Animal Profile
Teal
Hello, my name is Teal. My animal id is #248096. I am a male black cat at the Staten Island Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 10 months 1 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a owner surrender on 3/6/2026, with the surrender reason stated as not a fit - too many animals already.
Reserved
Someone has already placed a deposit on me. I'm no longer available.
Teal has been placed on the at-risk list due to exhibiting persistent fearful behavior during their stay in the care center. At this time, Teal appears shut down and is not showing signs of acclimating to or thriving in the shelter environment. Teal has also demonstrated a decline in self-care behaviors, including not grooming and frequently being found sitting in feces. Medically, he is underweight and has been experiencing diarrhea while in care. He is currently undergoing a probiotic trial and will require further diagnostic workup if the diarrhea persists.
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. Teal has been placed on the at-risk list due to exhibiting persistent fearful behavior during their stay in the care center. At this time, Teal appears shut down and is not showing signs of acclimating to or thriving in the shelter environment. Teal has also demonstrated a decline in self-care behaviors, including not grooming and frequently being found sitting in feces. Medically, he is underweight and has been experiencing diarrhea while in care. He is currently undergoing a probiotic trial and will require further diagnostic workup if the diarrhea persists. What my friends at ACC say about me: My history is a mystery and my friends here do not know much about me yet! It is unknown if I have ever lived with other animals or children. I can be slow to adjust to new environments. I prefer to take things at my own pace.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 5.75 lbs
3/6/2026
[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 10 months Microchip noted on Intake? scan negative History: owner surrender Subjective: Observed Behavior - very tense but allowed handling Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? no Objective: BCS 3/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: clean adult teeth PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI, 2 descended testicles MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, some feces stuck to fur at tail CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: underweight- R/O starvation vs GI disease (parasites, viral, other) Prognosis: fair Plan: monitor appetite and weight clipped tail SURGERY: Temporary waiver due to underweight
3/10/2026
Diarrhea (FS 6), good appetite, no vomiting, S: BARH Ab: SNP, no masses palpated A: Diarrhea r/out stress vs dietary vs other P: -50ml LRS SQ -Ponazuril -Monitor
3/10/2026
Recheck Diarrhea: No change, FS 6, good appetite, no vomiting, gaining weight S: BARH Ab: SNP, no masses palpated A: Diarrhea P: -Continue Fortiflora -Vit B12 Inj -Praziquantel Inj -CTM
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 2. Blue
KNOWN HISTORY:: Teal was brought in with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment. Teal lived in a home with 30+ cats.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 3/10/26: Teal is laying on top of his kuranda bed as staff arrive. He has neutral posture, blinking, as staff begins cleaning procedures. Teal is hesitant to move from his bed, but seemingly unbothered by staff's movements around his kennel. Treats are offered, but he does not show immediate interest in them. Later, Teal is observed huddled next to his litter box. 3/11 Teal is laying on top of his den on approach. He smells staff's outstretched offered hand, and tolerates some pets on the face and the head. While staff is petting his forehead he begins to lip lick. Staff backs off for a minute and comes back later to transfer him into a den to clean his kennels. Teal allows staff to pick him up but tries to grab onto the door of his kennel while being transferred. He remains in his new den quietly until it is put back into the kennel.
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Timid,Independent
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization
Potential challenges comments:: Teal 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:: Adult only home
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Teal is laying in the back the back of the den. His ears are upright and eyes are almond shaped. The den cover is removed and he backs up. A scratcher with with squeeze up is offered out, he does not interact. The handler gives him slow pets on the top of his head, he remains still. When the handler extends out a finger to him, his breathing picks up and he turns his head to face the corner. Teal is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. He is very apprehensive of people and while showing no aggressive behaviors, she does attempt 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.