cautiously. 10/8/25 Vol Willow was behind the privacy shield in his cubby and sat up quickly when the door was opened, wrapping his tail tightly around him. Pupils were not dilated and ears were neutral. He ignored the squeeze up treat, then backed away, scrunching himself in the corner to avoid being pet with the tool. He also ignored dry treats, but then was extremely hungry and ate two servings of wet food (allowing brief forehead pets while eating) after which he continued to look at me while still sitting up. He began to blink and approached my finger with his nose, then backed away. He’s making progress. -----CONTINUED IN GAN-----

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow,Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Timid,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: Willow 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:: Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: No young children due to observed behavior, children over 13 up to discretion of counselor.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Willow is laying in his cubby, curled up facing the back wall. He picks his head up as the door is opened, body stiffening, pupils dilating, and ears slightly back. The assessor slowly places treats in front of him, which he sniffs at but does not eat. A squeeze up is offered on the scratcher tool which he also leans forward to sniff at but does not eat. Petting is attempted with the scratcher tool, and the assessor is able to briefly pet him on the head before he flinches away to avoid contact, pressing himself against the back wall, raising a paw, and becoming very stiff. Interaction is ended to reduce FAS. Willow 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.