KNOWN HISTORY:: Lived Indoors Previously lived with: 4 Adults, 2 Children Behavior toward strangers: shy, timid, and is tolerant. She prefers when strangers let her have contact on her own terms. If she doesn't have contact on her own terms she will hiss, swat, and try to nip. Behavior toward children: will play gently with children that she is familiar with. The first few times she's around children she will hide or avoid them. Behavior toward cats: Unknown Behavior toward dogs: Unknown Bite or Scratch history: Client stated she scratched and drew blood a few months back due to their roommate due to them putting their face in hers to which she will swat, growl and hiss. Litter box training: Yes, Hazel had access to one uncovered unscented litterbox located in the kitchen. Her litter box had plastic box liner. She was reported to be spraying due to not being altered. Energy level/descriptors: Very High Energy Level Other notes: Inside Hazel's previous home, she was very active, playful, and prefers contact on her own terms. She is an indoors only cat. She likes to spend most of her time in the bedroom, kitchen, and at the window. She likes to play rough, chase her toys, stalks feet, will play fetch, and chase bugs around. She never got interactive playtime in her previous home. Her favorite surfaces are carpet, cardboard, and vertical surfaces. When you trim her nails she will struggle, squirm, stress meow, growls, hisses, tries to nip. Her previous owner didn't brush her coat so it's unknown how she reacts. When held or placed in a carrier she squirms, struggles, and stress meows. She hides in fear, cries/meows when stressed. Has too much energy and plays rough. Upon intake Hazel allowed staff to pick her up and place her inside a den. When the staff tried to take a picture of her, she hissed. Minimum handling was done after.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 9/5/24 FB58 Vocalizing at the front of her cage, when the cubby door is opened she runs to the top of her den and sits there continuing to vocalized with a curious look on her face. She doesn't come back down when I leave my hand laid out. Later on I offer some cat nip and she loves it 9/9/24 FB79 Sitting in her kennel, Hazel has a relaxed face with forward ears and almond eyes when i approach; she slow blinks when i speak and her tail is loosely wrapped around her body. She leans in to sniff the treats i place down for her but doesn't rlly seem interested. She continues to slow blink when i speak softly but flinches when i reach out and offer my hand - she slowly retreats to the top of her den where she has a lifted paw and watches my hand for any movement. I leave some toys and more treats and respect her space. 9/12/24 FB58 Sitting at the front of her cage with a neutral face and body, when I offer my hand out with dry treats she leans forward to sniff but does not eat and moves away to jump onto her den. When I slowly offer out the scratcher tool, she tenses and raises a paw, still pawing/swatting at it lightly without claws but does not hiss.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Timid,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Overstimulation,Rough play,Fearful,Very high energy level,New home adjustment period,Carrier aversion

Potential challenges comments:: She has some behavior concerns when it comes with wanting contact on her own terms. Her previous owner stated she will hiss, growl, swat, and try to nip when placing her into a carrier out of stress/fearfulness. Client reported she will hiss, growl, swat, and try to bite when trimming her nails. Client stated they had to put a pillowcase over her eyes, but even then, she will try to do those things. Client reported after petting Hazel after some time, or when you touch her too much she will hiss, swat, and try to nip. Client stated it was due to overstimulation and she prefers contact on her own terms, that she likes her personal space. Client stated she doesn't like when you put your face onto hers, that she will swat, growl, and hiss. Client reported she scratched and drew blood due to this a few months back to his roommate. Client stated Hazel can hide in fear, stress meow a lot, play rough, and has too much energy. Based off of the behaviors reported by the client, it appears that Hazel is a high energy, fearful cat with overstimulation and carrier aversion that may not have been getting all of her needs met in the home or have been having some of the issues exacerbated unintentionally. When being placed in a carrier it is reported she will hiss, growl, swat and nip out of stress and fear - it would be recommended to leave a larger hard carrier out at all times and allow her to use it as a place to hide and feel comfortable in in order for her to associate it with safety and comfort rather than a place she is forced into, especially if prolonged handling and petting is something she struggles with due to overstimulation. Treats and calming pheromones can also be used to lure her into the carrier. The client also reported that she escalates and hiss, growl, swat, and try and bite. If she does not allow her nails to be clipped and escalates to this point, she may feel pushed to a fight or flight point as cats are both predator and prey. It appears that often times, Hazel displays defensive aggression in order to attempt to get whomever is trying to interact or clip nails away from her. By forcing her and placing a pillow case over her eyes as they continued to attempt to clip her nails, the previous owner may have further exacerbated her reactivity to nail trims and handling of that type. Again when explaining her reactions to "petting too much" or her "liking her personal space" it appears that in this home, she may not have had her boundaries respected when needed or when she was displaying body language that was indicating she wanted to not be pet or needed petting to end. The client stated that she has a very high energy level, plays rough, stalks feet, etc. but that she did not receive any interactive play time. Often times, cats that display this behavior benefit from scheduled play time. Client also reported she was spraying when she was in heat. Client stated she will spray in the corner of the kitchen and on clothing

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 Hazel would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment. It is reported that Hazel will play gently with children that she is familiar with. The first few times she's around children she will hide or avoid them. At this time due to the behavior seen in shelter, the Feline Behavior team has determined an Adult-Only home to be appropriate at this time.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Ona approach, Hazel is sitting on the top of her den with a tense face and body, eyes wide as she low growls as I approach. She remains frozen when the scratcher tool is offered out to her slowly and tenses as she lifts a paw, before reaching out and swatting at the tool multiple times lightly without claws. She does so again and shows no interest at the treats that are tossed in lightly once the scratcher tool is removed. When the assessor puts squeeze up on the scratcher tool and places some on the wall of the cage, she is tense about the tool but sniffs the air and slow blinks. The assessor waits a moment but she doesn't eat the treat. When the tool is introduced again, she allows them to get close enough to touch her but raises her paw again to swat and nips at the tool but does not hiss or vocalize. Pick up is not attempted. Hazel is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and/or may require further investigation before placement in a home. She has tried to swat, bite, 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. She may have a known history of behavioral issues that need to be addressed.