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

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 4/18/26 FB79 Inside of the den, Evan can be heard hissing as soon as the kennel door was opened; when the den cover was lifted he had a very tense body at the front of the glass with airplane ears as he hissed continuously. He was loudly growling and grumbling with his eyes dilated and fixated on me as i slow blinked. I did not attempt contact. 4/20/26 FB61 In cat den upon approach, completely hidden from view. He does not respond when spoken to and he hissed when offered a treat and a catnip toy. I keep the interaction brief at this time to reduce stress. I am considering adding him to the 'fraidy cat program. 4/22/26 FB58 In his den and hidden from view - he hisses as the door is opened. I slowly push the treat tray with a medley of treats towards the portal opening with the scratcher tool. After a moment, he pokes his head out and sniffs at the treats before he notices me. he then hisses and freezes as I wait to see what he does. I eventually leave and when I come back and check he has eaten all of the treats. 4/25/26 FB20 Evan is in his den. When the kennel door is opened, he is heard striking the den hard. A scratcher tool is extended to the portal opening and his paw extends out to swat it. Evan is moved to holding to see if a quieter spot helps him adjust. 4/27/26 FB61 In cat den upon approach, body and face completely hidden from view. He does not come out when offered treats or a catnip toy. I do not force petting today to reduce the chance of creating a negative association or reinforcing escalating offensive/defensive behaviors. When I check on him later, I see the treats have been eaten. 5/04/26 FB61 Displayed similar behaviors as previous session. I leave him some treats and a catnip toy before ending the session, and when I check on him later I see the treats have been eaten. 5/5/26 FB06 As I open the door, Evan has his head out of the den, his eyes are partially closed,ears are flat and he is low growling. I offer him the scratcher and he leans forward and sniffs. Closing up the kennel and returning with treats, he hisses and low growls before lightly sniffing the treats. I offer the scratcher again, he sniffs but when I attempt to pet his head he tucks into the den, growling and hisses. 5/8/26 FB58 In his den and growls, lunging as the cage door is opened and pokes his head out as I am trying to close the den portal. He lunges and hisses as I remove the den cover, sitting hunched with a tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated - and a treat tray is placed at the closed portal as a reward after. He takes a moment as I sit sideways and slow blink, and I respond "good job" each time he stops growling and slow blinks back. He finally begins to slow blink back and doesn't lunge or hiss as I open the cage door to open his den portal with the stick. With more "good jobs" and slow blinks he is comfortable enough to poke head out to eat from the treat tray! -GAN

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

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

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

Potential challenges comments:: Evan Got Rhythm came from a home with about 25 other cats, it is likely that he was not appropriately socialized to humans. Please see behavior flyers for more information. 5/13/26 While Evan Got Rhythm continues to be avoidant of touch and escalates to defensive aggression when touch is pushed/attempted multiple times, he has begun to make significant progress with behavior staff during socializations. With the den cover removed, after one session; he has begun to settle from initial escalation more quickly, return slow blinks, venture outside of the den, and work with staff to build confidence in poking his head out or coming fully out in front of them to eat treats. Again, these are all hands off approaches but each session presents with less and less hissing/ lunging.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

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 Evan Got Rhythm would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 4/13/26 Evan Got Rhythm was in his cat den as the assessor approached, body and face tense with his tail wrapped around his body and his pupils dilated. Evan Got Rhythm remained hidden when spoken to and he flattened his ears completely as the kennel door opened. Evan Got Rhythm tolerated petting briefly before hissing and swatting at the assess-a-hand. 5/13/26 Upon re-eval, Evan Got Rhythm has begun to show improvement during socialization sessions but is still not ready for interactions that require contact - resulting in him remaining NHO (see potential challenges for more details on improvements). On approach, Evans Got Rhythm is in his den with the cover removed (part of the Fraidy Cat Club cage set up) - and is sitting in a hunched loaf with a tense face and body, eyes wide and hisses harshly. As the assessor sits down and speaks to him softly, he begins to settle and returns some slow blinks. He slowly pokes his head out of the den portal, remaining wary and tense but allows the assessor to lightly toss some treats near him and the den opening. He takes some time and observes the assessor, returning slow blinks, before turning to sniff the treats and eating a few. When the assessor slowly slides the scratcher tool forward, he turns quickly and smells the tool, returning to eating the dry treats. When the assessor attempts to pet him on the head as he eats, they are able to make brief contact as he ducks away and hisses harshly. Sustained contact is not able to be made and he remains very wary of the scratcher tool, whipping his head quickly by the end to look at the tool. When the assessor attempts to offer out the Assess-A-Hand, Evan Got Rhythm hisses much more harshly and ducks quickly back into the den. When the Assess-A-Hand is moved towards the den opening, he reaches out and swats the hand hard multiple times. The interaction is ended and pick up is not attempted. Evan got Rhythm is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. Evan Got Rhythm is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and likely are a result of a lack of socialization and fear leading to defensive aggression. These behaviors may require further investigation before placement in a home. He has tried to swat, 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.