Animal Profile

Sugar is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using the Fraidy Cat Club behavior modification program to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.

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. Due to the detailed behavior issues, this animal is only available for foster/adoption through one of ACC's New Hope Partners. If you are interested in adopting or fostering, please fill out the pre-screener form. This animal is not directly available for adoption through ACC and is only available by completing the pre-screener form. Adoption inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Sugar is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using the Fraidy Cat Club behavior modification program to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers. Hi there, I came from a home with a large influx of cats. Because of my background, I may be shy and reserved. With time, they can come out of their shell as they adjust to life outside of the hoarding environment. They may be curious about their surroundings but can be startled by sudden movements or loud noises. They will warm up to the best of their abilities with patience, gentle encouragement, and working at their own pace.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 7 lbs

Medical Notes

10/24/2024

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 1-3 years based on dentition Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Acquired by ACO from church with several cats Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - tense/ periodic lip licking, fled out of kennel when attempting to slowly get into den. Ran around exam room and broke left hindleg nail on digit 5. Sedated using 0.3 ml DKT (premix #62). Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? Yes, self trauma to left hind digit 5-- broken nail Objective T = P = WNL R = WNL BCS: 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears have brown waxy debris AU, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition, fairly clean/white PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Externally WNL, intact female, no OHE scar or tattoo noted MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally WNL Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment Broken nail on LHL digit 5 Suspect ear mites Intact female Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks + exam Clean ears Await sort Apply Selarid Applied Quik Stop to broken nail 1/2 volume reversal IM SURGERY: Okay for surgery

10/30/2024

Reason for recheck: Feline behavior team requesting 2 week gabapentin trial period due to high FAS, hissing, growling, or swatting. P: 1) Gabapentin 100mg/mL: ~30mg/kg (100mg, 1mL) po BID x indefinitely. 2) Check with behavior in 2 weeks to see if we need to increase or decrease dose.

11/9/2024

Reported not eating gabapentin for several days. Gabapentin will be discontinued and feline behavior was notified

11/22/2024

SO: BAR, appears to be eating dry food with good appetite eent: eyes clear, serous nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: URI-mild P: monitor in place

11/29/2024

Recheck URI S: QAR, laying down in den + hissed 1x, wet food eaten O: EEN- eyes clear, no nasal or ocular discharge noted H/L- Eupneic, no sneezing or audible congestion noted MSK/i- Ambulatory x4 Neuro- alert/appropriate A: No evidence of URI P: Monitor

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Sugar was brought in with limited information on her behavior history in a home environment.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 10.31.24 FB04 1-Curled up in back corner of den pressed as close as possible with wide eyes. Frozen in place, didn't move. 2-Still curled in back corner. Slow-blinked until she returned a half slow-blink. Marked and left. 11.01.2024 FB04 1-Crouched between wall and den that was pushed over. Wide eyes and erect forward-facing ears. Her eyes scanned the room occasionally, but other than that she stayed frozen in place the entire time and didn't display any difference in body language. 11/2/24 FB47 Sugar was next to the den in the loaf position appearing tense, but quiet did not give any negative interactions and so Fraidy cat club work was not performed. She allowed approach with a scratch her tool while remaining in place. 11.03.2024 FB04 1-Wasn't giving much of a change in body language at first, frozen in place. Staff moved den with her inside to original spot...still nothing. Staff tried to reach in with scratch tool...she looked back at it, hissed then swatted. 2-In den ears erect and whiskers pressed against face. Staff stayed there slow-blinking and soft talking for about 5 minutes! Eventually she returned a slow-blink, staff marked and left. 3-Staff kneeled to be eye level and slow-blinked for quite some time. Eventually she returned one back. Staff marked and left. 11.10.2024 FB04 1-Was loafed atop den with ears tilted sideways. Frozen...never showed body language indicative of calming down. 2-Laying in feral den. Frozen...never showed body language indicative of calming down. 11.12.2024 FB04 1-Neutral in den with dilated pupils. Slow-blinked and soft-talked for a while. Finally returned a half slow-blink. Staff marked and left. 11.14.2024 FB04 1-Neutral lying in den. Looks UTW. Staff wanted to see if she'd accept +R and extended scratch tool with Squeeze-up on it towards portal. She got up and hissed. When it got close to portal, she swatted. Staff left it immobile for a bit, then removed. When she offered a slow-blink, staff marked and left. 11.19.2024 FB04 1-Neutral body language, loafed in den. Took a while but eventually returned a slow-blink. Staff marked and left. 2-Neutral, loafed. Took a long time of soft-talk and slow-blinks, but eventually her pupils went from dilated to constricted. 11/22/24 FB26 1)She sat upright from inside the den upon approach. She hisses, strikes out through the side portal door and growls avoiding contact. 2)Resting with head down, eyes wide. Ignoring offered treats.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Shy ,Timid,Skittish,Independent

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

Potential challenges comments:: Sugar is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. She is very apprehensive of people and may attempt to flee and avoid human contact. It is difficult to predict if she will respond to socialization but we recommend offering high value treats and food to help build a positive association to humans. Please be mindful that older cats will require more time and skill in order for them to be comfortable around people.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 10.30.2024 Upon approach Sugar was sitting up in the back corner of her den with her tail wrapped tightly around her body and wide eyes darting around the kennel for an exit. She pushed back even further when the assessor extended the scratch tool with a treat on it towards the portal. When they attempting petting, Sugar quickly ran out of her feral den, trying to flee the kennel. After the kennel door was closed, she was on top of her den growling. The assessor ended the interaction due to very high FAS. 12.2.2024 Sugar is a bold, timid, and independent cat whose behavior has slightly improved; she now longer skittishly retreats or darts around the kennel during the interaction, but still attempt to avoid the attention. She was crouched down hiding in the den and hisses when spoken to and opening the door. When reaching close with treats on the scratcher tool, she swats at the tool with force, steps back, and lip licks. When giving her some time to calm down and approaching closer, she tightens up and pushes herself further back into the den corner and tolerates petting on the head and body. Pick up was not attempted in order to reduce stress. Sugar is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and/or may require further investigation before placement in a home. She has tried to flee, 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.