Animal Profile

Expresso Beans 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.

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. This pet is available only through ACC New Hope partners. To adopt or foster, please complete the pre-screener form below. Inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Expresso Beans 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. What my friends at ACC say about me: My history is a mystery and my friends here do not know much about me yet! It is unknown if I have ever lived with other animals or children. I have potential behavior challenges that staff will address with you when you meet me. I'm an independent kitty who likes to do my own thing. I prefer to call the shots and enjoy coming to you when I'm ready for pets. My favorite pastime is being visually admired! Pet me with your eyes! I would do best in a home with only adult humans. I am FIV+ and am enjoying a healthy, full life! A volunteer writes: Expresso Beans promises he'll be so quiet that you won't even know he's there. Or at least, that's what he promised the Good Samaritan whose house he kept trying to run into. We celebrate the different ways in which our companions choose to take the space they deserve at the Care Center but we'd love to see Expresso Beans take up just a tiny bit more. Huddled in his little den, he seems to be hoping we'll just forget he's there even though he made quite an entrance. Though he'd been known as a quiet and gentle boy, shelter life was much too big for him to comprehend at first, so he tried to run and hide. Hardly the paw or the foot we'd like to get started on, but here we are as we try to make it better. Expresso Beans knows one thing that for sure will improve his current situation and that's finding a family to call his very own.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 12.5 lbs

Medical Notes

11/12/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2-6y Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Stray cat reported continually trying to get into apartment of finder. When transferring into den escaped and scratched handler when picked up. Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Dilated pupils, at back of den with head pointed up to to ceiling. Frozen at back of den. Elected sedation to decrease FAS. 0.1ml dexmedetomidine 500mcg/ml, 0.1ml ketamine 100mg/ml. 0.1ml butorphanol 10mg/ml IM. Initially seemed to be going down, but then when approached for handling attempted to escape from den. Administered another 0.1ml dexmedetomidine 500mcg/ml, 0.05ml ketamine 100mg/ml, 0.1ml butorphanol 10mg/ml. Still moving a little with second dose so elected limited exam in net to prevent fleeing again. Evidence of Cruelty seen -no Evidence of Neglect seen-no Evidence of Trauma seen -no Objective T = P =wnl R =wnl BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: limited PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: male intact, 2 scrotal testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: normal external Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment underweight FIV positive Prognosis: fair pending blood work Plan: intake tasks appropriate to hold neuter after hold released cbc/chem/T4 to lab as finder reported he was not doing well outside 0.1ml antisedan IM SURGERY: Okay for surgery-in house. WILL FLEE

11/13/2025

CBC/chem/T4 at lab CBC-wnl Chem BG 247 mg/dL (H) A: moderate hyperglycemia-suspect stress P: collect voided urine sample to complete testing and r/o other cause of hyperglycemia

11/19/2025

SO: Needs updated exam after scratch incident in kennel BAR, crouched inside 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, no neurological signs appreciated A: appropriate mentation P: No clinical signs of rabies disease

11/28/2025

At approximately 7:35am on 11/28/25 Expresso Beans was examined. He was laying down in his den. He did not show any signs of neurologic deficits or abnormalities during the interaction or during his time in care. H A: No appreciable signs of rabies or neurologic deficits P: Consider releasing from DOH hold

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Expresso Beans was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on his behavior history in a home environment. On 11/12/25 around 11:45 am Admissions staff attempted to transfer the stray cat from a carrier into a den. The stray cat proceeded to run loose in the admission room and staff member asked for assistance. While staff attempted to trap the stray cat again, he started frantically running in the room while climbing the desk and escalating. Staff member picked up the cat with protective gloves and he started kicking to release himself, which resulted in the cat using his hind legs to scratch staff member's upper left forearm. The staff did not seek any medical attention but cleaned the wound at ACC. On 11/18/25 at approximately 8 pm, handler was cleaning Expresso Beans' kennel with Expresso Bean secured in the den. They lifted up the den door slightly to take out some litter that was in the den; as they did so, Expresso Beans swatted and scratched handler on their right index finger. Expresso Beans did not growl, hiss, or show any other signs of aggression prior to swatting. Handler cleaned their wounds prior to returning to work; they did not go to urgent care.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 11/13/25 Crouched inside with eyes wide after lifting up den cover. Eyes wander while allowing pets on the head and body with the scratcher tool. He ignores offered treats and remains cautious throughout the interaction. 11/15/25 FB47 Espresso Beans, who was in the den slightly nervous, sniffed treats and catnip and was showing normal behavior and mentation. 11/16/25 FB32 Curled up hiding in den, steps back and sits up when removing den cover. Ignores treats offered on scratcher tool. Tolerates petting on the head, cheeks, and body with the tool but remains frozen. Allows brief touch on the body and cheeks but then hisses and attempts to swat but misses. 11/17/25 FB73 Upon approach Expresso Beans is sitting in his den, pupils dilated, body tense. He hisses and backs up further into the den as the den cover is lifted. Treats are offered but he does not take them. He allows all petting with the scratcher tool but remains very tense as he is pet. 11/18/25 Cautious from inside the den, eyes wide. Hisses at the scratcher tool briefly allowing pets along the head but then quickly striked ending the interaction. 11/24/25 FB73 Expresso Beans is sitting inside of his den, pupils dilated and tense. As the kennel door is opened and the den cover is lifted, he hisses, pressing himself further into the back wall. He allows some brief petting on the head with the scratcher tool before swiping at it and hissing again. Interaction is ended to reduce FAS. 11/25/25 Blank stare after lifting up den cover. He slowly retreats then strikes at the scratcher tool through the side portal door avoiding contact. 11/26/25 FB73 Expresso Beans is laying in his den, eyes wide and pupils dilated upon approach. As the handler attempts to lift the den cover, he immediately lunges forward at the den door with both front legs extended, lunging again, hissing, and hard swatting at the den door as the handler slowly slides the den cover back down. 11/29/25 FB47 Expresso Beans was in the den, not looking out, and when I opened the transfer door between his kennels, he poked his head out. When I approached with a scratcher tool, he lunged at it and swatted it. 11/30/25 FB32 Hiding in den curled up, then steps back with tense body and wide eyes when removing den cover. Begins growling when reaching close with treats on the scratcher tool. Ignores treats and lunges and hisses at the tool. I keep the tool still and he leans his head closer. It appeared that he wanted to sniff the tool, but he bites, hisses, and lip licks the tool. 12/3/25 Remains on high alert from inside his den. When attempting to make contact with the scratcher tool through the side portal door he hard strikes it ending the interaction.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Timid,Skittish,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Pet-induced aggression,Fearful,Uncomfortable with pick up,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization

Potential challenges comments:: Expresso Beans has two scratch incidents that occurred in shelter (see Known History above for more details). The first incident can be explained by Expresso Beans being loose in the admissions room and his squirming/struggling and kicking off the handler's body and arms when being handled and placed in the den. The second incident can be explained by his fearfulness when reaching close into his den or hiding spot. Expresso Beans may display subtle signs of fearfulness such as a tense body, stepping back, and widening his eyes; however, he may NOT display clear signs of escalation such as hissing, growling, or stress meowing. Instead, he resorts to swatting, biting, or lunging when reaching close or pet on the head or body. This behavior was observed during the second scratch incident and the behavior assessment. When reaching close to pet Expresso Beans, he lunges with his mouth open, turns his head towards the scratcher tool, and smacks the ground with both his his paws. When making physical contact and petting his body, he repeats the same behavior and doesn't bite the tool, but he swats the tool down to the ground. After pulling the tool away, he begins growling.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: Adult only home due to not displaying clear signs of escalation or fearfulness before resorting to swatting or lunging.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Expresso Beans was hiding in the den crouched down with a tense body and wide, dilated eyes when removing the den cover. He steps back with his tail wrapped tight around his body and ignores treats offered on the scratcher tool. When reaching close to pet Expresso Beans, he lunges with his mouth open, turns his head towards the scratcher tool, and smacks the ground with both his his paws. When making physical contact and petting his body, he repeats the same behavior and doesn't bite the tool, but he swats the tool down to the ground. After pulling the tool away, he begins growling. While returning the den cover and ending the interaction, he sniffs the treats initially offered. Pick up was not attempted in order to reduce stress. Expresso Beans 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, scratch, is extremely fearful in the shelter environment, and does not currently tolerate petting or handling. The behavior department feels that placement with a New Hope Partner is the best option at this time.