Animal Profile

Chowder is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He 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, 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. Chowder is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He 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, 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 can be slow to adjust to new environments. I prefer to take things at my own pace. I would appreciate slow introductions to new people and places to help me feel safe. I'm sensitive and shy. I'll need extra help from you. I would do best in a home without very tiny humans, although I could be open to older human children once I meet them. A volunteer writes: I really feel for Chowder because he's been enthusiastically standing on the sidelines trying to figure out when to jump in and you know what? That is really, really hard. It's so hard that I would understand if he decided to sit this one out because that's what I would probably do. Instead Chowder hops around the front of his condo when people walk into Adoptions only to snuggle in his cubby and peer out when someone gets close. This indecisiveness is less a reflection of him than it is of his circumstances. Chowder came to us from a home with many other cats in August and hasn't been entirely successful in finding a place for himself here. He would, however, love to find a place for himself, a place where his efforts will be noticed and celebrated for the hope and love they contain.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 12.6 lbs

Medical Notes

8/27/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 4-6y Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Owner surrender due to too many cats Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Tense and repeatedly attempts to flee during tasks Evidence of Cruelty seen -no Objective T = P =wnl R =wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears AU heavy brown dc, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: limited oral exam due to behavior PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: male intact, 2 scrotal testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: normal external Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment ear mites Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks-limited by behavior, plan to complete at time of surgery neuter new home 45mg selamectin topically SURGERY: Okay for surgery

9/5/2026

Repeated sneezing with clear nasal discharge while cage side S: QAR, on top of den O: EEN- eyes clear, clear nasal discharge, minimal epiphora H/L- eupneic, sneezing with wet audible congestion MSK/i- ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: Mild to moderate URI P: Doxycycline 100mg/ml 0.6 ml PO SID x7d Recheck at end of course

9/12/2026

Recheck URI S: QAR, laying down in kennel O: EEN- eyes clear, no nasal discharge H/L- eupneic, no sneezing or audible congestion while cage side MSK/i- ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: URI, appears resolved P: CTM in care OK for surgery

9/16/2026

Pre-Op Exam S: BAR, laying comfortably in cubby. O: EEN: eyes clear, no nasal or ocular discharge H/L: eupneic, no coughing/sneezing or audible congestion MSK/i- ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: Appears to be a good anesthetic candidate P: Neuter today

9/16/2026

[Surgery - Cat Neuter] Was this cat a Cryptorchid? No Routine Feline Neuter Self tie of spermatic cord Green Linear Tattoo Placed near Midline Surgeon: 2172 Additional Note: Cleaned ears while sedated

9/16/2026

Feline Neuter performed by Vet: 2172 Patient anesthesia form uploaded to Shelter Buddy in Vet Documents.

9/17/2026

Post-Op Exam S: BAR, readily comes to front of kennel to interact with me. O: EEN: eyes clear, no apparent ocular or nasal discharge H/L: eupneic, no coughing/sneezing or audible congestion MSK/i- ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat. Incision site is CDI. Neuro- alert/appropriate A: Appears to be healing well post op P: CTM in care

9/28/2026

S: note on white board about sneezing O: nasal disharge, upper respiratoy noise A: mild URI P: 100 mLs SQF, 0.25 mLs B vits, fortiflora, recheck 3d

10/2/2026

Hx: URI S: QAR, laying down in cubby. Eating well. O: EEN- eyes clear, no nasal or ocular discharge H/L- eupneic, no coughing/sneezing or audible congestion MSK/i- ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: No evidence of URI P: CTM in care

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake, Chowder went into den without issue but had airplane ears and dilated eyes so no further handling was attempted.

Spay/Neuter status: No

Date of Intake: 8/26/2026

Is this cat having litter box issues?: No

Basic Information:: Chowder is an approximately 1 year old unaltered male domestic short hair cat being surrendered due to too many cats in the home.

Previously lived with:: 1 adult, 1 child and many cats

How is this cat around strangers?: Not reported

How is this cat around children?: Chowder is reported to be shy and timid around children.

How is this cat around other cats?: Chowder is reported to play gently around other cats.

How is this cat around dogs?: He is reported to not like dogs.

Behavior Notes: Chowder is reported to stress mewoth, hiss, swat and nip when his nails are trimmed, his coat is brushed, he is picked up or held or he is placed in a carrier.

Bite history:: Chowder has been known to scratch his owner when the owner has intervened in fights between some of the unaltered males in the home. No scratches have taken place within the last 10 days.

Energy level/descriptors:: Very High

Has this cat ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: No reported issues

For a New Family to Know: Chowder is reported by his prior family to be bold/fearless and independent and tends to be solitary and watch from afar. He likes to spend time at the window. He is reported to play gently and likes to play with water and things that crinkle. He likes to scratch rough rope, carpet/fabric and wood. Chowder was fed 9 Lives dry and wet food and Temptations treats. He used scented, clumping litter that was in an automatic, covered box that had a plastic litter box liner. Chowder's reported behavior concerns are that he scratches furniture, has too much energy and will scratch people when fights are broken up between cats.

KNOWN HISTORY:: Chowder was brought in with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment. He was reported to not get along with the other cats in the house.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 9/2/26 Vol. Chowder was resting on top of den in loaf position. His eyes and ears were neutral and he returned slow blinks. He leaned forward to eat treats from scratcher tool, then sat up and moved toward back of kennel. He accepted more treats from scratcher tool. He tolerated brief petting on head with scratcher tool, scrunching his head down into his shoulders, then turned away to avoid further contact. He did not show interest in a feather toy. After speaking to him softly for a minute, he settled into loaf position again and gave slow blinks. 9/4/26 Vol. Chowder was sitting on top of hidey box. Put in treat bowl - he looked down. Approached with hard treats on scratcher tool - he sat erect and pulled back, with narrowing eyes and started to raise a paw. Slowly removed tool and he settled down. Tried to approach again and he sat up and pulled back. Removed and ended interaction. 9/8/26 Vol. Curled up right in front of kennel door. Tried to give him some Squeeze-ups but he literally turned his back on me. But he then enjoyed several minutes of head scratches with the tool and then petting by hand. Wasn’t interested in playing with the cat dancer or the laser. Sweet but a little fidgety. 9/10/26 Vol. Chowder was resting on top of his den upon approach. When the kennel door was opened, he watched the slow movement of a peacock feather and lip-licked once. A wet treat was served over the remainder of his dinner tray, and he was given time to eat on top of the den. Upon return, he remained on top of the den, lying on his side. In response to soft talking, he made a kneading motion with one paw. When the kennel door was opened, his pupils dilated, and he lip-licked. A catnip mouse was offered on an extendable stick on top of the den. He sniffed it and then moved away. After the kennel door was closed, he returned to lying on top of the den while I remained nearby. The kennel door was opened again, and Churu was offered over his wet food tray. He remained in a loaf position while I stood nearby and spoke softly. 9/13/26 Vol. Chowder really liked Temptations. He was lying on his side in the top cubby, and I got him to come out of the cubby and onto the ledge by leaving a trail of treats. After he ate the treats, he sat/crouched. I put my hand forward for him to sniff, but he ducked away. He stayed on the ledge for a minute while I talked to him and then went back into the top cubby. 9/23/26 Resting comfortably in his cubby. Ate squeeze up treat while allowing hand pets along the head and body. Remains calm throughout the interaction and seems to be acclimating well at the care center! Sweet Boy! GAN for CONTINUATION

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Calm,Skittish

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: Chowder should be given a slow introduction to the home, one room at a time starting in a small room like a bathroom with food, litter and water. Interact with him in this room until he seems sufficiently confident that you feel you can introduce him to the next part of the home without running the risk that he will hide. Please speak to an adoption counselor for additional information on methods to help introduce your cat to the home. Chowder has displayed fearful behavior during their stay in the care center and has displayed distance-increasing behavior with extended handling. Fear aggression can occur when a cat perceives a threat and may escalate if they cannot escape. A fearful cat will feel more relaxed when given options, so provide him with the chance to move closer, investigate, or interact with you. Be sure to offer incentive such as treats or play time whenever the cat makes a small positive step. Please speak to an adoption counselor for additional information on methods to desensitize your cat to their fear stimulus.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children

Recommendations comments:: No young children under 5 years old, Counselor discretion advised.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 8/29/26 Chowder was lying on top of his den with neutral eyes and forward ears. He looked up and around the room, alert, before eventually leaning forward to sniff the treats offered to him. He started eating treats while allowing some gentle head pets but eventually flinched back and avoided further contact. 9/29/26 Chowder is sleeping in kennel in his cubby. He opens his eyes in surprise when the kennel is opened and sits up quickly. The assessor talks softly to him and Chowder comes forward to eats squeeze up readily. Chowder flinches when offered a hand to sniff before going back to eat his treats. Chowder flinches again when pet along his cheeks with the tool. He begins to try to exit the cubby when pet along his body, when the petting stops he comes back to the front of the cubby to eat more treats. Chowder tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. He may be a little more independent and may need time to warm up to his new home. We recommend that this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents.