Animal Profile
Sami
Hello, my name is Sami . My animal id is #226775. I am a desexed male brown tabby cat at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 3 years 2 months 2 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a aco - owner surrender on 5/9/2025, with the surrender reason stated as person health - medical.
Sami 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. He is not aggressive, just very fearful, possibly undersocialized and he has been here for 2 months.
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. Sami 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. He is not aggressive, just very fearful, possibly undersocialized and he has been here for 2 months. What my friends at ACC say about me: Sami is a gentle soul who's feeling quite overwhelmed right now. He prefers to stay tucked in his den and can be a bit wary when approached, but he's never reactive or aggressive. With a soft touch and a little patience, he allowed gentle petting-even leaning in slightly once he felt safe. He's beginning to show curiosity about treats and almost nibbled one when given some space. Sami will need time and a quiet environment to come out of his shell, but there are clear signs that, with love and patience, he'll blossom into a sweet and trusting companion. Sami 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 that this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. It could be with you! Click here to learn more about the adoption process!
My medical notes are...
Weight: 9.94 lbs
5/9/2025
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2-4 years based on dentition Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Owner passed away, reported to have fallen from 4th story after attempting to remove from home Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - tense in den, lip licking, reported to be fearful/fleeing. Sedated for diagnostics and exam, sedated using 0.15 ml Dexmedetomidine (500mcg/ml) + 0.15 ml Butorphanol (10mg/ml) IM. 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: 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition, mild tartar, hard palate intact, no evidence of jaw laxity. PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated. Bladder intact. U/G: Externally WNL, intact male, 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: Externally WNL Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment Reported to have fallen from 4th story, no outward evidence of trauma Appears healthy Intact male Prognosis: Fair to good Plan: Thoracic radiographs: no appreciable pneumothorax, no evidence of rib fractures, cardiac silhouette appears subjectively elongated on lateral view Abdominal radiographs: empty stomach, feces in colon, spleen and liver appear WNL, no boney abnormalities noted Intake tasks + exam Await sort 0.15 ml antisedan IM Zorbium for appropriate weight in the event that some soft tissue trauma was sustained SURGERY: Okay for surgery
5/13/2025
Moderate amount of urine in litter box. Pet Ate. QAR in den during AM rounds.
6/7/2025
Noted by staff to possibly be favoring paw. On visual exam, appears to be mildly lame on RF limb; difficult to assess ambulation in kennel. Patient is very fearful and flighty but able to gently palpate digits and metacarpi EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge Lungs: Eupneic Abd: No distension MSI: Unable to observe ambulating (flight risk); no major pain/reaction upon palpation of digits and metacarpi, no obvious instability or crepitus noted. Places weight, although appears partially toe touching at times. A. Possible lameness RF limb r/o soft tissue injury vs fracture (less likely) Hx of possible high rise fall P. Onsior 2mg/kg PO SID x 3 days Reassess at end of course; if continues to appear lame, sedate for distal front limb radiographs (DV not taken on intake)
6/11/2025
resting comfortable eating reluctant to get up no RF lameness noted
7/23/2025
Pre-Op Exam S: QAR, hiding in back of cubby O: Visual exam only due to behavior EEN- eyes clear, no appreciable nasal discharge H/L- Eupneic, no coughing/sneezing or audible congestion Neuro- alert/appropriate A: Appears to be a good anesthetic candidate P: Ok for neuter
7/23/2025
[Surgery - Cat Neuter] Was this cat a Cryptorchid? No Routine Feline Neuter Self tie of spermatic cord Green Linear Tattoo Placed near Midline Surgeon: 2172
7/23/2025
Feline Neuter performed by Vet: 2172 Patient anesthesia form uploaded to Shelter Buddy in Vet Documents. Start the following pain managements: Simbadol 1.8 mg/ml Injection - 0.6 ml was given SQ pre-SX as a one time dose for pain management. Onsior 20 mg/mL Injection - 0.45 ml was given SQ post-op as a one time dose for pain management.
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow
KNOWN HISTORY:: Sami was brought in without information on his behavior history in a home environment.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 5/18/25 Vol. Lying down facing forward in litterbox. Offered dry treats on scratcher tool. Sniffed. Left treats outside of litterbox. Came a little forward to eat treats. Ate a little tuna. Backs up if try to pet with scratcher tool. Will swat & slightly hiss at it if too close. Offered more dry treats a little closer to front. Closed door. Came out of litterbox to eat treats. 5/23/25 Vol. Sleeping on top of hidey box - opened eyes, looked up - then put head back down, eyes still open - when I was reading report. Opened door, he ignored treats, no reaction. Approached with hard treats on scratcher tool, Sami moved to sit with paws stretched out, head up, eyes still normal. Ducking head to avoid tool. He sat erect, staring down at tool and then curled back up - head towards the side. Allowed head scratches with tool, at first no movement then eyes starting to close, open slightly when stopped. After a number of scratches, he sat erect and stared at tool. Gave another scratch and ended interaction. 5/28/25 Vol. Sami was lying curled up at front of cubby, with his tail loose next to his body. He sniffed at treats but did not eat. Did not show interest in toys. He allowed gentle petting on his head, and leaned slightly into cheek rubs. He then put his head down on his paws and rested, with eyes cracked open. 5/30/25 Vol. Sitting in cubby, towards the front, ears forward, watching and then turning head away. Put squeeze treat bowl by cubby entry - Sami stretched and ignored bowl. Opened cubby door, Sami backed up, eyes round. Approached with hard treats on scratcher tool - he sniffed and backed up again. Dropped treats and approached - he allowed a few scratches, tense and then leaned over to eat the hard treats. He did not allow scratches while eating, dodged his head and kept looking up. Ate lots of hard treats - coming forward a bit to eat. Treats gone, approached Sami with tool, he sat erect, tense, lip licked and allowed scratches. No reaction when stopped. Gave a few more scratches, put in hard treats and ended interaction 6/6/25 Vol. In front of cubby, lying with head in food bowl - head up alert when I climbed stepladder. Put treat bowl by cubby entry in main cage - Sami stuck his head out and ate, pushing bowl off shelf. Refilled and placed further away from entry - he came out to eat. Approached with hard treats on tool, Sami knocked tool with paw and looked at treats, turning to go back into cubby and then sticking head out to nibble with his eyes wide and tense. Refilled treat bowl and ended interaction. *Enrichment Notes continued in GAN*
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow,Subdued
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Sweet,Timid,Independent
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization
Potential challenges comments:: Possibly undersocialized.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children
Recommendations comments:: No children under age 13, respectful older children only. Counselor discretion.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Sami is quite fearful but gentle. He stayed tucked in the back of his den, hunched with large pupils and sideways ears. He initially showed no interest in treats and retreated when approached, making himself as small as possible. He allowed light petting with the scratcher tool, though he shrank from touch. Given space, he became curious—sniffing the treats and nearly eating them when left alone. He later allowed gentle petting with the assessor’s hand but remained shut down throughout. Sami 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 that this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents.