KNOWN HISTORY:: Dusk was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on his behavior history in a home environment. Dusk arrived transported in a large crate. officers described cat as aggressive: cat was hissing and growling. It's reported as a stray- possibly somebody's cat. During intake handlers were able to handle cat without any issue.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 9/8/26 FB25 Dusk is at the front of his kennel when I approach. When I lift the cage cover, he hisses and lunges at the glass. I slow blink at him and talk softly. He continues to hiss and low growl, but eventually settles into just watching me with a hard stare quietly. I slip in a dish of squeeze up through the other door and he is actually quite interested, popping his head through the portal to sniff at it. We will start Fraidy Cat Club with him and work on building positive associations. 9/8/26 We have begun a behavior modification plan called the "Fraidy Cat Club", an Operant Conditioning training method where an unpleasant stimulus is removed when a desired behavior is observed. In this case, the negative stimulus is the presence of feline behavior staff; as soon as an improvement is noted, staff will "mark" the behavior with a sweet "good boy/girl" and then leave. The idea is that the cat learns to relax because every time they do, they "operate" on the stimulus causing it to be removed. This is currently their "reward" or "motivator" since they are too nervous to accept any other forms of enrichment. In time, we hope that the cat will improve enough so then we can transition to positive reinforcement. 9/11/26 FB58 In his den and hidden from view, he tries to reach out and swat as I close the den portal. He is hissing and growling as I lift the cover and swats and lunges. He immediately begins to hyper-salivate excessively, like a fountain, continuing to growl and what with a tense face and body, eyes wide and dilated. I speak to him softly as I slowly put dry treats through the holes in the side of the den he seems confused as be still hisses and growls, lunging a few times. When I switch to a squeeze up that I poke through the hole, something about it makes him pause and stop lunging and reaching intensely. It takes a while but he eventually loafs and begins to close his eyes. 9/13/26 FB25 Dusk is inside of his den when I approach. I slowly push a tray of treats toward his den opening and he hisses several times. He begins low growling when the tool is near him, but never swats. I talk softly to him and leave him once he stops hissing completely. 9/17/26 FB79 Inside of the den, Dusk is asleep and when i lifted the kennel cover he looked up hissing harshly with wide eyes. He remained in a relaxed position on his side as i kept speaking but also kept hissing with his eyes wide. I entered the kennel and Dusk perched with his paws tucked and his eyed dilated with more hissing but shortly after he settled down as he watched while continuously lip licking. 9/27/26 FB79 Dusk is inside of his den and when i entered i could hear his hissing; i attempted to push his den back in place since it was towards the middle/right side of the kennel almost pressed up against the wall but he reached out to swat harshly. I was able to reach over and close him inside to be push it back in place and when i lifted the den cover.. GAN

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Subdued

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Sweet,Curious,Timid,Skittish,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: Dusk was significantly fearful when he first arrived to the shelter, displaying high defensive aggression in his kennel such as hissing, growling and swatting. He was not open to interaction or able to be handled. However through daily work with the Feline Behavior Team, he has made amazing improvements. With a calm, quiet approach from people he has built trust with, he now seeks attention, chirping in greeting and leaning into pets. It is important for his adopters to understand how sensitive he is to his environment and that he may become fearful when he first transitions to his new home. They should allow Dusk to settle in at his own pace and provide a calm, predictable environment where he has the ability to retreat and decompress as needed.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 3

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

Recommendations comments:: Due to Dusk's slowness to warm up and potential to escalate to hissing/swatting when he is fearful, we recommend a calm adult only home.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 8/28/26 Dusk was hunched in the front of his kennel as the assessor approached, body and face tense with his pupils dilated and his tail curled around his body. Dusk hissed when spoken to and he makes and maintains eye contact as the assessor attempts to unlock his kennel. Once the assessor is manipulating the lock on the door, Dusk hisses and swats towards her hand. Dusk swats the scratcher tool before it could touch his head. Pick up was not attempted at this time. 9/28/26 Dusk is in his den as the assessor approaches the kennel. They slowly lift his kennel cover to look in. From his den Dusk begins to growl. The assessor frees the lock and slowly opens the kennel door slightly. His head pops out of the den door. His face is tense with side slanted ears, narrowed eyes and enlarged pupils. He hisses. He makes eye contact with the assessor. They attempt to greet him quietly and slow blink. Dusk comes forward hissing, spitting and swatting towards the assessor on the other side of the door. The interaction is ended due to high FAS. 10/13/26 Through work with the Feline Behavior Team, Dusk has made incredible improvements. For his assessment today, he presents at the front of the kennel with a relaxed body, chirping and continuing to vocalize calmly until the assessor enters the kennel. He eagerly accepts treats, and after a few moments, leans into petting on his head, closing his eyes. He walks back in forth in the kennel, keeping his tail low, however he remains calm and allows petting all along his back. He is curious, leaning forward to look around the room and sniffing close to the assessor's face. He is still cautious, flinching at noises and quickly retreating to his den with a low growl when an unfamiliar person enters the room. However when it is quiet again, he comes back to the front, bunting his head into the assessor's hands. Dusk tolerates attention and petting but may be fearful or stressed in the shelter, and may be intimidated by small children. He may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to his new home. Due to the behaviors seen in the care center, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, adult only home.