Animal Profile
Ruby
Hello, my name is Ruby. My animal id is #242170. I am a female black cat at the Queens Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 5 years 2 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a owner surrender on 12/8/2025, with the surrender reason stated as person circumstance- moving.
Ruby is on the at-risk list due to medical concerns. Ruby has had ongoing episodes of constipation while in care, despite attempts at medical management. She should benefit from a being seen by a full service veterinarian for a work-up of this condition.
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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Ruby is on the at-risk list due to medical concerns. Ruby has had ongoing episodes of constipation while in care, despite attempts at medical management. She should benefit from a being seen by a full service veterinarian for a work-up of this condition.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 5 lbs
12/8/2025
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 3-6 years Microchip noted on Intake? scanned neg History: owner surrender Subjective: bar Observed Behavior -sedated in carrier, difficult to determine behavior due to pain, sedated for exam and procedure Is there evidence of Cruelty? no Is there evidence of Neglect? no Is there evidence of Trauma? no Objective BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: no obvious oral lesions PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: hard stool palpable throughout colon U/G: intact female MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: obstipated Wood's Lamp Exam: Assessment Obstipated Prognosis: fair Plan: DVM intake and tasks Sedated with 0.1 mls each DKT, reversed with 0.1 mls Antisedan Cerenia 0.23 mls sq, LRS 75 mls sq Deopstipated Still a large amount of stool that we were unable to remove in the ascending colon, Monitor on rounds Start GI diet Start Lactulose 2.0 mls q 12 hours SURGERY: Okay for surgery Temporary waiver due to Permanent waiver due to
12/9/2025
Recheck constipation; sedated for x-rays and deobstipation yesterday S/O: QAR, timid, allows some handling, but escalates quickly to growling and attempting to flee. Sedated for exam, rads, enema ABD: moderate amt of firm stool with increased diameter AXR: pre-enema shows feces with increased diameter in colon and rectum; post enema shows improvement and no obvious pieces of feces with significantly increased diameter A: Constipation Mild underweight P: Sedated with DTK 0.05ml IM initially, then repeated dose due to inadequate sedation. Full antisedan reversal post procedure. Warm water + lube enema administered, large amount of large and firm stool broken down and milked out manually SQ LRS 75 ml once CBC/CHEM/T4 to Idexx Add miralax 1/4 tsp PO BID Moved to ICU for closer monitoring *Temporary waiver from surgery due to obstipation.
12/10/2025
Recheck obstipation, deobstipated twice S/O: BAR, active, nibbling at dry food this morning, no defecation noted overnight or this morning, no c/s/v/d noted EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge LUNGS: Eupneic CNS: Appropriate mentation CBC: WBC 19.5 (H), monocytes 0.624 (H), eosinophils 2.321 (H), platelets 543 (H) CHEM: wnl T4: wnl A: Obstipation Mild underweight Mild leukocytosis, monocytosis, eosinophilia - ro inflammation vs other P: Continue miralax and lactulose Monitor closely for defecation
12/11/2025
recheck constipated cat, was obstipated 12/8 and 12/9 S/O BAR, making biscuits, no c/s/v/d appreciated or noted, food trays disturbed EENT: no ocular or nasal dc HL: eupneic GA/GU: npm, stool palpable in colon MSI: amb x 4, good skin turgor A. Constipated r/o obstipated P. Increased lactulose to 3mL PO BID x 5 days- lower dosage if diarrhea noted 75mL SQF SID x 2 days Con't with miralax recheck in 2 days, if no stool produced by then will need sedated enema.
12/12/2025
Recheck, chronic constipation cat, deobstipated twice prior S/O BAR, A+A, no c/s/v/d, no stool in litter box or noted on log, urine clumping, copious firm stool in colon. Sedated for enema with 0.1mL dex/torb/ket IM- adequate sedation achieved. Firm stool sitting right beyond the pelvic, able to milk out 2 large logs. Moderate erythema to the mucosa noted. Given 20-30mL warm water/lube enema- able to milk out another 2 firm pieces of stool. Given 100mL SQF while under Reversed with equal vol antisedan IM A. Obstipated P. Seek placement- p has had ongoing constipation in care and has needed to be deobstipated 3 times. Con't with miralax and lactulose. Recheck in 3 days- might need to be given another enema if no improvement.
12/14/2025
recheck constipation S/O BAR, comes up to the front of the kennel for interaction, urine in LB, no stool, eaten wet food mixed with lactulose, doesn't appear to have eaten anything else EENT: no ocular or nasal dc HL: eupneic GA: formed stool palpable in colon MSI: good skin tent, amb x 4 Sedated for rads with 0.1mL dex/torb/ket IM- adequate sedation Rads: Copious stool in the descending colon, esp at the brim of the pelvis P. Given warm water lube enema approx 20-30mL intrarectally- able to easily milk out approx 3 large hard pieces of stool, needed abdominal massage to break up remainding stool and milk out. Noted to have severely inflamed rectal mucosa, esp at the dorsal aspect- given simbadol 0.3mL SQ once Seek placement asap - p has needed to be deobstipated 4 times so far. Brief recheck tomorrow, full recheck in 2 days
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow
Upon intake cat was fearful and stressed. Staff was able to scan for MC and transfer into a carrier but opted not to collar or pick up due to level of FAS.
Date of Intake: 12/8/2025
Is this cat having litter box issues?: Yes
If yes, Please elaborate:: Will occasionally defecate on the floor when the boxes are full. The boxes are all located in quiet and accessible areas of the home. The client attempted to modify the behavior by cleaning out the box more often, moving the box to different areas and adding more boxes to the home. Client believed the reason for this was the cats underlying medical condition as well as constipation.
Basic Information:: Black and white DSH female cat who was surrendered to ACC by her family due to moving.
Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 9 other cats
How is this cat around strangers?: Minimal experience but is known to stress meow before warming up after two weeks.
How is this cat around children?: No experience.
How is this cat around other cats?: Prefers contact on her own terms.
How is this cat around dogs?: No experience.
Behavior Notes: Struggles or squirms when having her nails trimmed, being picked up or held and when placed in a carrier. Is unbothered by having her coat brushed.
Bite history:: No bite/scratch history.
Energy level/descriptors:: Medium
Has this cat ever had any medical issues?: Yes
For a New Family to Know: She is described as an affectionate, talkative, bold, independent, and active cat who enjoys watching from afar. She can be quite solitary at times and prefers contact on her own terms but enjoys spending her time where her people are and cuddling with them. She enjoys playing with things that crinkle, fetching items, chasing and pouncing on toys and scratching on carpet, fabric, rough rope, or cardboard surfaces. She likes napping in the bedroom of living room of her home and enjoys learning tricks for treats. She eats both wet and dry food preferably Purina One brand and her favorite treats are fancy feast fish flavored treats. She is accustomed to having access to four covered and uncovered litterboxes with unscented non-clumping clay litter located in multiple areas of the home.
KNOWN HISTORY:: Lived Indoors Previously lived with: 2 adults, 9 other cats Behavior toward strangers: Minimal experience but is known to stress meow before warming up after two weeks. Behavior toward children: No experience. Behavior toward cats: Prefers contact on her own terms. Behavior toward dogs: No experience. Bite or Scratch history: No bite/scratch history. Litter box training: Litterbox issues reported were due to medical condition. Client mentioned a medical complications with the cats anus. She stated her anus is swollen and she is constipated because of it. See medical notes for more details Energy level/descriptors: Medium Other notes: She is described as an affectionate, talkative, bold, independent, and active cat who enjoys watching from afar. She can be quite solitary at times and prefers contact on her own terms but enjoys spending her time where her people are and cuddling with them. She enjoys playing with things that crinkle, fetching items, chasing and pouncing on toys and scratching on carpet, fabric, rough rope, or cardboard surfaces. She likes napping in the bedroom of living room of her home and enjoys learning tricks for treats. She eats both wet and dry food preferably Purina One brand and her favorite treats are fancy feast fish flavored treats. She is accustomed to having access to four covered and uncovered litterboxes with unscented non-clumping clay litter located in multiple areas of the home. Upon intake cat was fearful and stressed. Staff was able to scan for MC and transfer into a carrier but opted not to collar or pick up due to level of FAS.
VOCAL:: Quiet
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Other,New home adjustment period
Potential challenges comments:: Litterbox issues reported were due to medical condition. Client mentioned a medical complications with the cats anus. She stated her anus is swollen and she is constipated because of it. See medical notes for more details. There is no behavior modification plan recommended for these issues at this time.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 2
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Ruby was standing in front of her kennel as the assessor approached, her body and face relaxed with her ears forward and her tail high in the air. Ruby vocalized when spoken to and she stepped forward to greet the assessor as the kennel door open. Ruby allowed all petting while leaning in, arching her back, looking at the assessor with a soft expression and keeping her tail high in the air. Ruby‘s tail was pilo-erect along the base, however, she did not escalate as pet continued or when lifted and placed back down. Ruby interacts with the observer, appreciates attention, is easy to handle and tolerates all petting. This cat is showing behavior appropriate for cat parents with either an average amount of cat experience or demonstrate a basic understanding of typical cat behavior.