KNOWN HISTORY:: Indoor Cat Previously lived with: 5 adults, 1 child for 4 years (0-4), 1 cat, 1 large dog, hamsters, turtles Behavior toward strangers: Tolerant towards strangers Behavior toward children: Prefers contact on their terms Behavior toward cats: Prefers contact on her own terms but will hiss and growl, so she keeps her distance. Behavior toward dogs: Dislikes dogs Bite or Scratch history: On 3/26/26 the adopter's daughter was sleeping in bed when she was awakened at 2 or 3am to Tinker lunging at her face, scratching her. She was able to restrain Tinker who continued to growl. The scratch drew blood and was treated at home. On 3/28/26 around 10 or 11am, the adopter's daughter was laying on her bed near Tinker. Seemingly out of nowhere, she lunged at her face, scratching her lip and drawing blood. They hid under the blanket until Tinker went away. The wound was treated at home. On 3/29/26 around 3 or 4pm, the adopter was sitting on the bed with her daughter and Tinker. When the adopter went to get up from the bed, Tinker lunged towards her face. The adopter jumped back and attempted to dodge Tinker, but she still managed to scratch her neck (this initial scratch did not draw blood). Tinker then jumped at her again and repeatedly bit and scratcher her left leg from the calf up to her thigh (these injuries drew blood). She was finally able to grab Tinker's scruff and pull her off. The wounds were treated at home. Litter box training: No concerns reported Energy level/descriptors: Low energy Other notes: Described as a lazy, couch potato, quiet, independent, lap cat. She spent most of her time in the bedroom or at the window. Not interested in play, Rarely (once a month or less) received interactive playtime. Likes to scratch on carpet/fabric. The previous owner's favorite things about the cat is that "she is attracted to older people. She is calm, loves to eat. Doesn't really like loud noises." She hides in fear, dislikes dogs, and scratches furniture. She eats both wet and dry food of any brand. She likes temptations treats. Enjoys having her coat brushed, unbothered when picked up and held, and stress meows when placed in a carrier. Upon intake: Tinker was very vocal and retreating to the back of the carrier. She went into the other den on her own without any issues.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT 3/6/26 Tinker was crouched down hiding at the back of the den with a neutral body and eyes. When removing the den cover, her eyes widen and she lip licks. She sniffs treats offered by hand and allows petting on the head. She slow blinks and softens her body and eyes when receiving cheek rubs. When reaching around her body, rotating her, and applying gently upward pressure on her side and chest, lifting her up to the ceiling of the den, she remains calm and tenses up a little bit. After placing her back down, she continues to tolerate more petting and cheek rubs. 4/1/26 FB73 Tinker is in her den, stretching and coming forward to greet the handler at the front of the kennel as they approach. She allows all petting, leaning in and softly head bunting as she is pet. After a few moments the cat next to Tinker begins making noise, and as she cranes her neck to look at him, she is startled by her kennel card tapping her nose. Tinker begins to hiss and swat, following the handler's hands when they try to close the kennel door and unhook the carabiner. 4/2/26 FB20 Tinker was reported to show similar behaviors as the previous note, reportedly allowed all cleaning and was social and sweet, but when the kennel door was closed, charged at handler hissing and swatting. 4/4/26 ACFR Tinker is laying in her den with her head resting outside of the portal door. She immediately comes forward with forward ears, tail straight up, and a slightly tense body and begins to rub her sides along kennel door. She is offered squeeze up in a tray which she eats very quickly. Tinker allows simultaneous petting with scratcher tool and leans into cheek rubs. She then notices a neighboring cat and begins low growling, becoming very tense and twitching with a low lashing tail, forward ears, narrowed eyes, and attempts to exit kennel. Handler closes kennel door and she hisses and vocalizes briefly before jumping to the top of the den and settling into a crouch with a twitching tail. 4/20/26 FB73 Tinker is at the front of the kennel, leaning her body against and head bunting the kennel bars. When the kennel door is opened, she head bunts the handler's hand. Tinker allows all petting, leaning in and flopping over as she is pet, continuing to allow and lean into further petting. She lightly begins to tail flick so the handler ends the interaction, slowly closing the kennel door. Tinker did not escalate. (It should be noted that during the time of this interaction the room was very quiet and no sudden noises occurred.)

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Social,Shy ,Sweet,Insistent,Curious

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Overstimulation,Fearful,Other,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: Tinker is social and affectionate but appears to be easily overstimulated. As a result of this observed behavior, we recommend adopters who are familiar with signs of behavioral arousal and agitation in cats, so that interactions can be ended before becomes overstimulated. We also recommend fishing pole-type toys for play as they allow for interaction and vigorous, stimulating exercise while keeping human hands at a distance. In the shelter environment, Tinker has been seen to be easily triggered by other cats around her, redirecting her aggression onto handlers when she hears or catches sight of another cat. In her previous home, Tinker appears to have also displayed redirected aggression in response to unidentified triggers, one such incident occurring in response to the adopter getting up from the bed which resulted in multiple bites and scratches. Redirected aggression occurs when a cat cannot direct their aggression onto whatever the source of their agitation is, and so the aggression is instead directed towards people or other animals in her vicinity. It is recommended to remove a cat experiencing redirected aggression away from the trigger and into a quiet, safe room with their food, water, litterbox, bed, toys, etc., where they can settle and decompress away from their trigger.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No other cats OR multi-cat home with adopters experienced with introducing new cats,Adult only home,No dogs

Recommendations comments:: Reported to prefer contact on her own terms but will hiss and growl, so she keeps her distance with the resident cat. She was also reported to dislike dogs (limited details on behavior observed). Tinker has been observed in the shelter to growl, hiss and swat intensely at other cats, which will also lead her to redirect intensely at handlers. Must be in a single cat home. Due to behavior observed in the care center and multiple bite/scratch history, adult only home.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Tinker is laying in her den, stretching forward and exiting the den to greet the assessor at the front of the kennel. She begins leaning against the kennel bars, tail held high but displaying some piloerection at the base. Tinker initially allows all petting, head bunting and leaning in as she is pet. The cat next to her moves around in the kennel, and Tinker immediately freezes, looking towards the direction of the sound and beginning to low grow. As the assessor attempts to slowly back away, she turns to swat hard at their hands. The kennel door is closed and Tinker continues to follow their hands, hissing and swatting intensely with claws as they attempt to close the kennel door. When the interaction is ended, Tinker continues to growl, hiss, and follow the assessor's movements with her eyes, continuing to swat towards the direction of their hands with her ears back. Tinker is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and may require further investigation before placement in a home. She has a bite history in her previous home and while she is capable of being a sweet and affectionate cat, she is quick to overstimulate and will redirect intensely on handlers, which has made interacting and handling her safely difficult in the shelter environment. The behavior department feels that placement with a New Hope Partner is the best option at this time. She may have a known history of behavioral issues that need to be addressed.