KNOWN HISTORY:: Lived Indoors Previously lived with: 2 Adults, 2 Children, 1 Cat Behavior toward strangers: Shy and timid. He is tolerant of strangers and prefers contact on his own terms. Behavior toward children: Actively avoids children and prefers contact on his own terms Behavior toward cats: previously lived with another cat, and they were friendly and outgoing with each other. Behavior toward dogs: Unknown Bite or Scratch history: None Litter box training: Yes, had access to 2 uncovered litterboxes with unscented litter in the bathroom and hallway. Energy level/descriptors: Medium Energy Level Other notes: Tommy is a friendly indoor only cat. He enjoys being a lazy couch potato and spends most of his time watching from a far by the window, room, and Livingroom. He plays rough and enjoys carpet like texture to scratch on. He will swat and attempt to bite if his nails are trimmed and is unbothered when being brushed. He will squirm and struggle when being picked up/ held and placed into a carrier. Upon intake Tommy was hiding in the corner of the carrier. Staff scanned for m/c but did not collar due to FAS. He allowed staff to pick him up and was placed into a kennel without issue.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 3/17/26 FB61 Lying in hidey box, body and face relaxed with his head resting on the floor and his feet stretched away from his body. He raises his head as I open the kennel door and he begins to eat the treats offered. Whenever I try to pet his head he flattens his ears and hisses. I try with my hand and the scratcher tool. Appears to be very uncomfortable with interaction today, but he did finish all his treats. Might benefit from clicker training. 3/20/26 FB79 Inside of the hidey, Tommy can be seen peaking out his eye out when i open the kennel door; when I lean in close to try and get a better view he pulls back and hides himself into the box. When I reach in to slowly slide the hidden out I can see he is curled up with his tail wrapped wide alert eyes and his body tense. However, when I brought the tool close he remained very still with no reaction and I was able to pet his neck a few times as he seems frozen. I left some treats which I later saw were eaten 3/23/26 FB79 Today, Tommy allowed petting with the tool when I pulled the hidden forward; he was curled up with his tail tight and his eyes wide/alert. I used the tool to pet his back and around body then used it for chin and cheek rubs which he leaned into ! 3/26/26 FB58 He gives me a little meow as I approach and lets me place the enrichment treat cup right in front of him with a neutral face and ears forward. He pokes his head out enthusiastically to eat but each time I try and touch with the tool he pulls back quickly and tense. 3/29/26 FB06 As I lifted the cage cover, Tommy had his head poking out of the hidey box. His eyes were neutral and ears were forward. As I slowly offered him the scratcher, he leaned his head forward slightly and sniffed. He then quickly pulled himself into the box out of reach. 3/30/26 FB79 Tommy did not tolerate any petting but remained still when i approached and spoke to him softly. His eyes were wide and his ears were forward with his tail out of sight. He flinched at the tool pulling back while lip licking but slow blinked once as i tossed in some treats and spoke to him.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Shy ,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Rough play,Fearful,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: During his assessment, he was in his box curled up tight and accepted pets along his head with the assessor's hand. However later, when the assessor attempted to lift his box to shift the linen back underneath it, the bottom of the box began to break and he tensed, hisses, and reached out to swat. This escalation appeared to be defensive. 3/20/26 Upon meeting with Tommy, he appears to not be adjusting well to the shelter setting and is deteriorating. He now consistently presents with the behavior flagged above. When touch is attempted with the scratcher tool; he hisses, growls, swats, and bites the tool. If outside of his box, he will lunge and grab on and hold onto the tool as he bites it.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: Due to the behavior seen in shelter and needing a longer time to warm up, the behavior team feels Tommy would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 3/12/26 On approach, Tommy is laying curled up tightly in his box with a tense face and body, eyes squinted, and tail wrapped tightly around his body. When the assessor offers the scratcher tool out to him, he remains in place but allows pets along his head as he ducks his head down and closes his eyes appearing to appreciate the touch somewhat. He does not eat the treats offered and pick up is not attempted to prevent further FAS. Later on when the assessor attempts to lift the box he is in to shift the linen under it, the bottom of the box begins to break and startles him, causing him to hiss and reach out to swat before grumbling. 3/20/26 Upon meeting with Tommy again, he appears to be struggling to adjust to the shelter environment and his behavior is deteriorating as he escalates to more extreme defensive aggression. He hisses as the assessor approaches from his spot inside his box, his face slightly visible with eyes wide and dilate, tense face and body. The assessor then lightly tosses a tray with squeeze up near the box to see if he can be coaxed out and he pokes his head out enough to begin to eat. When the assessor attempts to touch his head, he pulls back quickly and hisses and growls. When the assessor tries one more time, he hisses and growls, lunging at the tool to swat before he bites at the tool multiple times, growling after. Later when the assessor is attempting to improve his cage set up and provide him with a hidey hut, the tool is offered out to him again and he lunges, biting it and holding on as he rolls onto his side. Once the assessor is able to ensure that all of his belongings are in the cage, the interaction is ended. Tommy is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and/or may require further investigation before placement in a home. He has tried to swat, bite, is extremely fearful in the shelter environment, and does not currently tolerate petting or handling. The behavior department feels that placement with a New Hope Partner is the best option at this time.