Animal Profile

Carlos is on the At Risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and is declining in the Adoptions room. He initially displayed fearful body language and spent his time hiding; then, he warmed up to attention and allowed petting on the head, cheek, and body; however, he is now displaying signs of fearfulness again by hissing or retreating during interactions. 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. He has potential to improve but it appears that his long term stay in the shelter setting has resulted in limited progress in his behavior. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers.

You may know me from such films as...

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. Carlos is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and is declining in the Adoptions room. He initially displayed fearful body language and spent his time hiding; then, he warmed up to attention and allowed petting on the head, cheek, and body; however, he is now displaying signs of fearfulness again by hissing or retreating during interactions. 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. He has potential to improve but it appears that his long term stay in the shelter setting has resulted in limited progress in his behavior. He would do best in a home with adopters who are willing to give him plenty of time and space and who have experience with helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers. What my friends at ACC say about me: I have lived with cats in my previous home. I would appreciate slow introductions to new people and places to help me feel safe. Carlos was lying down in loaf position in the litter box in the top cubby with his head and ears forward, focused on the assessor with a tense body and wide eyes. When spoken to and opening the door, he sits up, steps back, and softly hisses. He leans his head forward to sniff treats offered on the tool and then leans away when reaching close. He turns his head to face the portal opening and flattens his ears when pet on the head and cheeks. When stroking his body, he looks back and lip licks. When pulling the tool away and reaching close with the assessor's hand, he curiously sniffs again, then slowly walks to through the portal to the opposite side of the shelf to avoid attention after petting his back. After closing the door at the end of the interaction, he pokes his head through the portal, returns to his spot in the cubby, and softly hisses again when approaching the cubby door. A volunteer writes: Shy Carlos came to the Care Center a few days before Christmas. Like so many other new arrivals, he's doing his best to adjust to the unfamiliar environment, hanging back shyly and mostly keeping to himself. When team members come by to make friends, he's tolerant and curious, even allowing some pettings. But this tuxie baby is still dealing with the change in his living situation, so we're taking a go-slow approach to help him decompress and feel safe. We don't know much about Carlos' backstory; he came from a home with other cats, so he does have experience getting on with humans and felines alike. If you're a potential pet parent looking to lend a helping hand to a hesitant cat who could use a little love and support to blossom, then Carlos might be the guy you've been looking for. Meet him at the Care Center today!

My medical notes are...

Weight: 10 lbs

Medical Notes

12/23/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 3 year Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: Brought in by field for owner Subjective: QAR Observed Behavior - Tense body for exam Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective P = 160 R = WNL BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Stained canines PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Male intact MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: WNL externally Wood's Lamp: Negative Assessment Dental disease stage 1/4 Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks SURGERY: ok for surgery

1/8/2026

Reported to be sneezing and showing URI signs on 1/7/25. S: QAR and hissing in cubby, fresh food bowls in kennel O: EEN- eyes clear, no nasal discharge noted H/L- Eupneic, no sneezing or sniffling while cage side MSK/i- Ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: No appreciable URI signs noted P: Recheck tomorrow CTM

1/9/2026

Recheck for possible URI signs S: QAR and hissing in cubby, all food bowls in kennel empty/eaten O: EEN- eyes clear, no nasal discharge noted H/L- Eupneic, no sneezing or sniffling while cage side MSK/i- Ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: No appreciable URI signs noted Eating P: Continue to monitor in care

1/10/2026

Sneezing reported on symptoms board S: QAR in cubby, hisses when door opens O: EEN- eyes clear, no nasal or ocular discharge H/L- Eupneic, no sneezing or audible congestion MSK/i- Ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: Mild URI- r/o viral P: CTM

1/17/2026

SO: Rechecking mild URI BAR, hissing when door opened and backs away from handling eent: eyes clear, clear nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: URI-moderate P: extend fortiflora 5 days 0.8ml doxycycline 50mg/ml PO SID x7d

1/20/2026

Pet QAR and eating. Staff note squinting OD. EENT: Corneal opacity OD and squinting. No ocular or nasal discharge A: Suspect corneal ulcer URI resolved Pet may not tolerte ophthalmic drops. P: Ofloxacin 1 drop OD BID x 7d stain cornea Onsior 6 mg 1 tablet po sid x 3 days +/- cidofovir.

1/21/2026

Recheck OD S: QAR and hissing in cubby but able to be placed in den and brought to medical O: EEN- dried periocular discharge OD, chemosis OD, fluorescein stain negative OU, no nasal discharge RESP- eupneic, no coughing/sneezing or audible congestion MSK/i- Ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat NEURO- alert/appropriate A: Conjunctivitis OD No stain uptake, cornea appears intact/unaltered Mild URI P: CWCT

1/24/2026

Recheck URI S: QAR in cubby and hissing. 1/2 dry food eaten. O: EEN- Eyes clear OU with only mild blepharospasm OD, no nasal discharge RESP- eupneic, no coughing/sneezing or audible congestion MSK/i- Ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat NEURO- alert/appropriate A: Conjunctivitis OD, responding to tx No evidence of URI P: Finish eye med course CTM for recurrence of URI signs

1/27/2026

Pet QAR in cubby. Eyes clear A: Apparently well P: okay for neuter

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 2. Blue

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Carlos was brought in without information on his behavior history in a home environment. He lived with 7 other cats.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 12/24/25 FB73 Carlos is sitting upright in his den, eyes wide, pupils dilated, and body tense. Treats are offered but he doesn't respond to them. He tolerates all petting with the scratcher tool but remains tense as he is pet. 12/26/25 PRIOR ASSESSMENT Carlos is laying inside of his den with a tense face and dilated eyes. He sniffs scratcher tool and tolerates petting on his cheeks. Wen pet along the back, he sits up and presses back into the den, wrapping his tail around himself. Carlos does not take treats. 01/03/26 FB47 Carlos is a little bit fearful and somewhat subdued and is inside the den, looking tense, but he did accept petting with a scratcher tool and sniffed treats. Then he postered as if to want to flee by turning around and moving to the back of the den. 01/04/26 Vol. Hiding in den out of sight, had come out to eat most breakfast. Quickly came towards portal to eat a cup of Temptations and squeeze-up dropped into den, pausing to look out with dilated eyes. Poked head out to look for more when finished. Leaned out to eat from a 2nd cup on the tool. Enjoyed more squeeze-up, but could not be coaxed out further, and retreated to den when not eating. 1/5/26 PRIOR ASSESSMENT Carlos has improved since his first assessment, and while sitting in the back of the cubby with somewhat large pupils, he sniffed treats and then allowed petting on the cheek, head, and along the back while remaining reasonably calm. He gave a couple of slow blinks, and after the cubby door was shut, he began eating treats. 1/6/26 Vol. Sitting behind litter box and hissed when cubby door was opened. Ate 2 Squeeze-ups from the clicker. Able to scratch his head with the tool. Showed no interest in the laser. Gave him 2 soft toys rolled in catnip which he enjoyed playing with. Got some slow blinks. Ate up tuna added to his food. 1/9/26 Vol. Carlos was in the cubby behind his litter box when I approached. He came out of the cubby to eat a Churu offered in a tray while I gently pet his head & neck with a peacock feather. He also allowed head, neck and body petting with the scratcher. He retreated to the cubby after eating. I left him with the feather and a plush toy.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow,Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Calm,Curious,Timid,Skittish,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: He initially displayed fearful body language and spent his time hiding in the den; after about 1-2 weeks later, he warmed up to attention and allowed petting on the head, cheek, and body; however, 1 month later, he has declined in behavior and now softly hisses and retreats from attention but still tolerates brief petting. Please see Enrichment Notes above from 12/26/25 and 01/05/26 for more details on PRIOR ASSESSMENTS. He has potential to improve in a quiet, stable, home environment; however, it appears that his long term stay in the shelter setting has resulted in limited progress in his behavior.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children

Recommendations comments:: No young children under 13 years old. Older, respectful children only. Counselor discretion advised.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Carlos was lying down in loaf position in the litter box in the top cubby with his head and ears forward, focused on the assessor with a tense body and wide eyes. When spoken to and opening the door, he sits up, steps back, and softly hisses. He leans his head forward to sniff treats offered on the tool and then leans away when reaching close. He turns his head to face the portal opening and flattens his ears when pet on the head and cheeks. When stroking his body, he looks back and lip licks. When pulling the tool away and reaching close with the assessor's hand, he curiously sniffs again, then slowly walks to through the portal to the opposite side of the shelf to avoid attention after petting his back. After closing the door at the end of the interaction, he pokes his head through the portal, returns to his spot in the cubby, and softly hisses again when approaching the cubby door. Carlos tolerates attention and petting but appears fearful or stressed in the shelter. He may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to his new home. We recommend this cat go to a home with experienced cat parents. Due to the behavior shown, he 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.