Animal Profile

Astrid is on the At Risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display challenging behavior during interactions. She is extremely intelligent, highly social, and needs to expend energy constructively with interactive play sessions 3-4X/day. She displays a very short threshold for touch, although soliciting the attention and can escalate to high levels of overstimulation and reactivity. 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 feline body language, overstimulation, rough play, and who have the time to invest in managing these behaviors on a consistent basis to avoid (further) bite/scratch incidents.

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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. This pet is available only through ACC New Hope partners. To adopt or foster, please complete the pre-screener form below. Inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Astrid is on the At Risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display challenging behavior during interactions. She is extremely intelligent, highly social, and needs to expend energy constructively with interactive play sessions 3-4X/day. She displays a very short threshold for touch, although soliciting the attention and can escalate to high levels of overstimulation and reactivity. 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 feline body language, overstimulation, rough play, and who have the time to invest in managing these behaviors on a consistent basis to avoid (further) bite/scratch incidents. A volunteer writes: Astrid was abandoned in a carrier in front of someone's home and she's been trying everyday since then to explain that this doesn't define her. It's just that sometimes her words get jumbled up and her efforts and don't always come out the way she intends. Astrid still tries by doing what she knows best and that is being her friendly self and saying hello! Astrid loves to welcome visitors to Adoptions by rolling around to show her belly and reach her paws. Hellos through the door are great and are usually followed with some kitty conversation, or maybe some pets or some chirps but here's where Astrid gets a little confused on next steps. It's ok because this is where we come in. We've learned that Astrid loves, and I mean loves, our laser shows. Following the dot with hopes of catching it, with some treats to make up for the fact that she probably won't.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 10.8 lbs

Medical Notes

5/17/2026

[DVM Intake] DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: ~ 1 year Is this an orphan kitten? No Microchip noted on Intake? Yes History: Stray Subjective: BARH Observed Behavior - Rubbing against kennel and allowing for pets through the bars but growls and has short temper when attempting to examine. Sedated for thorough exam. Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? No Objective: P = wnl R = wnl BCS 7/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: Clean dentition, all adult teeth PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, NMA, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: 3 inch linear scar on ventral abdomen (suspect spayed) MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: NE Wood's Lamp Exam: NE Assessment: 1. Overweight Prognosis: Good Plan: 1. Intake tasks completed

5/20/2026

Behavior Medication Consult Feline Behavior is requesting Gabapentin due to high FAS, hissing, growling, or swatting. Plan: Gabapentin 100 mg (capsule, open and mix into high value treat/food) PO BID indefinitely.

6/1/2026

Progress exam: Sneezing noted on rounds board Subjective: BAR, no C/V/D. Sneezing present Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed URI PLAN: Per standing orders -Under the weather sign & monitor log placed on kennel -Start fortiflora PO SID x10 days -CTM, recheck in 3 days

6/9/2026

Progress exam: URI day 7 recheck Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D. AS:2/3 mostly ate wet food Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge present MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed URI PLAN: Per standing orders -CTM, recheck in 3 days

6/12/2026

Progress exam: URI day 10 recheck Subjective: BAR, no C/S/V/D. AS:2/3 ate wet/dry well Objective: EYES: Clear LUNGS: Eupneic, no sign of respiratory distress NASAL CAVITY: no discharge present MUSCULOSKELETAL: Ambulatory x4, no lameness or lesions NEURO: Appropriate mentation ASSESSMENT: Presumed URI appears resolved PLAN: Per standing orders -URI signage removed from kennel -CTM on daily rounds while in QACC

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Astrid was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on her behavior history in a home environment. Upon intake cat was very friendly and outgoing. Easily collared, scanned for MC, picked up, held, and placed in carrier as well as kennel.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 5/19/26 FB58 Play therapy session today! She loves the laser and will watch the dot - she continues to look around for the laser after our session so I give her a fancy treat tray and she digs in! This is great - play sessions will help her build confidence over time, lessening her fear-based and distance increasing behaviors! 5/22/26 FB79 Laying in her box comfy bed w a loose body and tail; she starts to roll around when I approached and opened the kennel. He enjoyed treats that I tossed and when I started to pet with the tool she started to roll around. 5/27/26 FB61 Lying in cat bed upon approach, body and face relaxed. She stands up to greet me and she tolerates petting with the scratcher tool while whipping her head back to watch the scratcher with a tense expression and alert eyes. I keep the interaction brief as to reduce the chance of escalation and negative association with touch. She is rewarded with treats and she enjoys watching the bubbles. She likely gets overstimulated and has a low threshold for touch in the shelter. Will continue to monitor. 6/03/26 FB61 Astrid is showing consistent signs of overstimulation at this time. They do not need socialization, these behaviors are likely to continue in a home environment and this is not an indication that this cat is under socialized. They are a cat who may be sensitive to physical or environmental stimuli. They will benefit from plenty of non-contact, interactive playtime and mental stimulation in their new home. 6/21/26 Vol. Astrid was lying down in her bed. I opened the door and put Squeeze Up and Friskies treats near her. He kennel card says to pet her only with a scratcher, so I used it on her. She rubbed her face against the tool as I petted her with it. She walked over to her water bowl and had a nice, long drink. I stopped petting her so I could be sure she had enough to drink. I resumed petting her with the scratcher and she leaned in, seeming to enjoy it. She may have started to become over stimulated, because she grabbed the tool with her claws. I ended the interaction and she finished eating her treats. She is affectionate.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Energetic

VOCAL:: Somewhat chatty

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Affectionate,Curious,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Overstimulation,Fearful,Other

Potential challenges comments:: Please see behavior flyers for more information. Astrid was displaying some conflicted behaviors during her assessment when interacting with different safety tools. Astrid displayed classic signs of overstimulation when pet with just gloves - leaning in and waving (then thrashing) her tail back and forth. When pet with the bite-gloves, Astrid displayed similar behaviors. When touched with the assess-a-hand, Astrid hissed, bit and swatted the hand immediately, multiple times. These behaviors were in stark contrast to the behaviors described by her finder and the staff members who handled her initially. When Astrid was re-evaluated several weeks later, she did not hiss, but otherwise showed similar overstimulated behaviors from her initial assessment, swatting and biting the assess-a-hand and bite gloves, even as she continued soliciting petting. It is possible that these behaviors are heightened due to stress in the shelter and being confined to a smaller space.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 5/19/26 Astrid was laying in front of her kennel as the assessor approached, body and face neutral with her ears forward and her eyes bright and alert. Astrid made eye contact when spoken to, then she rolled over onto her side abruptly and began scent-marking her linens with her cheeks while maintaining eye contact. Astrid allowed petting along her head and body at first while leaning in, raising her tail, arching her back and waving her pilo-erect tail back and forth with more and more force as petting continued. To prevent a potential escalation to biting, the assessor switched to bite gloves. Astrid allowed petting again while leaning in and waving her tail around with energy. Astrid would turn to sniff and stare at the assessor's gloved hands before rubbing her cheeks and teeth on the hand, essentially petting herself. She would pause and follow the assessor's hand's every movement. At this point, the assess-a-hand was introduced (after the assessor closed the kennel and gave her a short break). Astrid whipped her head back and bit the hand when it touched her back, then she pulled it further into her kennel and began to swat it with both paws. The assessor ended the session. Please see potential comments for further analysis and explanation of behaviors. 6/21/26 Astrid is sitting on her perch upon approach, her body neutral and ears forward, her eyes bright as she leans over the ledge to look down at the assessor. When she is pet with a scratcher tool on her head and on the sides of her face, she rubs her cheeks into it. She allows petting along her body, leaning into it, jumping down from the ledge with her tail high and beginning to flick back and forth. The assessor pets her head with their hand and she allows this, but she is soliciting the petting with increasing force, so out of caution, the assessor continues with a bite glove. A break is taken from touch, feeding her dry treats and stepping back. The assessor pets her head with the bite glove, which she initially pushes back into, then nips at it. She appears to be reaching threshold and the assess-a-hand is used to determine her level of escalation at this point. She has shown no defensive behaviors such as hissing and after she nips, she returns to soliciting petting and keeps a bright, neutral expression, moving back and forth in the kennel. She initially leans into the assess-a-hand, allowing it to pet along her body. Then, after a few seconds, she whips up and bites it, clamping down and holding in the spot that would be a person's wrist. She releases and continues soliciting petting on it, her tail high and twitching, then bites it again in the same spot. Astrid solicits attention and accepts petting but may get overstimulated quickly with the potential to escalate to biting and swatting. For this reason, the behavior team is recommending that Astrid is released through rescue. If her behavior begins to improve in shelter our team will update this evaluation