Animal Profile
Mercury
Hello, my name is Mercury . My animal id is #234224. I am a desexed female orange cat at the Staten Island Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 1 years 3 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a aco - impound on 8/13/2025.
Reserved
Someone has already placed a deposit on me. I'm no longer available.
Mercury is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is an under socialized adult cat and is not thriving in the care center and continues to display avoidant behaviors when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her 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 her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping an under socialized and fearful hoarding 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. Mercury is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is an under socialized adult cat and is not thriving in the care center and continues to display avoidant behaviors when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, it is in her 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 her plenty of time and space to adjust, and who have experience with helping an under socialized and fearful hoarding cat adjust to strangers. Mercury is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. He is apprehensive of people and while showing no aggressive behaviors, he appears wary of human contact. It is difficult to predict if he will respond to socialization but we recommend offering high value treats and food to help build a positive association to humans. Please be mindful that older cats will require more time and skill in order for them to be comfortable around people. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 7.1 lbs
8/13/2025
DVM Intake Estimated age: 1-3 years Microchip noted on Intake? No History: Owner surrender Subjective: BARH, no coughing/sneezing/vomiting/diarrhea Observed behavior: Wide eyes, stress meowing, attempting to flee. Settles when wrapped firmly in blanket, pupils become more almond shaped, accepts chin rubs. Allowed all handling with towel Evidence of cruelty seen: No Evidence of trauma seen: No Evidence of neglect seen: No Objective: P: WNL R: WNL BCS: 3-4/9 OP: Mucous membranes pink and moist. Stage I dental disease. EENT: Eyes, ears, and nares clear bilaterally, no discharge noted. PLN: Small/soft/symmetrical/nonpainful CV: No murmurs or arrhythmias, pulses strong and synchronous. RESP: Eupneic, no crackles/wheezes GI: Soft, nonpainful, no palpable masses. UG: male intact, two descended testicles, no discharge INT: Good hair coat, no areas of alopecia or pruritus, no masses noted. MS: Ambulatory x4, no pain on palpation of epaxials NEURO: Mentation appropriate, cranial nerves intact, no deficits noted. Assessment: -Fleas -Stage I dental disease -Mildly underweight Prognosis: Excellent Plan: -Gave capstar 1 tablet PO with intake -Recommend weight gain, at home dental care with placement Surgery: Okay for surgery
8/20/2025
Pre-surgical exam by offsite vet. Medical record uploaded to Vet Documents. Spay/Neuter - REJECTED, Already Spayed Notes: increased FAS noted ear tip on left ear confirmed female shaved abdomen - tattoo seen
8/21/2025
Needs a Fiv/Felv test /// Done///Negative
8/29/2025
Behavior team requests gabapentin trial due to FAS in shelter for this cat and its kennel-mate (Corvette 234223). Unable to administer PO, will be placed in HV food so there is no way to ensure one cat doesn't eat both doses. Start gabapentin 100mg PO BID to be shared between cats. CTM and check in with FB team in 2 weeks.
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 2. Blue
KNOWN HISTORY:: Mercury was brought in from a hoarding situation with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 8/17/25 FB79 On the top of his kennel, Mercury has wide eyes when i open the kennel door and his tail wrapped around his legs as he attempted to jump down to retreat into the cubby but didn't backed himself into the corner. He tolerated pets on his head and cheeks with the tool after sniffing and when i placed treats in front of his he very quickly started to enjoy while keeping eyes contact with me with his eyes still very dilated and body very tense/hunched in shoulders. 8/19/25 FB58 Sitting on the shelf with a tense face and body, he is tightly loafed with his tail wrapped, eyes wide and dilated and ears forward. He shies away from touch at times but is tolerant of some pets. I offer treats and he sniffs them but doesn't eat. 8/25/25 FB61 Hunched on top of perch, huddled next to kennel-mate with front paws tucked, tail wrapped tightly around body and pupils dilated. She maintains focus on me when offered treats and remains frozen and trembling as I speak to her softly. When I offer a catnip toy, her and her kennel-mate retreat into their hidey-box in unison. Nervous babies, they need more time. It's a good thing they have each-other. 8/26/25 FB58 Sitting up on her shelf with a tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated, and tail wrapped around her body. She tolerates some pets along her head and cheeks, remaining tense but leaning in the slightest bit. She then backs away when I attempt pets along the top of her head. I offer squeeze up and she leans forward eating it easily as she continues to watch me. 08/32/25 Vol 234224 Mercury was up on the ledge, at the very back. She ate the Temptations I placed near her and accepted being petted with the scratcher tool. She did not show any reaction to it, though. When I ended the interaction, she watched me through the glass door. I noticed her sniffing around the ledge, apparently looking for treats, so I gave her a few more. She was focused on other people in the room as they walked around. her sister, Corvette jumped up onto the ledge to be with herafter I interacted with both of them, and they seem to get along well.
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Timid,Skittish,Independent
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period,Adult cat socialization
Potential challenges comments:: Mercury came from a home with about 25+ other cats, it is likely that he was not appropriately socialized to humans. "Spirit cats" in a shelter context refer to cats who are very shy with people, preferring to live in a quiet environment and interacting with other cats rather than humans. They are often a good choice for patient, kind individuals who can create a safe and comfortable space for them to thrive. We cannot be certain whether or not Mercury will warm up to socialization in shelter or in a home environment and clients should be counseled on the potential of Mercury being a Spirit Cat.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3
RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home
Recommendations comments:: Due to the behavior seen in shelter and needing a longer time to warm up, the behavior team feels Mercury would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: On approach, Mercury is in his box with a tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated, and flinches when the cage door is opened. He remains tense and frozen when the scratcher tool is offered out to him with ears tilted. While he is tolerant of touch with the tool, he is frozen and doesn't lean in or react other than to tremble slightly. Pick up is not attempted. Mercury is an adult cat that may not have had many interactions with humans from an early age. He is apprehensive of people and while showing no aggressive behaviors, he appears wary of human contact. It is difficult to predict if he will respond to socialization but we recommend offering high value treats and food to help build a positive association to humans. Please be mindful that older cats will require more time and skill in order for them to be comfortable around people. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.