Animal Profile
Pepper
Hello, my name is Pepper. My animal id is #240026. I am a desexed male black cat at the Queens Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 8 years 2 months old.
I came into the shelter as a aco - owner surrender on 10/24/2025, with the surrender reason stated as person health - medical.
Pepper 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. Pepper 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. I have lived with cats in my previous home. I'm an independent kitty who likes to do my own thing. I am looking for a home with a patient person. I can be slow to adjust to new environments. I prefer to take things at my own pace. I would appreciate slow introductions to new people and places to help me feel safe. I'm sensitive and shy. I'll need extra help from you.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 6.51 lbs
10/26/2025
Subjective: DVM Intake Exam Name: Pepper Animal ID: 240026 Species: Feline Estimated age: 8 years Microchip noted on Intake? Negative History: Owner Surrender BAR MM pink, moist, CRT <2 sec Observed Behavior - Yellow; Limited ability to examine, resistant to handling, body tense, tries to flee, hissing/vocalizing Evidence of Cruelty seen - No Evidence of Trauma seen – No Evidence of Neglect- No Objective: P = 160 hr R = 28 rr BCS 4/9 Wt = 6.51 lbs EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted; a superficial abrasion, approximately one inch in length, is present on the lower bridge of the nose. The lesion is characterized by alopecia, erythema, mild moisture, and some discharge. A Wood's lamp examination was performed; initial fluorescence of the discharge was noted, but after wiping the area, a second examination was negative for fluorescence. Oral Exam: A limited oral examination revealed moderate to severe (Grade 3-4/4) dental disease with significant dental calculus, mild gingivitis, halitosis, and multiple missing teeth. PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT <2 sec MM pink, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated MSI: Ambulatory x 4, no masses noted, healthy hair coat, mild fecal staining is present on the hind end and tail. U/G: MN CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: Apparently healthy, with the following concerns noted. *ASSESSMENT, INCLUDING PROBLEM LIST WITH DIFFERENTIALS*: -*Nasal Abrasion*: A superficial wound is present on the nose. An initial differential of dermatophytosis was considered due to some fluorescence under a Wood's lamp, but this was ruled out upon a second examination after cleaning the area. The final assessment is a simple abrasion. -*Moderate to Severe Dental Disease*: The patient has significant calculus, gingivitis, and tooth loss consistent with advanced dental disease. -*Fecal Staining*: Mild staining on the perineum, which may be secondary to grooming difficulty or mild gastrointestinal upset. Prognosis: Good Plan: Standard Intake Procedures (for Cats): Rabies vaccine FVRCP vaccine FELV/FIV SNAP Pyrantel deworm Selamectin Microchip Wood's lamp: Negative *DIAGNOSTICS*: -A ringworm PCR was initially considered for the nasal lesion but was deemed unnecessary after dermatophytosis was ruled out with a second Wood's lamp exam. *TREATMENTS AND PROCEDURES*: -The nasal lesion was not cleaned due to patient temperament; it is expected to heal without intervention. SURGERY: Permanent waiver d/t age
11/14/2025
Start gabapentin 100 mg PO BID for FAS in shelter
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow
KNOWN HISTORY:: Pepper was brought in from a hoarding situation with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment. Previously lived with 40+ cats.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 10/28/25 FB61 Hunched in back of kennel, body and face tense with his head lowered onto the ground. He slow-blinks as I open the cubby door and he tolerates petting along his head and body while flinching, licking his lips and slow-blinking hard. He sniffs the catnip toy offered and he begins to eat the treats I left while remaining focused on me. Nervous but curious and he appears to be food motivated. Will continue to build positive associations! 11/03/25 Vol. Pepper was lying behind his litter box, with his paws tucked under his body, watching me. I put Temptations near him. He sniffed them but did not eat. I spoke gently to him and petted him with a pipe cleaner. He did not have any noticeable reaction. He is a calm, quiet cat. 11/03/25 FB79 Pepper is at the top part of his kennel where he sits with a neutral face and body. He leans in to sniff treats but keeps his eyes on me as they widen when then i try to bring the tool close for pets. He backs away tensing up slightly but tolerates all pets on his head and cheeks with his eyes still wide. 11/05/25 FB06 Upon opening the kennel door and lifting the den cover, Pepper was hunched in the back of the den with a tense body and wide eyes, lip licking. As I placed some squeeze up in the den, Pepper began sniffing in the air lip licking still with a tense body. Using the scratcher to attempt petting, Pepper tolerated. 11/10/25 FB79 Pepper was inside of the den curled up with his paws covering his face and lifts his head when i speak softly. I place a tray of high value treats and he leans in to start to enjoy. He tolerated pets on his head with the tool but his ears flattened to his head. 11/13/25 FB58 In his den and can't be coaxed out - when the den cover is lifted, he is sitting with a tense and low body, wary and skittish. I offer treats in the den and he sniffs at them but doesn't eat. I leave him a catnip toy with Feliway sprayed on it. 11/17/25 Vol. Pepper was lying in his litter box, behind a cover. I opened the door and put Squeeze Up and Temptations on a tray. He sniffed it and licked his lips hungrily but did not move towards the food. I spoke to him softly and touched him with the scratcher as he sat up in the litter box. I heard low grumbling sounds so I did not push him. I closed the door and sat on a bench near him. I had a good view of him through the glass. I observed him slowly walk towards the treats, which he ate. He noticed me watching him and went back to his litter box. 11/19/25 FB20 Pepper is laying with a tense face behind litterbox. He does not sniff tool. I place a tray of squeeze up in front of him and he leans forward and starts to eat. I sneak in a few cheek pets while he eats and he stays focused on the squeeze up. GAN
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Shy ,Timid,Skittish,Independent
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization
Potential challenges comments:: Pepper came from a home with about 40+ other cats, it is likely that he was not appropriately socialized to humans.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home
Recommendations comments:: Due to the behavior seen in shelter and needing a longer time to warm up, the behavior team feels Pepper would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment. Pepper may benefit from being in a home with another, friendly, and appropriately socialized cat from whom he can learn behaviors and have interactions with humans modeled by, to help him gain confidence and comfort in a new environment.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 10/27/25 Pepper is in the back of the litterbox inside of his cubby with a very low body and a wrapped tail; he has wide eyes when the cubby door is opened and when the tool is brought close he hisses with no tilted ears. Pepper's eyes dilate as he watches the tool get closers and when contact is made at the top of his head his ears flatten but he remains tolerant of pets on his head, cheeks as well as down and around his body. When the assessor brought the tool back to his face for more head/cheek runs he hissed once again but remained still and did not escalate. Pick up was not attempted at this time due to not being able to coax forward as well as to limit FAS. 11/25/25 & 12/26/25 Upon re-eval, Pepper appears to be deteriorating in shelter or showing a generally higher level of stress as well as increased reactivity to interactions. He is in his den and hidden from view, cannot be coaxed out with treats or when spoken to softly. When the den cover is lifted, he is sitting with eyes wide and dilated, a tense face and body, ears tilted and tail wrapped tightly. The portal door is closed and the assessor slowly introduces the scratcher tool into the den and he is tolerant of a few touches on his head as he hisses before he begins to stress vocalize and turns to attempt to bite the tool and swat. Pick up is not attempted. 12/30/25 Although unwilling to engage with the assessor initially, Pepper has now begun to acclimate to the shelter environment. Pepper was hunched in the back of his cubby as the assessor approached, body and face tense with his his tail wrapped around his body. Pepper remained tense and low as the kennel door opened and he tolerated petting along his head and back with the assess-a-hand while hissing and turning his face to watch the hand. He does not escalate further and pick up was not attempted at this time to reduce stress. Pepper tolerates attention and petting but may be fearful or stressed in the shelter, and may be intimidated by small children. He may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to his new home. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.