KNOWN HISTORY:: Lived Indoors Previously lived with: 3 Adults Behavior toward strangers: Prefers contact on her own terms around strangers. (see potential challenges for more behavior information regarding guests) Behavior toward children: Unknown Behavior toward cats: Will hiss at other cats Behavior toward dogs: Unknown Bite or Scratch history: There is a previous bite/scratch incident with two people on 11/22/24, please see potential challenges section for more info. Litter box training: Yes, previously used a covered litter box with unscented clumping litter Energy level/descriptors: Low Energy Level Other notes: Shamooni is a lazy couch potato who is independent and will watch from afar, preferring contact on her own terms. Shamooni is an indoor-only cat and spends most of her time in the living room of the home. She is not interested in engaging in interactive playtime and rarely plays on her own. Shamooni prefers to scratch on cardboard. According to previous owners Shamooni is a beautiful cat who can be sweet and cuddly on her own terms. Shamooni can play rough, being mouthy and or bringing claws out, and is easily overstimulated. Shamooni will eat both wet and dry food (Fancy Feast wet food, Purina Naturals Dry Food), and she likes Churu Tubes treats. When Shamooni hisses, growls, swats, or bites these behaviors are usually offensive and defensive. Shamooni will hiss if her nails are being trimmed, you are brushing her coat as well as placing her in the carrier. Shamooni is unbothered when being picked up or held. Upon intake Shamooni lets out a hiss and low growl at counselors when trying to transfer her into a carrier. Shamooni was then transferred carrier to carrier no further handling was done.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 9/23/25 FB20 Shamooni is low growing in her den. When the cover is lifted she continues to growl, her tail twitching. She has no reaction to scratcher tool, except to continue to growl. Shamooni sniffs briefly at a treat that is tossed into the den, looking at staff member with a very tense face, growling. 10/01/26 FB06 Shamooni is laying in her den when I approach. She remained in her den as I opened the cage door. As I approached the portal door with the scratcher she leaned out slightly and began sniffing it, When I put it inside the den in an attempt to pet her, she backed away from it. Interaction was ended with treats left in the cage.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Somewhat chatty

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Curious,Timid,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Pet-induced aggression,Overstimulation,Rough play,Other,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: Client has had Shamooni since she was a kitten and she has always showed aggressive behavior. Her attacks are unprovoked and unpredictable. Both the owner and her mom have had to go to the ER due to the scratch and bite incidents in the past. The client mentioned that when she has guests over, Shamooni begins to yowl and her pupils get larger before she attacks. The client has gone to the vet to get her medication but it did not change her behavior. They mentioned that Shamooni is matted because she does not allow to be groomed, and has required sedated grooms in the past. The client emphasized that she does not feel safe in her own home, cannot have guests over, and has scars all over her body due to the attacks throughout the years. The last attack was 3 weeks ago, however, it did not break skin. Client stated that Shamooni has been known to aggress, but the severity worsened after her emergency spay due to pyometra. Client mentioned her believing the surgery did not go well and Shamooni not being properly put under anesthesia. Client stated 2 years ago Shamoonie attacked both her and her mom and sent them both to the ER causing them to have permanent bite marks and scratches. After this incident the attacks became more frequent the last incident being over a month ago. During the incident two years ago: Client stated that the cat stalked them and pounced on both of them unprovoked resulting in broken skin for both. Shamooni is easily overstimulated and unpredictable. Shamooni can play rough, being mouthy and or bringing claws out. In shelter during her evaluation, Shamooni seems to be showing signs of petting-induced aggression. Each time (with varying levels of success) when the assessor attempted to pet her, she was somewhat comfortable with touch or petting on her head and cheeks (leaning in the second time). However, each time the assessor moved to touch or did touch her side with the scratcher tool or their hand with the bite gloves on - she very quickly escalates to swatting and biting. Petting-induced aggression is a specific reaction to discomfort from petting, and the aggression stems from a physical sensation of pain or dislike for the area being touched. A cat may be sensitive to the physical sensation of being touched in a particular area, such as the back or belly. This can be due to a physical discomfort or a negative association with that area. Reactions may be swift and strong, in order quickly communicate that the touch needs to be stopped. Shamooni was reported by her previous owner to easily get overstimulated as well. While both can result in a cat biting or scratching, overstimulation is a limit reached due to excessive attention leading to emotional overwhelm. An overstimulated cat might gradually become agitated, while a cat with petting-induced aggression might react more quickly to the unpleasant sensation. Both can be true for Shamooni, but most apparent at this time is the petting-induced aggression.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

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 Shamooni would do best in an adult-only home where they would be able to acclimate in a calm environment.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: On approach, Shamooni is in her den with a slightly tense face and body - she vocalizes and low growls as the cage door is opened. When the scratcher tool is slowly introduced into the den, she hisses and growls, ears tilted and body moving to press against the back of the den but tolerating a few touches along her head and cheek. She quickly escalates to swatting and hissing when the assessor attempts to pet her along her side with the scratcher tool. She is allowed to calm down and the assessor tries again to pet her with their hand using the bite glove, and lifts the den door. She sniffs the hand and appears more curious and less tense, accepting pets on her head and cheek and leaning into the touch. Again, when the assessor moves their hand past her cheek and touches her side, she hisses and growls - very quickly grabbing hold of their arm with her from paws and biting their thumb (no skin broken due to bite glove). She lets go of their finger but continues to sit slightly on her back with a tense face and body as she holds tightly to their arm. They are able to push her paws off with the scratcher tool and close the den again. Pick up is not attempted. Shamooni is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and may require further investigation before placement in a home. She has tried to swat, bite, is extremely fearful in the shelter environment, and 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. She has a known history of behavioral issues that need to be addressed.