Animal Profile

Winky 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.

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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Winky 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. My history is a mystery and my friends here do not know much about me yet! I would appreciate slow introductions to new people and places to help me feel safe. I prefer to call the shots and enjoy coming to you when I'm ready for pets. I'm sensitive and shy. I'll need extra help from you. I am looking for a home with a patient person. Winky 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 this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, he 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. A volunteer writes: Winky was left in a crate at a construction site, so we can't tell you much about who he was before coming to us, but we know he's looking for a second chance to show his best self. Since coming to the Care Center, Winky has told us just a little and has asked for even less. Though shelter life hasn't really been his style, he's become quite the picture of progress! Winky's known to favor creative napping positions that leave us scratching our heads, but I was excited to see him lounging on his condo ledge. Winky's happy for treats and will accept pets, but he's really all about playtime. Excitedly waving his paws, Winky has me convinced that the pipe cleaner feather is the most fun one can have. Whether he's in his cubby and poking his paws out or hopping around the front of his condo, Winky is energetically hopeful he'll find someone who wants to play with him forever in his forever home.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 13.45 lbs

Medical Notes

12/16/2024

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2 years Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: found in crate Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - scared wanting hide, no signs of aggression Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective BCS: 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: slight yellowing of teeth, minimal tartar PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: intact male two testicles MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: apparently healthy Prog: good Plan: intake tasks SURGERY: Okay for surgery

12/29/2024

SO: BAR, perched in kennel. Appears to have eaten wet food eent: eyes clear, very mild crusted nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: URI-mild P: fortiflora 1 sachet daily to support appetite x7d

1/3/2025

SO: Rechecking mild URI BAR, appears to be eating with a good appetite eent: eyes clear, no ocular or nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: URI-mild apparently resolved P: monitor for recurrence

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Winky was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on his behavior history in a home environment.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 1/14/25 Vol.- Lounging in back of kennel. Able to pet his head by hand. Ran away from clicker with Squeeze-ups and from scratcher. Chased laser toy. Ate fillet added to his food. Prior assessment 12/18/24: Upon approach Winky was crouched inside of his feral den with dilated pupils, sniffing the Squeeze-up the assessor provided on a scratch tool. As they lifted the den cover, he was facing the back wall, but turned around in place seeking an escape route. He licked his lips and pressed his whiskers tight against his face when they came closer with the tool. He recoiled from petting, but tolerated pets on his head, cheeks and back nonetheless. Pick up was not attempted to reduce FAS. 1/19/25 Vol.- On the top shelf in the main kennel area towards the front, eating breakfast. Stopped and looked up when I spoke to him, then backed away and lay down with his head resting on his front leg. Investigated a cup of chicken, Temptations and squeeze-up, but didn't eat any. Continued to look at me curiously. Remained calm when I reached in to move the cup closer to him, but then sat up and backed away. I left my hand and the floor and he leaned down to sniff it then fled to the cubby, poking his head back out to watch me. Attempted to pet with the scratcher tool, he sniffed it and allowed one neck scratch but then fled back to the main kennel to get away. Left him alone for a few minutes; when I went back, he was drinking water and then chased the laser pointer all over the kennel with the door closed. 1/21/25 Vol.- Sitting in back of den with slightly forward ears. Swatted at clicker with Squeeze-ups. Followed laser with his eyes and tried to attack it. Playfully swatted at cat dancer. Ate some crunchy treats and tuna added to his food. Shied away from any petting. 1/22/25 Vol.- Winky was sprawled out sleeping in cubby. At first he ignored attempts to interact, but he became alert when offered squeeze up. He came partway out of his cubby onto shelf to eat squeeze up from scratcher tool, keeping his body crouched. He withdrew back into cubby when another cat began meowing loudly nearby. He sat hunched at back of cubby, and his body was somewhat tense, but his eyes and ears remained neutral. He accepted more squeeze up, but patted the scratcher tool when petting was attempted. He came forward cautiously to sniff my hand sever 1/24/25 Vol.- Came immediately up to treat bowl- sniffed and started to eat. Did not allow hand pets, dodging and moving head. After eating, played with laser toy, bouncing around. Turned off toy and refilled treats - he came to eat, again avoiding hand. After eating he jumped up as if to go into cubby, but decided to lay down flat in back of the shelf. Sweet talked a bit, refilled bowl and ended interaction. As cage door closed a toy rattled and Winky jumped up and ran into cubby. He then cleaned himself and settled in with head resting on cubby hole *Enrichment notes continued in GAN*

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Laid back

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Calm,Curious,Timid,Skittish

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children

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

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Upon approach, Winky was calmly resting on his bedding but hissed and quickly retreated to a ledge to avoid contact. He allowed petting along his head with the scratcher tool, though he remained cautious and alert to his surroundings. After a few strokes, he sat upright and ignored the offered treats. The assessment was ended to reduce his Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS). Winky 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 this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, he 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.