KNOWN HISTORY:: Silvia was brought in with limited information on her behavior history in a home environment.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 8/14/24 FB58 Sweet and scared girl. She is laying on top of her kuranda bed with her head tucked and flinches initially but leans in and appreciates pets along her head, cheeks, and back with my hand. She hides her head under my hand and softens slightly, sniffing at the treats of offer her. 9/6/24 FB1261 Lying on perch, body and face tense and feet and tail tucked. She hisses when I open her portal door and she watches me as she lowers her head to sniff the treats offered. I do not push petting today because I don't want her to flee, instead I speak to her softly and leave a catnip toy before slow-blinking and ending the session. She eats the treats after I've closed the kennel door. Needs time. 9/16/24 FB32 Hiding in den upon approach. When spoken to and opening the door, she quickly retreats out of the den and skittishly climbs on top of the shelf to the back corner, curled up with a tense body and wide eyes and her tail wrapped tight around her body. She allow petting on the head, cheeks, and body but lip licks and does not engage with the attention. Kept interaction short to reduce stress. 9/22/24 Vol. Silvia was in her den. As I started to lift the cover, she ran out and hissed at me. She jumped to the top shelf. I put treats nearby but she was not interested. I was able to pet her with a scratcher tool, but she was uncomfortable, remaining hunched up and focusing on the tool. She did not want to socialize today. 9/29/24 Vol. Silvia was in her den. She popped her head out when I opened the kennel door. I put my hand towards her and she came out of the den. She immediately jumped to the top of the den, and then onto the shelf. I spoke to her and offered Temptations, but she remained at the far back of the shelf, looking uninterested in being petted, so I left her alone. 10/6/24 FB79 Silvia was up on the shelf. I put soft treats near her, which she ate. She allowed me to pet her a couple of times, but then she pulled away from me. I ended the interaction by leaving her more treats. She ate them, hunched up at the back of the shelf. 10/15/24 FB58 In her den and hidden from view, and when I place a tray with chicken and squeeze up down near the entrance, she hisses from inside. When I walk back to check on her she has her head out and eating. When she notices me she pauses to look at me with a tense face and I click each time she looks back down to eat. 10/28/24 FB79 Inside her den, Silvia quickly runs out when she hears me open her kennel she sits at the top of her shelf with tilted ears and tail tightly wrapped. She watches closely when i bring the tool closer in attempt to pet and backs away slowly as she hisses when the tool pets her head. I leave her some treats near her den and respect her space. 10/21/24 FB1261 In cat den upon approach. When I open the kennel door she steps out of her den and retreats/flees all around her kennel. I have to keep the interaction brief to keep her from escaping. Nervous gal

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Timid,Skittish,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Inappropriate elimination,Fearful,Other,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: Silvia has been in the home for the last 4 years and has lived with a male cat she got along with. However, 4 months ago, the client's family left behind 2 female cats, and Silvia has been hiding underneath the bed, spraying on the owner and urinating and defecating on the bed. The owner had brought training sprays such as phonemes and calming collars, but nothing worked. It is unclear with the limited information provided if the new female cats were introduced slowly, if they were allowed free reign of the home after Sylvia began to present with these behaviors, or if Sylvia was given a litter box in the room she was hiding in to allow for a "safe space" for her to relieve herself. Although Sylvia is spayed, a small percentage of female cats, (about 5%) may still spray after being spayed. Spaying can reduce the likelihood of spraying by decreasing territorial reasons, but cats can still spray if they are stressed or upset about something in their environment. When cats begin to have inappropriate elimination issues that were previously not present, they are communicating a stressor in their environment, as evidenced by her urinating and defecating on the bed she is hiding underneath. Sylvia appears to be deteriorating in shelter and no longer allows behavior staff to pet her with either their hands or with the scratcher tools but will poke her head out and eat treats when offered.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No other cats OR multi-cat home with adopters experienced with introducing new cats,Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: Due to the surrendering reason, the behavior team feels it would be best for Sylvia to go to a home where she will be the only cat. Or to a home that understands her previous experiences and where her adopters have experience with introducing cats appropriately. Due to the behavior seen in shelter and needing a longer time to warm up, the behavior team feels Sylvia would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 8/10/24 On approach, Silvia is curled at the back of the cage with a slightly tense face and body, ears forward, and tail wrapped tight around her body. She accepts pets with the scratcher tool. While unsure at first, she allows and accepts pets along her head and back with the assessor's hand and raises her head to accept pets under her chin. Pick up is not attempted to prevent any further FAS. 10/10/24 Upon re-eval (accidentally clicked same date during initial eval for re-eval so was not seen after a month but was continually on our socialization list), Silvia appears to be deteriorating in shelter and is no longer comfortable accepting touch/pets from either the scratcher tool or with the assessor's hand. On approach, she is in her den and hidden from view but as the assessor places a tray with squeeze up near the den opening, she pokes her head out and begins to eat. When the assessor attempts to slowly offer out the scratcher tool, she ducks back in and comes back to eat when the tool is removed. When the assessor attempts to pet her with the tool, she tenses and flinches before coming out of her den to run up to the back of the shelf. When petting is attempted one last time, she again runs from the shelf back near the den and the cage door is closed to prevent her from fleeing out of the cage. Pick up is not attempted. Silvia is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room or may require further investigation before placement in a home. She 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.