Animal Profile

Marcelline is on the At Risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her 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. Marcelline is on the At Risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers. A volunteer writes:Little Marceline was brought by her finder without any information. Was she living the hard street life for a while, had she been recently "gotten rid of"? What was her temperament? Nobody will ever know...She was quiet and still in her carrier when she arrived at the care center. She even accepted some light petting. Finding herself in a shelter environment did not agree with young Marceline. Being pregnant likely did not help with her distress. Marceline has remained fearful untrusting and avoidant in these three weeks she has been at the care center. I first met her this Wednesday. She was at the back of her cubby. She did not hiss but her eyes meeting mine clearly told me to stay at a distance. She was ready to escape toward her main living space but did not. A laser beam seemed to puzzle her. A feather wand scared her. The "squeeze up she saw in my hand kept her in her cubby...and she took some lickable furtively from a tongue depressor...I left some treats and Delectable puree that she consumed after my departure. Marceline needs out of our premises to have a chance at being a pet again or may be for the first time. A quiet home and a patient and understanding adopter are what this unsettled little soul needs. It could be with you? 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. I am looking for a home with a patient person. Marcelline tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. She may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to her new home. We recommend this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, she 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.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 8 lbs

Medical Notes

4/18/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 1-3y Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Stray cat Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Tense and crouched at back of den with dilated pupils. When approached with hand begins hissing and lifts paw. Recommend sedation for exam to decrease FAS. 0.1ml dexmedetomidine 500mcg/ml, 0.1ml ketamine 100mg/ml, 0.1ml butorphanol 10mg/ml IM Evidence of Cruelty seen -no Evidence of Neglect seen-no Evidence of Trauma seen -no Objective T = P =wnl R =wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: clean adult dentition PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, distended abdomen-suspicious early pregnancy U/G: female intact 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 pregnant Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks pregnancy confirmed on ultrasound recommend OHE ASAP SURGERY: Okay for surgery-pregnant

4/30/2025

Pre-Op Exam S: BAR, stress meowing, hissing. Elected to perform visual exam due to behavior at intake. O: EENT: Eyes clear, no nasal or ocular discharge noted H/L: Eupneic, no coughing/sneezing or audible congestion noted U/G: Externally WNL, intact female, suspect early pregnant at intake MSI: Ambulatory x 4, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate/ alert A: Appears to be a good anesthetic candidate P: Spay today

4/30/2025

Surgery - Cat Spay Was this cat in heat, pregnant or have a pyometra? Yes, pregnant. Early to mid-term. Ventral Midline Incision Ovaries Ligated with: autoligation Uterine Body Ligated with: 3-0 PDS using two modified millers knots Abdominal Closure: 3-0 PDS simple continuous Skin closure: 3-0 PDS intradermal Green Linear Tattoo Placed near Midline Surgeon: 2172 Additional Comments: 100 mls LRS SQ administered during recovery

4/30/2025

Feline OHE performed by Vet: 2172 Patient anesthesia form uploaded to Shelter Buddy in Vet Documents. pain managements: Zorbium 1 ml was given Pre-SX as a one time dose for pain management giving up to 3 days of pain relief. Onsior 20 mg/ml Injection- 0.35 ml was given Post-Op as a one time dose for pain management.

5/1/2025

Post-Op Recheck S: QAR, fresh food bowls in kennel O: EENT: Eyes clear OU, no ocular or nasal discharge noted H/L: Eupneic, no audible congestion or sneezing observed ABD: Relaxed MSI: Ambulatory x 4, healthy hair coat. Incision site is CDI. CNS: Mentation appropriate/ alert A: Appears to be healing well post op P: CTM

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Marcelline was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on her behavior history in a home environment. Upon intake Marcelline was inside of a carrier, very quiet and still. Did not react to any types of attention nor petting, but did allow to be petted gently. MC was scanned which was negative. Marcelline was given treats, however she did not eat them. Marcelline went inside of her den with no issues.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 5/5/25 FB32 Crouched down at back of kennel with tense body and wide, dilated eyes. Hisses and swats at towel when reaching close to handle. Cornered her and slowly approached with towel, she swats again and begins growling. After covering her body, she attempts to crawl backwards. During pick up, she stress meows but is easily transferred into the carrier to be moved to the adoption room. 5/7/25 Vol. Marcelline was in cubby behind privacy paper. She poked her head into main kennel to investigate squeeze up on scratcher tool. She initially hissed, then ate the treat. Her eyes were wide and dilated. She patted the scratcher tool away when petting was attempted, but accepted more squeeze up afterward. Could not be coaxed out of cubby. Hissed several times at a feather toy. 5/8/25 FB26 She was resting when the cubby door was opened, lifting her head slowly before retreating. She displayed wide eyes and hissed when spoken to softly. Although cautious, she showed curiosity by accepting a Squeeze Up treat from the scratcher tool. She allowed a brief pet but then quickly withdrew, preferring to seek treats from a distance. 5/10/25 Vol. Marceline was crouched in the back of the cubby, facing forward behind the privacy shield. Her eyes are wide, and one ear is cocked, whiskers akimbo. She licked the treat, swatting the tool when she finished. She continued to watch warily anything happening in the room, blinking rarely. She is very cautious in coming to the front to get temptations but will eat them if tossed directly to her. She ate a few and then she got up and hunched herself into the corner halfway through the portal, wide-eyed. She appears very fearful so ended interaction. 5/11/25 Vol. She was curled up in the back of the top cubby and swatted at my hand when I went to put treats on the ledge in front of the cubby portal. She hissed and low growled while I had the kennel door open. After I closed the kennel door, I slow talked to her for a while. She remained alert - looking at me from inside the cubby - but her face became neutral after I talked talked to her for a few minutes. Eventually she poked her head out of the cubby and ate one of the treats on the ledge.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Calm,Timid,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,Uncomfortable with pick up,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: Hisses, growls, swats, and stress meows when approaching close with a towel to pick her up and transfer her into a carrier (see Enrichment Notes above from 5/5/25 for more details)

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children

Recommendations comments:: No children under 13 years old due to fearfulness, subject to counselor discretion.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Upon approach Marcelline was in her den with wide eyes and her tail wrapped tightly around her body. She ignored treats provided and hissed when scratched on the head with the tool. Although she tolerated petting on her cheeks and strokes down her back, she turned her ears to the side and began growling. Pick up was not attempted to reduce FAS. Marcelline interacts with the observer, tolerates attention and petting, but appears moderately/somewhat fearful or stressed in the shelter and she did not appear to like being picked up when staff had to handle and transport her to the adoption room (see Enrichment Notes above from 5/5/25 for more details). Please keep in mind there are many reasons why a cat may be uncomfortable with this type of handling and that this may not necessarily translate into a home environment. She may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to her new home. We recommend that this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, she may not be a great fit for young children. Any future home with children should be counseled in respecting the cat’s space and for the family to use care when picking her up, especially while she is still adjusting to her new home. 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.