KNOWN HISTORY:: Lived Indoors Previously lived with: 2 Adults, 4 cats Behavior toward strangers: Friendly and outgoing, plays gently and exuberantly with adults Behavior toward children: Unknown Behavior toward cats: Lived with 4 other cats and was relaxed, affectionate, respectful and very tolerant. Playing gently with them Behavior toward dogs: Unknown Bite or Scratch history: None Litter box training: Yes, previously used hooded or uncovered litterboxes with clumping litter Energy level/descriptors: Low Energy Level Other notes: He is affectionate, mellow, playful, friendly and shy. He is loving and loves to follow you around. His favorite toys are wand toys, balls and string toys. He uses a rough rope, cardboard and carpet scratching post. He will sleep during car rides, and has never had a bath or his nails trimmed. He enjoys having his coat brushed and being picked up and held. He isn't bothered being put in a carrier.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 12/08/22 Lying on top of kuranda bed upon approach, body tense and tail curled around feet. He tolerates all petting while turning to watch my hand with a tense face. He is curious but unsure, I reward with treats and a silvervine stick. 12/20/22 Hunched in front of kennel today, body neutral and ears forward. He stands up when spoken to, then begins rubbing his cheeks against his den with his tail raised. He becomes uncomfortable when I open the kennel door and hisses before retreating onto his den. He tolerates petting with the scratcher tool while flattening his ears, squinting his eyes and leaning away. Appears way more uncomfortable than our previous session. I end the interaction by feeding him squeeze-ups (he eats them right away) and speaking to him softly. 12/22/22 Lying on top of cat den, body and facet tense with tail wrapped around body. He tenses and tilts his ears as the kennel door opens and I initiate the session by offering him some squeeze-ups. He begins eating from the tray and I click and reward for each full body pet that he tolerates. Needs time. 12/28/22 He is laying on top of his den with a tense face and body and tail wrapped. I offer him some mackerel filet and he sits up to it eat it with his ears slightly tilted. When I offer my hand he scrunches his face up with ears to the side so I switch to the scratcher tool. He allows me to pet him along the top of the head with the tool but hisses when touched along his side. He has a shorter/smaller threshold for petting and seems to be deteriorating, may be an EPL candidate once off DOH Hold. 12/29/22 Crouched in front of kennel, body and face tense. He growls and hisses when spoken to, but begins sniffing the air curiously when he notices I have fishy treats. He eats all the treats offered, then tolerates petting with the scratcher tool while leaning in with his tail raised! He retreats shortly afterwards and I give him some more treats before ending the session. Currently displaying conflicted behaviors - will hiss, growl and retreat, but will also raise tail and lean in at times. 12/30/22 He is at the front of his cage with his ears forward and a slightly tense body as he watches me. I offer him some tuna and he eats it quickly and begins to grumble and low growls when I don't give him more fast enough. When I try and use the scratcher tool to see if he'll let me pet him, he runs to the other side of his double cage. At one point I am able to pet him along his back a few times and while he tolerates it, he remains tense and stares at me. 01/03/23 Lying in front of his kennel as the assessor approached, body and face neutral. He makes eye contact, head and body remaining low, then tolerates all petting while tilting his ears. He eats half the tuna offered. He appears to be feeling lethargic and low energy today. I do not have the impression that he is tolerant because he is less stressed, because his body language is overall subdued & lethargic.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Laid back

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Timid,Skittish,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Varnia is sitting on his kuranda bed when the assessor approaches, with ears forward and body and face neutral. When the door is opened he tenses slightly and leans forward to sniff the hand offered out to him. He allows some petting along the top of his head but begins to shift backwards. The assessor offers him some dry treats and he eats them quickly. When the assessor reaches forward again slowly to pet his head he pulls back and hisses twice. The assessor then uses the scratcher tool to pet along his back which he tolerates but is uncomfortable with. Pick up was not attempted at this time. Although timid initially, Varnia has now warmed up the care center. Varnia was sitting in the center of his kennel as the assessor approached, feet and tail tucked neatly beneath him in a loaf position and his expression soft. Varnia made eye contact when spoken to and remained calm as the kennel door opened. Varnia allowed all petting while leaning in gently and softening his face. Varnia allowed the assessor to lift him with a tense body. During Varnia's re-assessment, he displayed similar distance increasing behaviors as during his original assessment. Varnia tolerates petting but hisses and displays distance increasing behaviors at this time. Varnia tolerates 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.