Animal Profile
Gingerly
Hello, my name is Gingerly . My animal id is #223841. I am a desexed female black cat at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 3 years 2 months 3 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a aco - owner surrender on 4/3/2025, with the surrender reason stated as animal circumstance - abandoned by previous owner.
Gingerly 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 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. She 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.
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. Gingerly 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 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. She 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. What my friends at ACC say about me: My history is a mystery and my friends here do not know much about me yet! I have lived with cats in my previous home. 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. I will flourish in a calm environment and a low-traffic home. I would appreciate slow introductions to new people and places to help me feel safe. I'm sensitive and shy. I'll need extra help from you. I would do best in a home without very tiny humans, although I could be open to older human children once I meet them. A volunteer writes: Gingerly is a beautiful and gentle young girl who is doing her very best to overcome her fear and make friends at the Care Center. Her hesitancy is totally understandable; she came to us from a home where she was abandoned by her owner. Not only is that traumatic, but she's trying to adjust to new surroundings, and it's a challenge for even the most outgoing cats. We're super encouraged by how she's making progress and allowing some pettings and human interaction, and we have every reason to believe that if new pet parents take a go-slow approach, she'll feel safe, secure, and then blossom. Gingerly shows absolutely no aggression, and she really does seem to want to open up. All she needs is a patient person who understands her need for a little time and space. Looking for a cat who could use an assist? Gingerly is waiting to meet you today.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 7.3125 lbs
4/4/2025
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 8 mos Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: owner surrender Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - will flee, examined through net Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective BCS EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: intact female, possible early pregnancy, unable to US due to behaviour MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Wood's Lamp Exam: negative Assessment: - ear mites Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks SURGERY: Okay for surgery - possible early pregnancy
4/10/2025
SO: From household with confirmed ringworm BAR, tense at back of kennel eent: eyes clear, no ocular or nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4, small circular patches of hair loss on face and bridge of nose neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: dermatophytosis P: itraconazole 10mg/ml 3.3ml PO SID x21d lyme dip 2x/week for 3 weeks
4/11/2025
Pre-Op Exam S: QAR, tense/lip licking in den O: Visual exam only EEN- eyes clear, no nasal or ocular discharge noted H/L- Eupneic MSK/i- Ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: Possible dermatophytosis Possible early pregnant Appears to be a good anesthetic candidate P: Wear PPE when handling Spay today (last)
4/11/2025
Surgery - Cat Spay Was this cat in heat, pregnant or have a pyometra? No Ventral Midline Incision Ovaries Ligated with: autoligation Uterine Body Ligated with: 3-0 PDS using a single modified millers knot Abdominal Closure: 3-0 PDS single cruciate Skin closure: 3-0 PDS intradermal Green Linear Tattoo Placed near Midline Surgeon: 2172 Additional Comments: Lactating, uterus palpated semi friable, likely 3-4 weeks post partum
4/11/2025
Feline OHE performed by Vet: 2172 Patient anesthesia form uploaded to Shelter Buddy in Vet Documents. Pain managements: Zorbium 1 ml- 1 tube was applied pre-SX as a one time dose for pain management lasting up to 3 days of pain relief. Onsior 20 mg/ml Injection- 0.35 ml was given Post-Op as a one time dose for pain management.
5/1/2025
Ringworm PCR: Microsporum spp. RealPCR NEGATIVE Microsporum canis RealPCR NEGATIVE Trichophyton spp. RealPCR a NEGATIVE A: No evidence of dermatophytosis in sample P: Ok to move out to gen pop
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow
KNOWN HISTORY:: Gingerly was brought in with limited information on her behavior history in a home environment. She lived in a home with many other cats.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: Previous assessment on 4/6/25: Gingerly is a shy, timid, and independent cat. She was hiding in the den lying down, then steps back and sits up with her face at the top corner, focused on the assessor with a tense body and wide eyes, when the assessor removes the den cover. She ignores treats offered and allows petting on the head and cheeks, but she remains frozen and does not engage with the attention. When stroking her back and gently reaching around her body, she attempts to dodge the petting and skittishly retreats out of the den to the back of the kennel. She crouches down and then hides into the den again when reaching close. Pick up was not attempted in order to reduce stress. Previous assessment on 5/7/25: Gingerly was resting in her den upon approach, alert with neutral eyes and ears relaxed and forward. She allowed petting through the side portal door using the scratcher tool but remained immobile throughout the interaction and showed no interest in offered treats. 5/10/25 Vol. Gingerly is lying on her side, crouched in the back of the cubby behind the litter box. She has one eye open and one eye closed, with one ear down. She doesn’t stir or move when I open the cubby door. She’s uninterested in treats but will allow me to pet her on her head and down her back. I petted her for quite a while, then I left, and when I returned and tried to pet her again, she scrunched further back in the cubby and flattened her ears, so I ended the interaction. 5/11/25 Vol. Gingerly was frozen in fear. She was lying in a weird angle in the back of the top cubby, wide-eyed, and with airplane ears. I offered her squeeze up on the scratcher tool, but she didn’t move at all. 5/14/25 Vol. Gingerly was in cubby behold d privacy paper, lying in her side with tail wrapped around her body. She did not show interest in treats or toys, remaining frozen in place. She tolerated brief petting on her head, pressing herself into the back corner of cubby and avoiding eye contact. 5/15/25 FB26 She was tightly crouched against the back wall of the cubby, alert with wide eyes. She allowed gentle petting with both the scratcher tool and hand along her head and body but remained immobile throughout and showed no interest in the offered treats. 6/18/25 Vol. Gingerly was lying in cubby behind privacy paper. Her tail was tucked around her body and her pupils were somewhat dilated. When offered squeeze up on scratcher tool, she ate with little hesitation. She had never accepted treats directly from me in previous interactions. She continued to accept more squeeze up offered on scratcher, but when I tried offering her some by hand, she froze in place.
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Laid back,Mellow
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Calm,Curious,Timid,Skittish,Independent
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization
Potential challenges comments:: Gingerly is an adult cat who may have had limited interactions with humans early in life. She is very apprehensive around people and, while not showing any signs of aggression, tends to avoid contact and may try to flee when approached. It is difficult to predict how she will respond to socialization, but offering high-value treats and food can help build positive associations with humans. Please note that older cats often require more time, patience, and skill to become comfortable around people. We encourage you to speak with an adoption counselor to learn more about effective socialization techniques and how to best support Gingerly in a calm and understanding environment.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children
Recommendations comments:: No young children under 13 years old due to fearfulness. Counselor discretion is advised.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Gingerly was resting in a cubby and appeared alert but cautious. She leaned forward to sniff the scratcher tool, then retreated and observed from a distance. She allowed gentle petting on the head and body but remained immobile and tense, shrinking in place. She showed no interest in treats, and the assessment was ended early to minimize stress. Gingerly 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 this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, she 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.