KNOWN HISTORY:: Mochi was brought in with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment. He lived with 2 adults and a SMB dog. Mochi was reported not to get along with strangers or other animals.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 1/23/25 FB79 On the top part of his kennel, Mochi has his tail wrapped around his legs with forward ears and wide/dilated eyes. He shows no reaction when i open his kennel door and speak to him but when i slowly bring the scratcher tool closer he hisses and backs up towards the corner. Mochi does tolerate petting on his head and cheeks but starts to lick lick. 1/24/25 FB61 On top of cat perch upon approach, body and face tense and tail wrapped tightly around feet. He is very upset today and hisses continuously as I open his cubby door and slowly offer him treats. He remains tense and focused on me with airplane ears. Scared bb, I speak to him softly, slow-blink and end the session. 1/26/25 FB79 Sitting at the top of his kennel, Mochi is hissing at me when i approach and speak softly. He has slightly tilted ears but a loose tail and hisses once more time when i open the kennel door to place some treats down for him. He does not come down or escalate. 1/29/25 FB58 Sitting at the back of his shelf with a tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated, and hisses when he sees me. I open the food slot and use the tool to pull his food tray closer (he leans forward to smell the tool) and I offer some dry treats which he also sniffs at. I place a cover on his cage door and he hisses while the door is open. 1/30/25 FB61 Today I used the bubble gun, which Mochi did not appreciate too much. He remained tense in the back of his perch with a tense face and body and tail wrapped around his feet. His ears are flat and he hisses whenever he sees me. He shifts his ears forward when offered treats and he eats two before he becomes focused on me again. He eats the remainder of the treats when I walk away... will continue to build positive associations. 2/1/25 FB79 On the top part of his kennel, paws tucked away and forward ears Mochi hisses upon approach; he low growl/grumbles with flickering ears and dilated eyes. He allows pets with the pointer tool on his cheeks with no reaction but very tense. 2/3/25 & 2/6/25 FB79 Today, Mochi displayed the same behaviors described in the previous enrichment note. On the top part of the kennel, Mochi has his paws tucked away and low hisses when i approach and speak to him softly. He leans in to sniff the tool when i slowly bring it towards him but he does not allow contact as we tenses up and backs away closely watching the tool. He strikes it away softly one time but does briefly tolerate petting on his head and cheeks. 2/7/25 FB61 Hunched on perch, body and face tense initially. She hisses with flat ears when I speak to her but she does not lunge when I open her perch door and gently push some treats towards her. Her ears shift forward and she slow-blinks and I spend the session speaking to her softly as she watches me with a neutral, curious expression. Will continue to build positive associations... She does not eat the treats while I am watching. -GAN

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Energetic

VOCAL:: Somewhat chatty

CHARACTER TYPE: : Social,Sweet,Affectionate,Playful,Curious,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,Very high energy level,Other,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: Bite/scratch history: Mochie has scratched and bit the owner numerous times. The owner was away for a few weeks and his mom has been caring for the cat. The owner returned the night of 1/18/25. In the morning of 1/19/25 at 9:30 am, Mochi saw the owner, jumped up, and began biting and scratching the owner's face, both arms (upper/lower), and both legs (thighs and below). The owner had to snatch Mochi off of this legs, tossed him into the kitchen, and shut the kitchen door. Mochi was reported to have scratched and bit the owner numerous times (see Known History above for more details). It is possible that the environmental stressor of the resident SMB dog had resulted in FAS and/or redirected aggression onto the owner. Mochi displays fearful behaviors such as hissing and growling; however, he tolerates brief petting and attention in the shelter setting and he does not escalate any further. 2/19/25 Mochi has improved greatly in shelter while on gabapentin for interactions and now allows the Feline Behavior staff to pet his head, cheeks, and along his back as he leans into the touch. He also allows staff to lift him up and place him back down. Mochi may be more sensitive to his environment and to strangers and may have a more heightened sense of stranger danger. Due to this, while he has allowed all handling now, the behavior team feels it would be best for him to go to a home with an experienced adopter that has been counselled on his previous bite incidents, the effects that the environment can have on stress and the potential for redirection as well as how to appropriately introduce strangers to Mochi and to move at his pace. Future adopters should work to help Mochi develop a positive association with strangers/visitors in the home and visitors should not immediately be interacting with Mochi but working to develop a positive association as well by respecting his boundaries, offering treats, and allowing Mochi to approach on his terms. The Feline Behavior Team recommends that Mochi continue on gabapentin after leaving the shelter and that future adopters work with their personal vets to find the appropriate solution and management program. Mochi is an active young cat who would benefit from increased mental and physical stimulation to appropriately direct his energy. We recommend using fishing pole-type toys as they allow for vigorous and stimulating exercise. Puzzle feeders will also keep Mochi engaged and exercise his brain in addition to his body.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home,No dogs

Recommendations comments:: Due to fearfulness and owner reports of behavior with dogs and a bite/scratch history.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 1/27/25 Mochi is a shy, timid, and independent cat. He was crouched down on top of the shelf at the back corner with his tail wrapped around his body. He harshly hisses upon approach and continues to hiss and begins growling when reaching close to offer treats on the scratcher tool. He pauses to sniff treats offered and continues to growl when receiving cheek rubs. He lowers his head when pet and then lip licks, tenses up, and wraps his tail tighter around his body when stroking his body. Pick up was not attempted in order to reduce stress. 1/19/25, 2/20/25 & 3/20/25 Upon re-eval, Mochi is displaying Level 2* behaviors, however due to the severity of the bite incident that occurred and his sensitivity to the environment and strangers- an experienced Level 3 home would be the best fit for him. On approach, Mochi is sitting at the front of the cage with a slightly tense face and body, ears forward, and slowly moves to the back of the cage and jumps up onto the shelf and hisses when the cage door is opened appearing to be slightly unsure. When the assessor slowly approaches and offers him the scratcher tool, he allows pets on his head and cheeks and raises his hips and tail as he leans into the touch. He then allows pets with the assessor's hand and and continues to lean into the touch with a soft face and ears forward. he follow's the assessor's hand down to the main area and stands near the front with his tail raised, accepting pets along his head and cheeks as well as along his back. He allows the assessor to lift him up and place him back down without issue. When the assessor meets with him again the next day to confirm the improved behavior, he is sitting at the front of the cage again with a neutral face and body and stays there until the cage door is opened, upon which he jumps on the shelf (but does not hiss). He leans forward to sniff the hand offered out to him and accepts all pets along his head, cheeks and body while on the shelf as he leans into the touch with a soft face. He takes a moment but when a toy is waved, he jumps down right near the assessor with his tail raised and continues to accept all pets, even allowing the assessor to pet his face with both hands and give him cheek scratches with his tail raised. He again allows the assessor to lift him up and place him back down without issue. Mochi appreciates attention and petting but may be fearful or stressed in the shelter, and may be intimidated by small children. He may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to his new home. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.