Animal Profile
Lucy
Hello, my name is Lucy. My animal id is #243717. I am a female black cat at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 7 months 1 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a stray on 12/15/2025.
Lucy is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.
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. Lucy is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. She would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give her 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 am looking for a home with a patient person. I can be slow to adjust to new environments. I prefer to take things at my own pace. Lucy tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. She may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to her new home. We recommend that this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 5.1 lbs
12/17/2025
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 6 months based on dentition Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: ACO-Impound, reported to have been left at off site vet clinic Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - tense/dilated pupils, attempted to flee, reported by off site vet staff to be fearful with handling -- sedated using 0.1 ml Dexmedetomidine (500mcg/ml) + 0.1 ml Butorphanol (10mg/ml) IM. Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective T = P = WNL R = WNL BCS: 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition, clean/white PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Externally WNL, intact female, no OHE scar or tattoo noted MSI: Ambulatory x 4 (prior to sedation), skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities (prior to sedation) Rectal: Externally WNL Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment Apparently healthy Intact female Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks + exam Await sort + behavior assessment 0.1 ml antisedan IM SURGERY: Okay for surgery
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow
KNOWN HISTORY:: Lucy was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on her behavior history in a home environment.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 12/19/25 Vol. Lucy was curled up in the lower cubby in a loaf position with dilated pupils. She followed a laser pointer with her eyes but did not change positions. She did not show interest in Churu. She tensed her body up and backed away from light petting with peacock feather. I left her with a peacock feather and a small amount of Churu. 12/20/25 Vol. At back of cubby throughout interaction. Mostly lying down, sort of hunched looking forward. Hissed. Ignored offered dry treats on scratcher tool. Offered lickable treat on spoon then on scratcher tool. Looked at and sniffed. Ate tiny bit. Hissed a couple more times. Petted with scratcher tool. Tense body and hunched position. End of interaction. 12/22/25 FB32 Lying down in the middle of the bottom cubby with neutral body and wide eyes. Steps back when spoken to and opening the door. Sniffs treats offered steps back and widens eyes when reaching close, then she hisses and swats (breaks the glove, but not skin). She crouches down and lip licks and remains alert. 12/24/25 FB73 Lucy is laying in the back of her cubby, pupils dilated and body tense as the handler approaches and opens the cubby door. Treats are offered and she leans forward to sniff them before backing away again, lip licking. She tolerates some petting with the scratcher tool but remains tense and hisses when she is pet. Interaction is ended to reduce FAS, and a small hidey box is left in her kennel. 12/26/25 Vol. Meatloafed in bottom cubby, staring as reading report. Put treat bowl by cubby entry - Lucy remained in cubby - round eyed, ears slightly turned. Removed treat bowl and put in cubby. Lucy moved to back of cubby into crouch. Approached with hard treats on tool - no reaction. Dropped treats - she hissed and swatted tool twice. Waited for attention to be diverted and ended interaction. 12/28/25 FB73 Lucy is laying in her hidey box, head poking out over the top. When petting is attempted with the scratcher tool she hisses but tolerates petting on the head, cheeks and back, however, does not engage with it, leans away, and lip licks as she is pet. Lick mat is left in kennel and interaction is ended. 12/29/25 FB32 Lying down curled up in the hidey box at the back of the bottom cubby. When reaching close to offer treats by hand, she leans back and softly hisses. When pet on the head, she swats my hand, breaks the glove, and hisses again. Kept interaction short to reduce stress. 01/04/26 FB73 Lucy is laying in her hidey box in the back of her cubby, body tense as the cubby door is opened. When petting is attempted with the scratcher tool contact is able to be briefly made on the top of her head before she leans her head back, hissing and swatting without claws at the tool. A squeeze up is offered on the scratcher tool but she does not take it. Interaction is ended to reduce FAS. ~GAN
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Laid back,Subdued
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Sweet,Curious,Skittish,Independent
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,Kitten socialization,New home adjustment period
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Lucy was resting in the den on approach and was alert with wide eyes. She slowly retreated while scanning the room, with ears erect and forward. She allowed petting along the head and body with the scratcher tool but remained immobile throughout the assessment and ignored offered treats. Lucy tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. She may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to her new home. We recommend that this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents.