Animal Profile

Baru is on the At Risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to his stress levels, it is in his best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.

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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Baru is on the At Risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to his stress levels, it is in his best interest to move out of the kennel environment and into a stable home as quickly as possible. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers. A volunteer writes: Brought to us when his person could no longer care for him, Baru has been loved and adored. We want him to find that love again and he will, but sometimes these things take time, which is definitely not the response Baru has been hoping to hear. It seems he'd much rather skip this middle part because Baru is no fan of the Care Center. We keep trying to make him happy, or at the very least, comfortable, but Baru is often nervous which makes him especially and understandably uninterested in our efforts. Suggestions of playtime, pets, or even treats fall flat and leave him scurrying around in his condo in an attempt to collect his thoughts without us there. We'd love to be able to explain our role a little better to Baru, but he hasn't given us much of a chance to do so. That said, he's really hoping you'll still be open to giving him one. Baru's hoping to find a patient and loving home where can be himself.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 13.8 lbs

Medical Notes

3/23/2025

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 7 years old Microchip noted on Intake? No History: O surrender Subjective: very nervous, did well with handling wrapped in a towel Is there evidence of Cruelty? no Is there evidence of Neglect? no Is there evidence of Trauma? no Objective P = wnl R = wnl BCS = 6/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Mild dental tartar to molars PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupnic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Neutered male MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally normal Assessment: Apparently healthy Prognosis: Good Plan: Continue to monitor while in care

3/27/2025

Progress exam: Inappetence noted on rounds board Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D. 2/3 marked on monitor log Objective: EYES: Clear, no discharge LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed inappetence PLAN: Per standing orders -Start medical feedings q12h x5days -Placed monitor log on kennel -CTM, recheck on 3/31

3/31/2025

Progress exam: Subjective: Appetite recheck Objective: 3s marked on log, untouched medical feed in kennel ASSESSMENT: Presumed inappetence PLAN: Per standing orders -Alert DVM about unchanged appetite -CTM

4/1/2025

Poor appetite reported, on medical feedings S/O: QAR, food appears mostly untouched (possibly ate a tiny bit of dry?), growls when I reach towards him with temptations treats and does not eat them readily. No c/s/v/d noted EENT: No ocular or nasal discharge LUNGS: Eupneic CNS: Appropriate mentation A: Poor appetite - ro FAS vs other P: Continue medical feedings Emailed feline behavior team to get their opinion. They will meet with him tomorrow and see if they can get him to eat anything.

4/2/2025

Feline behavior unable to get Baru to eat, but he did allow touch/petting; continued anorexia vs hyporexia. S/O: QAR in den, one appetite score of 2 yesterday, the rest are 3's. No c/s/v/d noted, no signs of URI, eupneic A: Hyporexia vs anorexia - ro FAS vs other P: Extend medical feedings Start mirataz SID x 2 days Continue to monitor on rounds, recheck in 2 days

4/4/2025

Appetite recheck - QAR in den, ate some dry, appetite scores yesterday were 2 (fair), no c/s/v/d noted, eupneic. CTM while at QACC.

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Upon intake the cat was extremely fearful and fled in the intake room. The cat was jumping up walls and running around. Staff was able to coax him in the corner with a stick to walk into the den.

If yes, Please elaborate:: Access to a litterbox in the home: Yes Used the bathroom outdoors: Not reported Litter boxes in the home: 1 Litter box location(s): Living room Other location: Not reported Type of litter box: Covered, Has a plastic liner Other type: Not reported Type of litter: Unscented Other type: Not reported Spraying: No Spraying location(s): Not reported Able to see outdoor cats: No Accident frequency: Not reported Frequency info: Not reported Type of accident: Not reported Accident info: Not reported Accidents began: Not reported Additional info: Not reported Litter box scooped: Not reported Additional info: Not reported Litter boxes shared: Not reported Additional info: Not reported Litterbox relocated: Not reported Additional info: Not reported Litterbox location type: Not reported Seen by a vet: Not reported Diagnosis: Not reported Tried behavior modification: Not reported Behavior modification type: Not reported Additional info: Not reported Suspected cause: Not reported

Basic Information:: Name: Baru Age: 6-10 years old Color: grey Sex: Male Altered: Yes Declawed: No Surrender Reason: owner health issue Length of time owned: 7 years Where the previous owner got this cat: someone offered me

Previously lived with:: Lived with: Adults, Other Cats Additional info: 1 adult (owner) 1 cat (Neko) Spent time with (visi

How is this cat around strangers?: No experience

How is this cat around children?: Hides initially

How is this cat around other cats?: Plays gently

How is this cat around dogs?: No experience

Behavior Notes: If they hiss, growl, swat, or bite - these behaviors are usually: Defensive How this cat reacts when someone... - Trims their nails: Stress meows - Brushes their coat: Unbothered - Picks up/holds: Stress meows - Places them in a carrier: Stress meows

Bite history:: Previous bite/scratch to a person: No Did the bite/scratch break skin: Not reported Date of last bite/scratch: Previous bite/scratch to another animal: No Did either animal need vet care: Not reported Date of last bite/scratch to an animal: Additional info: Not reported

Energy level/descriptors:: Medium

Has this cat ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: Medical info: Not reported Allergies: No Allergy info: Not reported Veterinarian: Last vet check:

For a New Family to Know: Medical info: Not reported Allergies: No Allergy info: Not reported Veterinarian: Last vet check:

KNOWN HISTORY:: Lived Indoors Previously lived with: Lived with: Adults, Other Cats Additional info: 1 adult (owner) 1 cat (Neko) When around strangers: No experience Behavior toward children: Hides initially Behavior toward cats: Plays gently Behavior toward dogs: No experience. Bite or Scratch history: None Litter box training: yes Energy level/descriptors: Medium

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 4/02/25 FB61 In back of cubby upon approach, body tense and crouched, tail wrapped around body and pupils dilated. He hisses when I open the cubby and he tolerates petting while retreating into his main kennel space with a low body and tail. I am unable to interest him in treats or enrichment today... nervous boy. Needs time. I leave him a feliway scented piece of felt and end the session. 04/07/25 FB61 In cat den upon initial approach. He leaves his den as soon as I open the kennel door - darting to the other side of his kennel and then freezing and darting again when I place treats down to try and entice him. He is super skittish and tries to flee when I have the kennel door open so I have to keep the interaction brief at this time. He appears to not be doing so well in the shelter at this time… his food looks untouched and he does not show interest in the treats or catnip toy offered. 4/11/25 FB79 Inside of his den, Barus eyes widen when i approach and when i speak to him softly he sits with his tail wrapped around his legs as she looks around for an exist. as i reach in to try and adjust his den door that was falling off he quickly exits with a very low body and tail and retreats to the top part of the kennel where he perches and watches me closely. 4/10/25 FB58 I try switching out his den for a bed today to see if that does anything for him but he then chooses to sit up on the shelf with a tense face and body, eyes wide like saucers. I offer fancy squeeze up and he shows no interest. 4/14/25 FB61 In cat den watching me with dilated pupils and wide eyes. He makes and maintains eye contact when spoken to and he flinches/looks for an escape when I open the kennel door. I do not want to freak him out further so I keep the interaction brief and end it after I leave him some treats and a toy. Will check on him later… 4/18/15 FB79 Today, Baru displayed the same behaviors as the previous enrichment note. Next to his den, Baru has a neutral face and body with forward ears and almond eyes when i approach. He has no reaction when i speak and no interest in the treats that i place down for him. He allows me to pet his head with the tool but as soon as i slowly bring my hand in for pets he backs away towards the back, wrapping his tail around his legs and his body becomes tense with hunched in shoulder. 4/23/25 FB61 He begins growling as I open the kennel door, hunched on top of his perch with dilated pupils a tense expression and his tail wrapped around his feet. He lowers his body and begins growling louder as I gently push some treats towards him. He does not show interest in the treats or the catnip toy offered today (he remains hyper-fixated on me and all my movements) and he retreats into his den as I'm closing the kennel door. Good thing is he looks like he ate all of his wet food. Maybe he will eat the treats later when the room is empty. -GAN

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Timid

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful

Potential challenges comments:: Please see behavior flyer for more information.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children

Recommendations comments:: Due to showing signs of FAS in shelter, requiring a longer period to warm up and being shy initially around children in his previous home, the behavior team recommends Baru goes to a home with no young children under the age of 5to provide him with an environment in which they can appropriately acclimate/be socialized.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Baru was in his cat den as the assessor approached, body tense, tail wrapped around feet and eyes wide. Baru avoided eye contact when spoken to and he remained hidden as the kennel door opened. Baru tolerated petting along his head and body while flinching and looking around the room with wide eyes. Pick up was not attempted at this time to reduce stress. 4/26/25 Upon re-evaluation, Baru is inside of the den with wide/dilated eyes, forward ears and his tail tightly wrapped around his body when the assessor lifts the kennel door for a better view. He hisses when spoken to and adjust his weight and body backing into the corner while lip licking when the pointer tool is slowly brought into the den opening. Baru tolerated pets on his head with a tense body but snapped back hissing once again at the tool when it was used to pet down his back. Pick up was not attempted. Baru tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. He may be a little more independent and may need time to warm up to his new home. We recommend this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, he may not be a great fit for young children. Any home with older children prepared to adopt this cat should conduct a thorough interaction and endeavor to monitor this cat around their children to prevent these behaviors from being reinforced.