KNOWN HISTORY:: Patsy was brought in from a hoarding situation with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 4/14/25 FB61 Hunched in back of perch, body and face tense with tail curled tightly around his body. He flinches when offered treats, then he leans forward to sniff them more curiously as I speak to him softly. When I attempt petting with the scratcher tool he hisses loudly and whips his head back with his paw raised. He remains too focused on me to explore the treats further at this time. Nervous boy. 4/18/25 FB79 Under the weather baby, Pasty is in his bed with forward ears almond eyes and a loose tail. he has no reaction when i speak to him softly as well as when i offer treats. He allows me to pet his head, cheeks as well as down and around his body with no reaction at all. 4/20/25 Vol. Patsy was on the shelf, sitting at the far rear corner. I put treats near him. He looks and sounds sick/congested. I spoke to him softly. The kennel card said to use a scratcher tool for interactions and that he is feeling under the weather. I put the scratcher near him a couple of times but he flinched each time he saw it so I ended the interaction. Hopefully, he will feel better soon. 4/24/25 FB58 Laying in his bed in the main area curled up but tenses and quickly runs up onto the shelf when the tool is offered out slowly. He is initially flighty and flinchy with the tool and avoidant of touch. He then is somewhat tolerant of touch but is trembling and turns to look at the tool and nips at it before allowing some pets on his head and cheeks. Eats treats once the door is closed. 4/27/25 Vol. Patsy was on the ledge, huddle up. I gave him Temptations and Squeeze Up, which he ate. I petted him with a scratcher and he accepted it calmly at first, then tried to bite the tool, so I took it away. He seems to be uncertain about interacting. I gave him more Squeeze Up and ended the interaction so it ended on a positive note. 5/07/25 FB61 Lying in cat bed, body and face relaxed with ears forward and legs stretched away from body. He leans forward to sniff the treats offered and he begins to eat a few so I begin to click and reward each time he makes eye contact with me while remaining calm. I can't proceed for too long because Patsy becomes too overwhelmed by the noise in the room at the time of our interaction. I slow-blink and speak to him softly but he remains focused on the room behind me. After I close the kennel door he steps forward to finish the treats offered. 5/15/25 In cat bed upon approach, body and face alert with ears forward, eyes wide and body tense. He looks around the room as if wanting to flee initially, however after a few sniffs he eats the treat offered. I spend the session clicking and rewarding each time he takes another brave step forward. After our session is over he is lying in the front of his kennel, arms stretched out with his face relaxed! 5/18/25 Vol. Patsy was on the shelf, eating his dry cat food. I opened the door and he moved towards the back. I put Temptations close to him, which he ate. GAN

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

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

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Pet-induced aggression,Fearful,Other,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization

Potential challenges comments:: Patsy came from a home with about 20+ other cats, it is likely that he was not appropriately socialized to humans. "Spirit cats" in a shelter context refer to cats who are very shy with people, preferring to live in a quiet environment and interacting with other cats rather than humans. They are often a good choice for patient, kind individuals who can create a safe and comfortable space for them to thrive. We cannot be certain whether or not Patsy will warm up to socialization in shelter or in a home environment and clients should be counseled on the potential of Patsy being a Spirit Cat. During his assessment, Patsy was tolerant of pets with the tool along his head and cheeks and would begin to watch to tool during pets along his side and back. He then would slowly move towards the tool to nip at the tool as if exploring but remained fearful - he at times would raise his paw slightly but would never hiss, growl, or swat. This repeated with the Assess-A-Hand and when the assessor pet him with their hand while wearing a bite glove. He did bite the assessor's hand three times in succession with moderate pressure but again this was after about 3 minutes of petting as the assessor attempted to understand whether this biting stemmed from overstimulation, petting induced aggression, etc. He showed no signs of overstimulation (ears tilted, pilo-erection, twitching fur, etc) and did not vocalize loudly or quickly escalate as he would if this were petting induced aggression. The assessor feels this is an exploratory fear-based response and recommends interactions be done with a scratcher tool. 5/24/25 After continued monitoring and socialization interactions, the Feline Behavior Team feels that Patsy may display signs of Touch Sensitivity (possibly Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome). While tolerant and at times softening slightly to pets on his head and cheeks, whenever he is pet past his neck, particularly on his sides and mid to lower back, his fur will twitch and he will jerk away from touch, before turning to bite at the tool or hand that it petting him. While most cats enjoy being petted in certain areas, such as the cheeks, temples, and chin, some may experience increased sensitivity to touch, leading to feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS). Cats with FHS may react defensively when petted, with symptoms including skin twitching, rolling, or rippling.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: Due to the behavior seen in shelter and needing a longer time to warm up, the behavior team feels Patsy would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 4/12/25 On approach, Pasty is sitting at the back of the shelf with a tense face and body as he trembles and slow blinks hard while watching the assessor. The assessor opens the cage door and offers some dry treats which he smells but does not eat. He allows pets with the scratcher tool along his head and cheeks and when pet along his side with the soft scratcher, allows the touch but turns to look at the tool and ducks his body at times. When the assessor switches to the metal scratcher tool, he shows similar behaviors and continues to watch the tool but moves closer to bite/nip at the tip of the tool (not hisses, growls, or swats precede the nips) raising his paw off the shelf the smallest amount. When the assessor uses the Assess-A-Hand he repeats the behaviors as well as when they wear a bite glove and pet him with their hand. Pick up was not attempted. (Please see potential challenges section for more info) 5/12/25 Patsy displayed similar behaviors during his re-assessment. 6/12/25 Upon re-eval, Patsy has made some improvements regarding general cage presence and willingness to engage with the assessor after having been started on gabapentin for FAS, but continues to display fearful behaviors as well as Touch Sensitivity/Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome. On approach Patsy is laying at the front of the cage with a mostly neutral face and body before tensing when he sees the assessor open the cubby door. He pauses before jumping up onto the shelf to sniff the scratcher tool. Once up on the shelf, he tolerates one pass of the tool along his body before he turns to watch to tool and begins to bite at it. Pick up is not attempted. Patsy is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. He is apprehensive of people and he appears wary of 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. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.