KNOWN HISTORY:: Bella was returned on a DOH-B hold from the adopter who reclaimed her. Lived Indoors Previously lived with: Adults Behavior toward strangers: It takes Bella some time to warm up to new people. However, once she knows them she is ok. When visitor come over she typically hides. Bite or Scratch history: Yes, multiple incidents. On 1/16 client stated that she just looked at Bella and Bella attacked. Litter box training: Yes. Energy level/descriptors: Medium to high. Can have sudden bursts of zoomies and begin to meow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bella was returned on a DOH-B hold from a recent adopter's home. It seems that the cat was first triggered when trying to place her in a carrier for a vet visit and since then has been launching herself at the adopter and the adopter's mother, yowling and biting/scratching them. They were able to place her in a room but are afraid of further incidents happening. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bella was brought in with limited information on her behavior history in a home environment. Client reached out to ACC to surrender his cat due to behavior issues . The client got the cat in February from a co worker who was looking to rehome the cat due to allergies and also the cat " flipped on her husband " The client states that he didn't ask for what that meant exactly but was looking to get a cat so he agreed to take the cat in . He states that the cat was super sweet and fit in immediately . He states that in April his adult son moved in with him and the cat also took a liking to him and even began staying with the son more than the client . The client states that in August he noticed a shift in the cat's behavior . He states walking in to the living room , the cat unprovoked snarled and hissed at him . He states the cat then began to chase him and before the cat can catch him, he locked himself in his room . The client mentioned that the cat would do this when he or is son would leave the house . Last week on 10/14 the client states that his son was cooking and the cat again charged him this time breaking skin . The client states that the cat scratched and bit his son on his leg . He states that his son managed to get the cat off but the cat attempted to attack again but the son picked up a table and motioned to hit the cat but did not stating the cat then retreated . The client states that since then he himself walks around with a stick in the house so the moment the cat tries to attac

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 10/28/25 FB58 Sitting loafed near the front of the cage with a neutral face and body, ears forward and eyes almond. She sniffs the hand offered and accepts pets along her head and cheeks and leans into the touch. I offer her some dry treats and she begins to eat, accepting pets along her head and cheeks as well as along her back with her tail and hips raised. She turns to head bunt my arm as I am petting her and seems to appreciate all attention. 11/21/25 FB58 Laying in the middle of the cage and curled up resting - she lifts her head and sits up when I open the door, happily beginning to eat the treats I offer to her. She accepts pets on her head and pulls away from cheek pets. She continues to accept all pets along her back with her tail lifting high at times. 11/3025 FB06 Although I didn't do an interaction with Bella today, I was in the room with two other staff members and witnessed some of Bella's behaviors. As one staff member was cleaning in the room, Bella was following the movements of the member moving back and forth in the room. She became very irritated, letting out very loud meows and thrashing around in her kennel. Looking over at her, thinking she was hurt, she was throwing herself into the wall of the kennel then going into the cubby, followed by jumping onto the ledge. It seems any fast movements get her extremely irritated and she was looking to get out. 12/2/25 FB06 Bella is loosely moving around her cage, jumping up and down from the ledge, moving in and out of the cubby. She has a neutral face and eyes, her ears are forward. I offer her the scratcher and she curiously sniffs it. She enjoys all petting with the scratcher, leaning in, arching her back, and her tail high as her lower back is pet. She begins rubbing herself on the scratcher as she moves back and forth from the main area and the cubby. 12/04/25 FB61 Bella is showing consistent signs of overstimulation at this time. They do not need socialization, these behaviors are likely to continue in a home environment and this is not an indication that this cat is under socialized. They are a cat who may be sensitive to physical or environmental stimuli. They will benefit from plenty of non-contact, interactive playtime and mental stimulation in their new home.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Moderate

VOCAL:: Somewhat chatty

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Sweet,Affectionate,People oriented,Curious

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

Potential challenges comments:: Bite/Scratch Incident 11/20/25: Adopter was trying to place Bella in the carrier to take her to the vet. After several attempts, including playing with a string to lure her into the carrier and using a towel to cover her face, she decided to cancel appointment. Bella was then laying down and the adopter approached her to pet her belly. Adopter got up and then as she walked away, Bella ran at her and lunged while screaming and growling. Bella grabbed adopter's arm and bit her on the right arm, leaving a puncture wound on her arm and right thumb. Client was able to run into a room; Bella then lunged at client's mother but did not break skin. Client's mother was able to get Bella into a room and close the door. Adopter cleaned the wound on her arm and thumb with soap and water. Did not seek medical attention. It was also noted by the adopter that Bella was urinating and defecating throughout the incident and that noises such as the TV or multiple TVs being on, the radiator tuning on and hissing, and generally loud noises tend to trigger Bella. She describes: "Another day her mom was sitting down watching TV and Bella began biting her out of nowhere as well as her noticing she bites when she had both of her TVs on. She clarified only bite incident happened that broke skin. The 2nd time, Bella was rubbing against the adopter's legs and when the adopter walked away, Bella began chasing after her and grabbing her legs. Adopter had sweatpants on so did not break skin. Adopter said loud noises like the radiator turning on and hissing, seem to be when Bella begins to bite. Other incidents were nibbles and today's incidents were more intense." Based off of the Bite incident and the multiple "less intense" escalations Bella displayed in the adopter's home when triggered by prolonged attempts to handle, loud noises, sudden movements, etc. - Bella seems to have developed some heightened levels of defensive aggression, and fear response which were also reinforced by her original owner escalating to attacking Bella back with a stick. Bella appears to have a significant level of PTSD that when triggered can result in biting and scratching of various degrees of intensity. 10/23/25 The behavior team cannot be sure what changes in the home environment began to trigger unwanted behaviors for Bella, however the behavior team wants to make a note that any change (perceived by the owner or otherwise) to a cat's routine can cause fearful and defensive/offensive sudden behaviors. Cats thrive with predictable routine and the previous owners' habit of attacking the cat back to protect himself was likely reinforcing the fear-based and defensive behaviors already being presented. Any adopters interested in taking Bella into their home should be experienced with helping a fearful/traumatized cat adjust to new environments and should understand the importance of environmental enrichment, stress reduction, feline body language, routine feeding and play therapy.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

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

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 10/23/25 Bella was lying in the back of her kennel as the assessor approached, body and face tense with her tail curled around her feet and her pupils dilated. Bella made eye contact when spoken to and she remained hunched as the kennel door opened. Bella tolerated petting along her head and body with the scratcher tool while flinching each time she was touched, walking towards her litterbox with a low hunched body and beginning to raise her rear and soften her face as petting continued. Pick up was not attempted at this time to reduce stress. Bella is sweet but she appears to be very nervous and sensitive to stimuli and the environment at this time. 11/12/25 Upon meeting with Bella again, she is standing at the front of the cage and walking back and forth with a neutral face and body, ears forward and tail raised as she waits to greet the assessor. When the cage door is opened, she sniffs the hand offered and accepts all pets along her head, cheeks, and back as she leans in. She appears curious about the room and steps out onto the floor on her own. She allows the assessor to lift her up and place her back in the cage without issue. 11/28/25 Upon returning to the shelter on a Bite Hold, Bella continues to display social and curious behaviors in shelter with a potential for overstimulation. On approach, Bella is at the front of the cage with a neutral face and body, ears forward, and tail raised. She appears very interested in what the assessor's hand and sleeve smell like but accepts all pets along her head and back. She eats the treats offered to her and is tolerant of being lifted up and placed back down. 01/27/26 Bella is at the front of her kennel with a neutral face and eyes, and loose body as she solicits attention. As the assessor opens the door and offers her the scratcher, she sits for head pets with one paw lifted. As the assessor moves the scratcher down, she stand for pets along her back lifting her bottom and her tail is high. As the assessor is ending the interaction and closing the door, Bella starts pacing and rubbing against the glass. Due to the intensity of her bite incident as well as her sensitivity to environmental triggers due to her possible PTSD from her original home - she has the potential to escalate to a bite and hold, or to chase and lunge at those around her if triggered or trigger stacked. Due to these factors, the Feline Behavior Team feels placement with a rescue partner is the most appropriate pathway for her.