Animal Profile
Gecko
Hello, my name is Gecko. My animal id is #222746. I am a desexed male brown tabby cat at the Queens Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 1 years 1 months 2 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a aco - impound on 3/20/2025.
Gecko is on the At Risk list due to behavior. He is an under socialized adult cat, 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/decompress, and who have experience with helping a fearful/under socialized adult cat adjust to strangers.
You may know me from such films as...
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. Gecko is on the At Risk list due to behavior. He is an under socialized adult cat, 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/decompress, and who have experience with helping a fearful/under socialized adult cat adjust to strangers. What my friends at ACC say about me: I have lived with cats in my previous home. Gecko tolerates attention and petting but may be fearful or stressed in the shelter, and may be intimidated by small children. He may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to his new home. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home. A volunteer writes: After over a month at the shelter, Gecko knows he's entitled to joy. Stretched out in front of his bed and against the condo door, he's proud to have what he believes to be the best seat in the house. It enables him to watch the sunset, admire his neighbors, and quietly nap in between. Gecko was brought to us from a home with many other cats and while he'll accept some pets here and there, he'd much rather enjoy his well earned peace and interacting with me hasn't quite made it to his favorite things. Gecko makes this unequivocally clear when he practically teleports himself to his condo ledge whenever I open his condo door. That's ok. Gecko is a more independent type of kitty in the shelter and we know that brighter skies are just up ahead.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 7.3125 lbs
3/21/2025
[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 1y Microchip noted on Intake? No History: OS Subjective: BARH. No csvd Observed Behavior - Very nervous, will flee, got loose in medical, hissing, had to be sedated Is there evidence of Cruelty? no Is there evidence of Neglect? no Is there evidence of Trauma? no Objective P = wnl R = wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: not performed due to temperament PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI with two descended testicles, no discharge MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: normal externally Assessment APH Prognosis: good Plan: no tx needed SURGERY: Okay for surgery
3/24/2025
Pre-Op Exam Subjective: BAR, no coughing/sneezing/vomiting/diarrhea Objective: Eyes: Clear bilaterally, no discharge Nasal Cavity: No nasal discharge. Lungs: Eupneic Musculoskeletal: Ambulatory x 4 with no appreciable lameness. BCS = 5/9 Neuro: Appropriate mentation. Assessment: Clinically healthy Plan: -Okay for surgery
3/24/2025
Cat Neuter Was this cat a Cryptorchid? No Routine Feline Neuter Self tie of spermatic cord Surgeon: 1658 Additional Note: Green linear tattoo placed on ventrum
3/25/2025
[Post Surgical Exam] Attitude/demeanor: [QAR] Appetite: [eating ok] C/S/V/D: [none] Incision site: [no swelling, bruising, or bleeding; sutures appear intact] Pain level: [appears comfortable] Licking, chewing, or biting surgical site noted: [no] Additional notes: 991287
4/11/2025
Progress exam: URI noted on rounds Subjective: QBAR, no C/S/V/D. Sneeze marks noted on condo door. Objective: EYES: Clear, no discharge LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: mild clear serous discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed URI PLAN: Per standing orders -Under the weather sign, ppe & monitor log placed on kennel -Start fortiflora PO q24h x10 days -CTM, recheck in 3 days
4/14/2025
Progress exam: URI day 3 recheck, inappetence reported on rounds board. Subjective: QAR, no C/S/V/D. Weak appetite full bowl of food in kennel Objective: EYES: Green discharge noted LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge noted MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed URI PLAN: Per standing orders -Start medical feedings PO q12h x5days -CTM, recheck on 4/18
4/18/2025
Progress exam: URI day 7 Subjective: QBAR, no C/S/V/D. Eating well Objective: EYES: Clear, no discharge LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge noted MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed URI PLAN: Per standing orders -CTM, recheck in 3 days
4/22/2025
Progress exam: URI day 10 Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D. Eating well Objective: EYES: Clear, no discharge LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed URI appears resolved PLAN: Per standing orders -Removed URI signage from kennel -CTM on daily rounds while in QACC
4/29/2025
Recently resolved URI (4/22), but some sneezing reported S/O: QAR, good appetite, no c/s/v/d noted during observation, but care staff in room report cleaning some sneeze marks from kennel this AM EENT: No nasal or ocular discharge LUNGS: Eupneic CNS: Appropriate mentation A: Sneezing - ro transient vs lingering URI signs P: No treatment, CTM and recheck in 3 days
5/2/2025
Brief recheck - QAR, no ocular or nasal discharge, eupneic; no URI signs noted or reported. CTM while at QACC.
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 4. Orange
KNOWN HISTORY:: Gecko was brought in from a hoarding situation with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 3/27/25 FB79 Gecko is on top on the top part of his kennel, with tucked paws and soft eyes; he slow blinks when i speak to him but then hisses when i try to bring my hand close to pet his head. He allows my hand close to leave treats but when i attempt petting once again he hisses as he backs into the corner wrapping his tail around his body while lip licking. 3/30/25 Vol. Gecko was on the shelf. He hissed when the kennel door was opened. I put Squeeze Up and Temptations next to him, which he did not eat. I showed the scratcher tool to him and he moved away from it. I spoke softly but did not try to pet him. He remained at the back of the shelf and needs time to adjust to interacting with people. 4/04/25 FB61 Lying on top of perch, very handsome and regal with his front paws tucked neatly beneath him and his face neutral. He tenses his face when I open the kennel door and he hisses with each treat I gently push towards him. He is not interested in the treats or the catnip toy and appears pretty under socialized. I keep the hands-on interaction brief and focus on using the bubble gun for the remainder of our session - this is visual enrichment for the cats. 4/6/25 FB79 Gecko really enjoyed treats today but did not allow any petting - on the top part of his kennel he slow blinks when i spoke to him softly and leaned in to eat the treats i placed down but then hisses at my hand when i slowly attempted to pet his head. 4/8/25 FB58 Sitting curled at the back of his shelf with a tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated. He hisses when the door is opened and I lightly toss some treats up onto the shelf. He shows no interest in the treats and I leave some squeeze up in a tray up on the shelf as well. I then back away and stand speaking to him softly and slow blinking, which he returns. He still shows no sign of interest in the treats so I place a cage cover on his door and leave him alone. Later, I notice he has come down from the shelf and is sitting near the front now that the cover is there, but runs when he sees me. 4/11/25 FB61 Lying on top of perch, body and face tense with feet and tail tucked. He watches me as I offer treats and a catnip toy but he remains tensed and uninterested (or at least for the duration of time that I’m watching him). He hisses and backs away when I attempt petting with the scratcher tool so I don’t push it further at this time to prevent creating a negative association. Appears to be undersocialized. 4/13/25 Vol. Gecko was at the front of the kennel. As I opened the door, he hissed softly. I spoke to him and offered treats. He jumped up onto the shelf. I petted him a few times with a pipe cleaner. He hissed at me so I stopped. He did not appear to have eaten any of his cat food and would not take the treats. His kennel card says e is under the weather. *Enrichment notes continued in GAN*
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Timid,Independent
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization
Potential challenges comments:: Gecko is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. He attempts to flee and avoid human contact. It is difficult to predict if he 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. Please speak to an adoption counselor to learn more. Gecko may warm up in his new home quicker if there is another resident cat. Hoarding cats are usually more socialized and comfortable with other cats. Gecko can then observe and learn how to slowly become more social by watching the resident cat interact with the owner.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home
Recommendations comments:: Adult only home due to the behavior seen in shelter and needing a longer time to warm up, the behavior team feels Gecko would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Inside of his den, Gecko sits with his paws tucked under, a tightly wrapped tail and wide dilated eyes when the den cover is lifted. He immediately hisses when he sees the assessor as well as when they speak to him softly and attempt to offer treats. Gecko's eyes dilate more when the scratcher tool is slowly introduced into the den and he tenses up tightening his tail around his body, hunching in his shoulders with more hissing as he tries to back himself further into the corner of the den. He very briefly tolerates pets on his head/cheeks and down his body but continues to hiss and lip lick as he does not look away from the tool. Pick up was not attempted at this time. 4/23/25 Gecko displayed similar behaviors during his reassessment. Gecko tolerates attention and petting but may be fearful or stressed in the shelter, and may be intimidated by small children. He may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to his new home. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.