KNOWN HISTORY:: Indoor Previously lived with: 2 adults Behavior toward strangers: Benicio is shy and timid, he also hides initially, and he prefers contact on his own terms with strangers and visitors. Behavior toward children: No experience Behavior toward cats: Around other cats, he will hiss and swat Behavior toward dogs: No experiences Bite or Scratch history: Prior owner stated that Benicio began displaying aggression towards her fairly recently, over the last several weeks. She stated that he is friendly with other people but displays aggression towards her. She believes it is possible that the behavior may be due to him being unneutered and that she no longer feels safe with him in the home, to the point where she hasn’t been staying at home and has had her son taking care of him. The client did not give an exact date for this incident but stated that when she was on the couch, he attacked her legs unprovoked, breaking skin. She did not seek medical attention. 6/19/26: The client stated that she left the home and later on when reentering, he once again attacked her legs, scratching them and breaking skin. The wounds were self-treated. 7/13/26: The client stated that while she was walking, Benicio attacked her legs once again, swatting and cutting up her ankles. She attempted to kick out her leg to stop him. She described Benicio as “becoming wild” and described not being able to stop him, eventually being able to walk away. The scratches broke skin but she did not seek medical attention. Litter box training: Yes Energy level/descriptors: Low Other notes: Trims their nails: never done Brushes their coat: struggles or squirms/ swats Picks up or holds them: struggles and squirms Places them in a carrier: never done During intake, staff was unable to scan for MC as Benicio was experiencing high FAS. He was also growling consistently, flat ears, and lip licking, and hissing. Assistance was needed as he was not willing to go into a den by himself, admission staff member assisted with carefully dumping him into the den.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 07/31/26 FB09 Benicio was poking his head out of his den with dilated eyes and approached the front of his kennel. He sniffed the treats offered to him before eagerly licking them up. He allowed petting along his head while eating but once he finished, he began grumbling. He peered around the room while grumbling, eager to leave his kennel. The interaction was ended to prevent escalation/overstimulation. 08/15/26 FB09 Benicio was at the front of his kennel with neutral eyes and forward ears, meowing for attention. When opening the door, he leaned forward and head-bunted the handler's hand, ignoring the treats offered to him. He insistently tried to push outside of his kennel to explore, eventually getting overstimulated and hissing. The interaction was ended to reduce FAS.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Moderate

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Curious,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Overstimulation,Other,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: See relevant behavior flyers. Benicio has a prior history of behavioral challenges and a scratch history, please see known history above.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: Due to prior scratch history and behavioral issues in his previous home, adult only home.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Benicio is in his den, poking his head out with wide eyes and dilated pupils as the assessor approaches, beginning to low growl. He is softly spoken to, and treats are gently tossed into the kennel, and after a couple minutes he exits the den, body and tail held low and tense as he begins to eat the treats. When the assessor attempts to open the kennel door, Benicio quickly looks up and hisses loudly. Handler instead continues soft talk and offers a squeeze up on the scratcher tool, and Benicio comes forward to quickly eat it. When petting is attempted with the tool, Benicio will back up, lean away, and hiss/swat at the tool to avoid contact. He continues to accept treats when they are offered before walking back into the den, leaning his head out to observe the assessor and continuing to low growl. Benicio is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and/or may require further investigation before placement in a home. He has tried to swat, and scratch and is extremely fearful in the shelter environment He 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. He may have a known history of behavioral issues that need to be addressed.