Animal Profile

Shelby 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 treats 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.

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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Shelby 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 treats 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. What my friends at ACC say about me: I have lived with cats in my previous home. I'm sensitive and shy. I'll need extra help from you. I will flourish in a calm environment and a low-traffic home. Shelby tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. She may be a little more independent and may need time to warm up to her new home. We recommend this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, she may not be a great fit for young children. Any home with older children prepared to adopt this cat should conduct a thorough interaction and endeavor to monitor this cat around their children to prevent these behaviors from being reinforced. A volunteer writes: How does one join a conversation that's already started? Well, I guess you could start by saying hello, but sometimes even that can seem like too much. Shelby really wants to know what she can do to find a family but seems a bit overwhelmed by all the options available. So, she tends to snuggle up in the back of her cubby and wait. The shelter is big and full of new things that Shelby's been doing her best to navigate and we have to give her credit for all of her hard work. We know she's made quite a leap as she was brought to us from a home with many other cats and likely hasn't had very many opportunities to meet new people. Shelby bounces out of her condo for treats and food, but hasn't really come around to pets here with us. She's hoping to find a patient and loving family ready to meet her where she is and go from there. Hi, my name is Shelby, and the shelter has been a little overwhelming for me. I came from a home with many cats, who I've gotten along with well. Because I've lived in this home my entire life and have only been around one person, I have little experience with people and am hesitant of new experiences. I would enjoy living in a quiet home, preferably one with lots of vertical space so I have a place to perch and observe the room. I would also appreciate having experienced, patient adopter(s) who are willing to take things slow with me.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 6.65 lbs

Medical Notes

9/30/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2-5 years old Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned neg History: Owner surrender Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - tense and tries to flee, allowed handling with towel Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective: T = not performed P = WNL R = WNL BCS 4/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Mild-moderate dental calculus, fractured left mandibular and maxillary canines PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated, mildly distended U/G: Female, no spay scar or tattoo MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally normal Assessment: Fractured canines Mild-moderate dental disease Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks SURGERY: Okay for surgery

10/5/2025

Staff note pet drooling and intermittent open mouth breathing. Pet is eating. EEN: Clear nasal discharge Oral: drooling A: r/o uri with nasal congestion. Prognosis: Fair Plan LRS 60 mls SQ sid x 3 days Cerenia 10mg/ml 0.3 ml sq sid x 3d

10/9/2025

SO: Diagnosed with mild URI, does not appear to be eating. Started on sc fluids and cerenia, but able to administer eent: eyes clear, clear nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated, audible congestion msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: URI-mild P: attempt fortiflora 1 sachet PO with food SID x7d if appetite does not improve recommend move to cat isolation

10/10/2025

SO: BAR eent: eyes clear, no ocular or nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: P: 100ml LRS sc SID x5d 0.3ml cerenia sc SID x5d 0.25ml vitamin B12 1000mcg/ml sc once 0.6ml doxycycline 50mg/ml PO SID x7d nebulize with saline 15 minutes SID x5d

10/10/2025

Still unable to administer injectable treatments

10/17/2025

Recheck for URI S: QAR, laying down in den -- food bowls all empty/eaten O: EEN- eyes clear, no ocular or nasal discharge RESP- Eupneic, no sneezing or audible congestion MSK/i- Ambulatory x4 Neuro- alert/appropriate A: No evidence of URI P: Move out of Cat ISO CTM

10/20/2025

Pet ate this morning. Hissing in den. Discovered to be intact female after sedation.mistakenly presented for neuter today EEN: No ocular or nasal discharge ORAL: Moderate tartar. Missing upper left canine tooth. Fractured tip of lower right canine tooth. CV/RESP: HR 160 ssp Lungs clear ABD/UG: SNP NMP Female intact MSI: BCS 4/9 Unkempt coat Ambul x 4 NEURO: BAR A: Mistakenly presented for neuter today Recently recovered from URI Missing upper left canine tooth Fractured lower left canine tooth Dental disease stage 2-3/4 Underweight Prognosis: Fair to good Plan Advise OHE later in week when more time has passed since illness Sedated with DKT feline pre-mix 0.32 ml IM (Dexdomitor 0.0125 mg/kg + ketamine 100mg/ml 5mg/kg + Butorphanol 10mg/ml 0.25 mg/kg) LRS 60 mls SQ Antisedan 0.04 ml IM

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Shelby was brought in with limited information on her behavior history in a home environment. She previously lived with 30+ other cats.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT 10/29/25 Shelby was in her cubby towards the back, resting. When the assessor approached, she sat up and became more alert. Shelby ignored treats and when the tool was introduced, she sniffed it and tolerated petting on the head and cheeks but was uncomfortable with petting on the body. Shelby allowed petting by hand only on the head and cheek. She was tense, lip licked and tried to avoid interaction throughout the assessment. Pick up was not attempted. 11/20/25 FB20 Shelby is resting in her litterbox with forward ears and a slightly tense face. She leans forward for squeeze up and eats it eagerly. Shelby ducks when attempt to pet her along her cheeks but recovers quickly and starts eating again. Interaction is ended on a good note with a few slow blinks. 11/21/25 Vol. She was curled up in her litter box sleeping. She came forward to eat her wet food while I sat there with the door open. She allowed light petting on her head while eating. She then went back to her litter box area. She was motivated by Churu to come back out into the main area while I cleaned her litter box. She then went back into her cubby to groom herself behind litter box. I left her with a catnip mouse in the main area of castle. 11/22/25 Vol. Back of cubby throughout interaction. Curled up lying down facing forward. Sniffed dry treats on scratcher tool. Ignored. Ate squeeze up offered on scratcher tool. Allowed petting with scratcher tool and by hand. 11/23/25 Vol. Shelby was curled up tight behind her litter box. I coaxed her halfway out of the cubby with squeeze-up, but she immediately backed into the cubby when she finished the squeeze-up. She tolerated a gentle cheek rub but didn’t lean into it. I talked to her for a little bit and then ended the interaction. 11/25/25 Vol. Sitting in her litter box. Ate 2 Squeeze ups from the clicker and 1 from my finger. Tolerated some head scratches with the tool. Added some tuna to her evening meal and she ate it up. Not interested in playing at this time. She didn’t move out of the litter box. 11/26/25 Vol. Shelby was curled up in litter box at back of cubby. When approached, she looked up with narrowed eyes. With some coaxing, she came into main kennel to eat squeeze up, standing with her body crouched low to the ground. She tolerated brief petting on his head while eating, but leaned away from attempted petting when not eating. After accepting more squeeze up, she returned to cubby and groomed herself. 11/29/25 Vol. Shelby emerged from the cubby for Churu and allowed light petting on her head . She retreated into the cubby before & eating eating Churu. With cubby door open she curls up in back with ears forward, eyes relaxed, mouth relaxed. She leaned back slightly when I reached in with the scratcher. Instead, I offered her a catnip mouse toy on the end of the scratcher. She showed interest by sniffing it. I left her with a catnip toy and a silvervine chew stick.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Timid,Independent

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

Potential challenges comments:: Shelby is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. She is very apprehensive of people and while showing no aggressive behaviors, she 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 adult cats will require more time and skill in order for them to be comfortable around people.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children

Recommendations comments:: No children under 13 years old. Shelby has been observed to be timid in the care center and may be intimidated by small children.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Shelby was in her cubby, laying towards the back wall curled up as the assessor approaches. As the cubby door is opened, she sits upright and observes the assessor with wide eyes. She is tolerant of petting with the scratcher tool on the head and cheeks but flinches when attempting to pet down her shoulders and back. She is able to be pet directly with the assessor's hands on the head and cheeks but remains very tense as she is pet. Treats are offered but she does not respond to them. Shelby is unable to be coaxed into approaching the front of the cubby and remains pressed into the back wall throughout the interaction, so pickup was not attempted in order to reduce FAS. Shelby tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. She may be a little more independent and may need time to warm up to her new home. We recommend this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, she may not be a great fit for young children. Any home with older children prepared to adopt this cat should conduct a thorough interaction and endeavor to monitor this cat around their children to prevent these behaviors from being reinforced.