KNOWN HISTORY:: Bennie Baby was brought in as a stray; there is no known information on her behavior history in a home environment. Officers who brought her in stated that although she was fearful and attempted to flee from them, she was able to be picked up and placed in a carrier. Upon intake she allowed staff to towel and place in a kennel. She was described as appearing fearful and shut down.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 5/16/26 ACFR Bennie Baby is laying on his side in his den, facing the back. When the cover is removed, he tenses and hisses but does not move. He is offered squeeze up on a scratcher tool, which he sniffs but does not eat. As the tool is removed he lip licks and hisses more intensely, then stands and settles in a hunched/crouched position facing the front of the den. The den door is slowly lifted and he hisses and swats hard, then settles back into a crouch and begins to growl loudly. Treats are slowly placed next to the den and he continues growling. The den cover is replaced and he swats hard and hisses again, and the interaction is ended due to increasing FAS. After handler leaves, he slowly creeps out of the den to eat the hard treats before returning. 5/19/26 Growls and hisses from inside the den upon approach. Seems curious sniffing around when offered treats and soft swats the scratcher tool when attempting to make contact. She continues to growl throughout the interaction and ended to help reduce stress. 5/22/26 Responded to soft talk with gentle meows and showed affiliative behavior by head bunting the scratcher and leaning through the side portal of the den. Interaction was ended while still positive to help maintain comfort and trust. 5/24/26 ACFR Bennie Baby slowly exited den while meowing and lightly purring when spoken softly to. Showed no interest in hard treats, but began head bunting and kneading linens while leaning into cheek rubs. She then stretched out on her side at the front of the kennel, slow blinking and purring, while continuing to lean in to petting. After a few moments she briefly vocalized and softly mouthed handler's hand. Petting stopped and she resumed purring with a flicking tail tip and closed eyes. She began head bunting again after a few moments, then got up and returned to den. 6/6/26 FB20 Bennie Baby is at the front loafing. She stands up when the handler greats her with forward ears and moderately dilated eyes. She pets herself along the scratcher tool on her cheeks and head, and then leans in for full body pets with the tool, her tail tip beginning to swish softly. She then flops over in the kennel and begins rolling around. 6/8/26 FB73 Bennie Baby is at the front of the kennel, pupils dilated, meowing and extending her paw outside of the kennel door (without claws) to solicit attention as the handler approaches. When the kennel door is opened, she leans forward to head bunt their hand, allowing and leaning into all petting. 6/9/26 FB73 Bennie Baby is at the front of the kennel, pawing outside of the kennel door with dilated pupils and meowing as the handler approaches. When the kennel door is opened, she head bunts the handler's hand, allowing and leaning into all petting. CONTINUED IN GAN

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Moderate

VOCAL:: Somewhat chatty

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Social,Sweet

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

Potential challenges comments:: See relevant behavior flyers.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: Due to behavior observed in the shelter, scratch history, and tendency to overstimulate, an adult only home is recommended.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 5/27/26 Bennie Baby has made significant improvement during her stay at the care center. When the assessor approaches, she is laying on her side at the front of the den, eyes wide and pupils dilated. When the kennel door is opened, she begins softly meowing at the assessor. When she is spoken to softly, Bennie Baby rolls over onto her side, continuing to meow softly and making air biscuits from inside of the den. She is able to be slowly coaxed to the front of the kennel with more soft talk, pupils still dilated, lip licking, and slightly tense, but leaning forward to head bunt the assessor's hand, not escalating. Bennie Baby allows petting directly with the assessor's hands, leaning into all petting and continuing to gently head bunt as she is pet. 6/15/26 Initially when the handler approaches, Bennie Baby vocalizes with wide eyes and dilated pupils and swats hard towards the assessor through the kennel door. She is softly spoken to, and she turns to lay in the middle of the kennel, fur displaying piloerection down her back and laying down facing the back wall, engaging in displacement grooming. The assessor gives her time to settle before returning for further interaction. Bennie Baby is standing at the front of the kennel, pupils dilated. She is softly spoken to, and she leans her body against the kennel bars to solicit attention. When the kennel door is opened, she leans forward to head bunt the assessor's hand, allowing and leaning into all petting. Pickup is not attempted to avoid potential overstimulation. Bennie Baby is a sensitive, social girl who appreciates attention and interactions on her own terms. She appears a bit stressed in the shelter and may need time to warm up to a new home. Due to behaviors observed in the shelter and an observed tendency to overstimulate, an adult only home is recommended.