Animal Profile
Basil
Hello, my name is Basil. My animal id is #234403. I am a desexed male brown tabby cat at the Queens Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 6 years 3 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a stray on 8/15/2025.
Basil is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is an under socialized adult cat and is potentially deteriorating in the adoptions rooms, and not thriving in the care center. He continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions, now escalating to more forward escalation and warnings before interactions are begin. 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 an under socialized and fearful cat adjust to strangers and new environments.
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. Basil is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is an under socialized adult cat and is potentially deteriorating in the adoptions rooms, and not thriving in the care center. He continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions, now escalating to more forward escalation and warnings before interactions are begin. 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 an under socialized and fearful cat adjust to strangers and new environments. What my friends at ACC say about me: Basil briefly 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.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 7.85 lbs
8/19/2025
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: ~6yo based on dentition, condition Is this an orphan kitten? n Is the kitten eating on own? n Is the kitten suckling? n Microchip noted on Intake? scan neg History: stray Subjective: BARH pre-sedation Observed Behavior -Hissing swatting and striking, elected to sedate with 0.07 dex/ket/torb each IM. Achieved moderate sedation, still reactive to some touch but able to examine Is there evidence of Cruelty? n Is there evidence of Neglect? n Is there evidence of Trauma? n Objective BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears moderate brown/black debris, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Moderate tartar, lost teeth, gingivitis PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Male intact, 2 testicles MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally normal Wood's Lamp Exam: NP Assessment ~6yo MI DSH Ear mites Stage 3 dental disease Prognosis: Good Plan: Routine intake procedures Cleaned ears Selamectin Applied single dose tresaderm - unable to continue due to behavior Patient would benefit with dental procedure - needs scaling +/- extractions SURGERY: Okay for surgery
8/22/2025
Pre-surgical exam, anesthesia, and surgery performed by offsite vet. Medical record uploaded to Vet Documents. Green linear tattoo placed lateral to incision.
9/4/2025
Feline beh request gaba for trial, starting on gaba 100mg PO BID indef in care
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 5. Red
KNOWN HISTORY:: Basil was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on his/her behavior history in a home environment.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 8/19/25 FB61 Lying in cat den upon approach, body and face neutral with ears forward and pupils dilated. He sniffs the air when offered treats but he remains subdued and will not eat them as I'm watching. He is tolerant of gentle pets on his head and closes his eyes in response, potentially feinting sleep. 8/20/25 FB61 In cat den upon approach, body and face neutral with tongue blepping. He does not come out when offered treats or a catnip toy. I do not push a hands-on interaction at this time to avoid creating a negative association. Needs more time to adjust. I speak to him softly and end the session. 8/24/25 Vol. asil was in the den, looking at me through the den opening. I lifted the den cover and he hissed loudly, showing his big, white teeth. I spoke to him and put Squeeze Up and Temptation just outside the den. He showed no interest in them. He hissed several times and grumbled at a high volume. An absorbent pad that was in his den was shredded up by him, presumably. I replaced the den cover and closed the kennel door. I continued to speak softly to him as he looked at me from the den doorway. He stopped grumbling and hissing but did not seem to want to interact other than by listening to me speak. 8/25/25 FB61 In cat den upon approach, little round cheeked head visible through den opening. His ears are tilted, his expression is tense and hi pupils are dilated. He slow-blinks hard at me when offered treats and a catnip toy and he remains otherwise completely frozen in his hiding spot. Very nervous boy, I slow-blink and speak to him softly before ending the session. Hopefully he eats the treats later when the room is empty. It is likely because his food bowls are all empty. Needs more time. 09/02/25 FB58 Sitting on top of his den today with a very tense face and body - hisses and spits with a soft lunge at the tool before he sniffs it. He remains tense with his ears flat to the side, low growling, and lip licking. He tolerates a couple pets with the tool but each time it build to him hissing and lunging, before he allows a few more. Eyes squint/close heard each time he is touched. Add him to the gaba list as well. 9/4/25 FB79 Today, Basil displayed the same behaviors as the previous enrichment note.
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Timid
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children
Recommendations comments:: No young children due to the fearful behaviors displayed in shelter.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Curled up inside of the litter box, Basil has neutral eyes, forward ears and a tightly wrapped tail when the kennel door is opened; Basil has no reaction when the assessor speaks softly and tosses in treats, but when the pointer tool is slowly brought close for him to sniff his ears airplane/flatten into his head as he harshly hisses and his eyes dilate. Basil fixates on the assessor with wide eyes, his ears still flat, and he continues to his harshly hiss while the assessor pets the top of his head and down his back briefly. Basil did not escalate, but remained very tense. Pick up was not attempted at this time. Basil briefly 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.