Animal Profile
Templeton
Hello, my name is Templeton . My animal id is #247387. I am a male black cat at the Manhattan Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 4 years 1 months 2 weeks old.
I came into the shelter as a aco - owner surrender on 2/12/2026, with the surrender reason stated as person circumstance- eviction.
Templeton is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He 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. He 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.
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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. Templeton is on the at-risk list due to behavior. He is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. He 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. He 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. Another volunteer writes: Templeton is a young cat part of a gigantic in house colony of cats. Beside being the cutest Tuxedo, we know absolutely nothing about him, his temperament and his relationship with his owner and numerous housemates. What we see in the shelter environment is just a "frozen" cat, glued to the back of his cubby and performing "basic duties" like eating and using the litter box. No hissing, no swatting, a "statue of salt" is what Templeton became upon entry at the care center. I visit him each time I am at the shelter and beside occasional eye blinking and accepting dutifully my hand petting, he stays put..Templeton needs as a first step to be out of a cage and in a low traffic home with an owner who will not expect much at first and let time, positive reinforcement and belief that things will get better, do their job. Will you, please, give Templeton a chance? What my friends at ACC say about me: Templeton was hiding in the den crouched down with his tail wrapped around his body and his head and ears forward, focused on the assessor with a neutral body and eyes. He ignores treats offered by hand and tenses up when pet. He tolerates touch on his head, cheeks, and body but does not engage with the attention. When reaching around his body or applying gentle upward pressure on his side and chest, lifting him up to the ceiling of the den, he remains tense and stands his ground. After placing him back down, he continues to tolerate more petting and cheek rubs but remains alert and stiff. A volunteer writes: This little panda cat is Templeton, a quiet and curious boy who came to the Care Center with many cat siblings when their person was evicted. Since he's been with us, he's been open to pettings and has shown off his mellow, calm personality. But he's a shy guy, so Templeton prefers to fold himself into a ball and hang in the background, waiting for humans to make the first move. You can see a softness in his eyes that seems to say he wants to make friends and hopefully find himself a real forever home. What do you say New York, can we make it happen for Templeton? He's waiting patiently on 110th Street, ready to hear from you.
My medical notes are...
Weight: 8.13 lbs
2/12/2026
DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 3-4 years based on dentition Microchip noted on Intake? Scanned negative History: ACO- owner surrender from home with 50+ cats Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - tense but allows all handling, kicking during blood draw and did not tolerate being on side so opting to save for sx Is there evidence of Cruelty? No Is there evidence of Neglect? No Is there evidence of Trauma? No Objective T = P = WNL R = WNL BCS: 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Adult dentition, mild tartar -- limited exam performed PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: Externally WNL, intact male, only left testicle palpated in scrotum, RIGHT inguinal cryptorchid MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: Externally WNL Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment Right inguinal cryptorchid Mild dental disease Prognosis: Good Plan: Intake tasks + exam Await sort + behavior assessment SURGERY: Okay for surgery, RIGHT INGUINAL CRYPTORCHID. CT AT SX!
Details on my behavior are...
Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow
KNOWN HISTORY:: Templeton was brought in with limited information on his behavior history in a home environment. He lived in a home with many other cats.
ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 02/15/26 PRIOR ASSESSMENT Templeton was hiding in the den crouched down with his tail wrapped around his body and his head and ears forward, focused on the assessor with a neutral body and eyes. He ignores treats offered by hand and tenses up when pet. He tolerates touch on his head, cheeks, and body but does not engage with the attention. When reaching around his body or applying gentle upward pressure on his side and chest, lifting him up to the ceiling of the den, he remains tense and stands his ground. After placing him back down, he continues to tolerate more petting and cheek rubs but remains alert and stiff. 03/16/26 FB47 Templeton was in the cubby appearing calm, but his ears went sideways when approached with treats on the scratcher tool. He barely sniffed. He did allow petting with the assessor’s hand on his nose, forehead, and cheek and remained quietly in place. He ignored catnip, and when the door was closed, he began eating squeeze up treats. 3/15/26 Vol. Scrunched in back of cubby behind litter box. Tried to shrink further back when tool approached, did not investigate a cup of Temptations and squeeze-up. Checked back after 5 minutes and had not moved or eaten. Leaned forward gingerly to sniff the scratcher tool and allowed head scratches, remaining completely frozen. 03/23/26 FB47 Templeton was scrunched up in the back of the den, appearing fearful, but ate treats, and then hissed when petting was attempted. 3/20/26 Vol. Templeton was curled up at back of cubby, with the side of his face pressed against wall. His eyes were narrowed, with large pupils, and his body appeared tense. He returned slow blinks. He turned his face away from treats offered on scratcher tool, pressing himself further into back of cubby. He tolerated brief petting on head, remaining tense and in place. He did not show interest in a feather toy. 3/24/26 Vol. Sitting behind litter box when I approached kennel. Had no interest in eating Squeeze-ups. Able to scratch his head with the tool. Tried giving him tuna and a toy rolled in catnip but had no interest in either. Wasn’t interested in playing with the cat dancer or the laser at this time. Never moved from behind his litter box. 3/29/26 FB73 Templeton is laying behind his litter box, curled up and pressing himself against the back wall. A squeeze up is offered but he does not respond to it. He is tolerant of all petting with the scratcher tool but does not engage with the attention, remaining frozen against the back wall of the cubby.
ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow
VOCAL:: Quiet
CHARACTER TYPE: : Shy ,Calm,Timid
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period
Potential challenges comments:: He tolerates petting and limited handling, but may be somewhat fearful about coming out of hiding during his new home adjustment period.
BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 2
RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children
Recommendations comments:: No young children under 13 years old due to fearfulness. Counselor discretion advised.
BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Templeton was resting in a loaf position in his cubby. When the assessor approached, He focused on the assessor and slightly moved further back into his cubby. Templeton tenses up when the scratcher tool slowly approaches him and tolerates two strokes on the head with the tool. He ignores treats and eventually leaves the cubby to avoid the assessor. When he runs into the lower cubby, he stays tense and flushed to the back of the cubby and avoids the assessor for the rest of the evaluation. Templeton tolerates attention and petting but appears to be moderately fearful or stressed in the shelter. He will likely need time to warm up to his new home. We recommend that he go to a home with some cat experience preferred or at least be well counseled in fearful cat behavior. 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.