Animal Profile
Fillo
Hello, my name is Fillo. My animal id is #233775. I am a male gray cat at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 8 years 1 months 2 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a owner surrender on 8/7/2025, with the surrender reason stated as person circumstance- moving.
Fillo 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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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. Fillo 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. What my friends at ACC say about me: I have lived with cats in my previous home. I am looking for a home with a patient person. I can be slow to adjust to new environments. I prefer to take things at my own pace. I will flourish in a calm environment and a low-traffic home. A volunteer writes: I want so much for Fillo to be my friend even though he told me several times he has no interest in that at the moment. In response to my outstretched hand, Fillo put his little ears in airplane mode and when I offered treats, he tentatively sniffed before inching back. Fair enough. I gently closed his condo door and sat with him for a little while because a friend is there to listen, especially when you don't feel much like talking. Fillo came to us from a home with many other cats and when he's doing his own thing, he looks comfortable and curious just as a cat should. It's when we say hello that he seems to remember that where he is is where he absolutely doesn't want to be. Since he's not at all one for Care Center life, we're hoping Fillo's forever family, who will love and celebrate him exactly as he is, will come in and meet him soon.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 10.2 lbs
8/7/2025
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 7-10y Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Owner surrender due to too many cats Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Tense, but allows all handling for exam and vaccinations Evidence of Cruelty seen -no Evidence of Neglect seen-no Evidence of Trauma seen -no Objective T = P =wnl R =wnl BCS 3/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears AU brown waxy dc, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: moderate dental tartar and linear gingivitis PDDZ stage 2/4 PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: male intact, 2 scrotal testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: normal external Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment ear mites PDDZ underweight Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks neuter new home selamectin 45mg topically SURGERY: Okay for surgery
8/15/2025
SO: Reported sniffling and sneezing with watery eyes BAR, crouched at back of cubby in kennel eent: eyes clear, serous ocular dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: URI-mild P: High FAS, will try to minimize hands on treatments fortiflora 1 sachet PO SID x7d
8/16/2025
BAR, hiding in top cubby, hissed when approached ate all wet food in kennel mild serous nasal dc A: URI-mild P: continue current treatment plan
8/21/2025
Recheck URI S: QAR laying down in kennel, growls when approached. Food bowls appear eaten. O: EEN- eyes clear, no nasal or ocular discharge H/L- Eupneic, no sneezing or audible congestion MSK/i- Ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: URI appears resolved Eating P: CTM
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 2. Blue
KNOWN HISTORY:: Fillo was brought in with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 8/15/25 FB26 Laid out inside the den upon approach. He hissed but was curious and sniffed the scratcher tool. Ears turned to the side while allowing brief pets. Lip licked throughout the interaction and remained in place. Ended with offered treats. 8/17/25 Vol. Resting comfortably in main kennel area, front paws tucked under his body. Sniffed a cup of Temptations, then sat up. Was very agitated by drool, pawing at his face and trying to dislodge it. Fled to top cubby. Stared out with airplane ears with sweet talk, and continued to drip snot/drool. Overall looked miserable PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT 8/10/25 Fillo was curled up at the back of the top cubby with a neutral body and eyes. He sniffs treats offered and allows petting on the head, cheeks, and back but he is unbothered, lip licks, and does not engage with the attention. When reaching around his body and gently pulling him forward, he tenses up and stands his ground. When briefly picking him up, he grabs hold of the kennel. After placing him back down, he retreats to the shelf and climbs down to the back corner of the main kennel area with his ears tilted and eyes widened. He continues to tolerate more petting and cheek rubs at the end of the interaction. 9/5/25 In top cubby - when opened door to look in, Fillo hissed loudly, ears flattened, eyes narrow. Opened main door and Fillo glared from cubby entry, eyes narrow, ears almost flat. Pushed treat bowl close to entry - he ignored it Continue to sit and watch from cubby - sweet talked and he still sat. Sweet talked some more and ended interaction 9/11/25 Fillo was lying on his side towards the back of the cubby, ears halfway flattened, scowling, with whiskers pointing down. He then began to scan the room. He hissed at the tool extended with the treat, then low growled and backed up towards the rear of the kennel and lifted his paw as if to strike at the tool. Ended interaction, leaving a few treats. Needs more time. 9/12/25 In top cubby, hissed when climbed up to look. Hissed when put treat bowl on shelf by cubby entry - staring at it. Approached with hard treats on scratcher tool - let rest on cubby entry. No reaction. Dropped treats and let tool rest again. No reaction. Ended interaction 9/17/25 FB20 Fillo was in his top cubby, before door is opened he hissed. When door is opened, he is offered a treat and sniffs in briefly, then ignoring it. He is pet softly on the head with a scratcher tool, he closes his eyes briefly and folds his paws under body. Interaction is ended.
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Calm,Timid,Independent
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period
Potential challenges comments:: He should be given a slow introduction to the new home one room at a time until he is confident enough to express interest in exploring without wanting to hide.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children
Recommendations comments:: No children under 13 due to discomfort with handling.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Fillo is laying at the back of his top cubby, pupils dilated and hissing when approached. Treats are offered, which he ignores, remaining focused on the assessor with a tense body. He tolerates being briefly pet on the head with the scratcher tool, but remains very tense, airplane ears, and lip licks throughout before beginning to growl loudly, not open to any further contact with the assessor. Fillo 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.