KNOWN HISTORY:: Indoor and/or Outdoor Cat Previously lived with: 2 adults Behavior toward strangers: bites, stress meows, swats with strangers and visitors Behavior toward children: no experience Behavior toward cats: no experience Behavior toward dogs: no experience Bite or Scratch history: On 11/9/25 at 5 pm, owner stated his wife was cooking, he was sitting at the table drinking coffee and Ares came into the kitchen calmly. Ares then jumped on the table and attacked the owner with no warnings or reasons. He ended up having 4 punctures on his right forearm breaking skin/bleeding. He did not seek medical attention for the bites and treated at home. Litter box training: Yes, no concerns reported Energy level/descriptors: High energy Other notes: Ares is an indoor only cat that can be very active and playful, independent. Likes to be alone most of the time. Likes to hang out in the kitchen, living room and bedroom areas. Plays roughly, plays with toys that crinkle, likes to chase bugs. likes to stalk and pounce on feet, likes to learn tricks with treats of course. Like to scratch on carboard and wood like surfaces. Enjoys both wet and dry foods. Ares loves treats, loves to play fetch. He will struggle and squirm when their nails are being trimmed. He does not like being held or picked up. He will swat and will bite when coat being brushed. Upon intake: While interacting with Ares, he immediately was stress meowing, striking, hissing and spitting at the carrier door and then when in the den.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 11/17/25 PRIOR ASSESSMENT Upon approach Ares is in his den, exiting and coming to the front of the kennel to greet the assessor by head bunting against the kennel bars. As the assessor opens the door he allows all petting, leaning in and head bunting when he is pet on the head and cheeks, however, after a few seconds he quickly becomes overstimulated, tail flicking, body rippling, and turning to stand on his back legs before swatting without claws. The kennel door is closed, and he begins to stress meow and low growls. The assessor closes the door and leaves to give him time to decompress, returning a few minutes later. Ares is now laying at the front of the kennel, getting up and head bunting and rubbing his body against the kennel bars to solicit attention as the assessor approaches. He tolerates petting on the head and cheeks but turns to swat and stress meows when the assessor attempts to pet down his body. 11/29/25 PRIOR ASSESSMENT Ares has made significant improvement since his first assessment, and while there is a bite history in the home, and some tendencies to become aroused he is currently doing very well in the shelter. He’s energetic, focused, and attentive, and comes forward for interactions and enjoys all petting, leaning in nicely for cheek rubs. He’s curious about life outside the kennel and was easily picked up and held on two different occasions, where he remained curious and alert but friendly and reasonably calm. When set back down, he remained active and interested in the assessor, and he ate treats that were given to him. His pupils would contract showing that he was highly focused. 1/4/26 Cat-Cat Introduction The resident cat, Ares, was sniffing around Comet's, the newly added cat, den and later eats some wet food in front of Comet's covered den. After uncovering the den, Ares makes eye contact with Comet and then continues eating. Comet slowly steps out of den after opening the front door. Ares is overly confident in his approach and immediately began sniffing Comet's face and body with the handler's close supervision. Comet was unbothered and slowly walks away to explore and sniff under the ramp, cat tower, other ramp, litter box, and hidey box. Occasionally, when Comet briefly finds a hiding spot, Ares approaches and sniffs, and Comet may softly hiss. Ares steps back, pauses, and then walks away to either interact with the handler or create safe distance, respecting Comet's communication. This happens about three times, Ares takes a while to understand, in theses interactions do not escalate any further. *Enrichment Notes continued in GAN*

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Lively

VOCAL:: Somewhat chatty

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

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Overstimulation,Rough play,Other,New home adjustment period,Carrier aversion

Potential challenges comments:: Ares 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 (for example, his body may twitch when pet and his tail may swish or flick when picked up and held) so that interactions can be ended before Ares 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. He enjoys playing with feather wands, laser toy, and catnip pillows/kickers. Ares has a bite/scratch history (see Known History above for more details). It appears there is no identifiable trigger leading up to the incident. 12/29/25 When transferred in the den, he tenses up a little bit but walks in with some slight nudging from the rear. When transported in the den and walking around the shelter building to be added to the free roaming room, he stress meows and paws inside the den to communicate his minor aversion in the carrier. We recommend using a soft or hard carrier for transport, not a cardboard carrier due to the possibility of him breaking through the cardboard.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Other,Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: Adult only home due to previous bite/scratch incident and potential for overstimulation or rough play. This cat has spent time and is doing well with other ACC cats in the Free Roaming Room, so they would likely do well in a multi-cat home; however, this cat should still be given a careful introduction to any resident cats in the next home (please see enrichment note above from 1/4/26 for more details about the cat-cat introduction and behaviors observed).

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Ares has made significant behavioral improvement since his first assessment and he has been consistent with his second assessment (see Enrichment Notes above from 11/17/25 and 11/29/25 for more details). During the re-evaluation, he was crouched down on top of the shelf at the front of the kennel with a soft body and alert eyes. When spoken to and opening the door, he sniffs treats offered and head bunts the assessor's hand to the ceiling for petting. He hovers over the edge of the shelf, curiously scans the environment, stretches out his neck, and welcomes cheek and chin rubs. When stroking his back, his body twitches but he remains calm when reaching around his body. During pick up, he tenses up a little bit and grabs hold of the kennel door, but he is easily pried off, rests his front limbs on the assessor's arm, remains calm when making eye contact with two neighboring cats, he swishes his tail, and allows petting all over when held for 10 seconds. After placing him back down, his tail continues to swish sideways and he appreciates more attention by head bunting to the ceiling for petting. After closing the door, he reaches his paw out and attempts to grab hold of the assessor's hand or arm but misses, possibly frustrated that the interaction has ended. Ares interacts with the observer, solicits & appreciates attention, is usually easy to handle, and tolerates all petting. He has high energy, is focused and attentive, comes forward for interactions, and enjoys all petting, leaning in nicely for cheek rubs. He is curious about life outside the kennel and was easily picked up and held. However, due to his bite/scratch history and the potential for high energy (insistent for attention), overstimulation, rough play, and carrier aversion, this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.