Animal Profile

Leo is on the at-risk list due to behavior. Leo was surrendered due to multiple bite and scratch incidents towards a young child in the home. 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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This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. Leo is on the at-risk list due to behavior. Leo was surrendered due to multiple bite and scratch incidents towards a young child in the home. 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. What my friends at ACC say about me: I am looking for a home with a patient person. I can be slow to adjust to new environments. I prefer to take things at my own pace. I would appreciate slow introductions to new people and places to help me feel safe. I would do best in a home with only adult humans. Leo is not open to interaction at this time and does not currently tolerate petting or handling and is really struggling in the shelter environment. Because this cat previously lived in a home for some time even though without a known history, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, home with adopters who are willing to work with a cat who needs time and patience to help him adjust to their new home. A volunteer writes: Leo's favorite place to sleep in his previous home was curled up in the bathroom sink. A water baby cat at heart, he was even known to even hop in the bathtub from time to time. Pouncing after his toys as he looked to his family for love and fun, he had so much to share, welcoming a dynamic life that was full of surprises and, to his credit, Leo sounds like the cat who can embrace that when the situation is right. Since finding himself here, however, Leo's been less inclined to show us his sparkly personality. To be perfectly honest, Leo's been unhappy at the Care Center. We haven't been able to help him find something he likes and he hasn't been shy about telling us. We won't blame Leo for that but continue to hope that someone will give him a chance.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 9.5 lbs

Medical Notes

9/10/2025

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 2-6y Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Owner surrender brought to shelter by field after bite incident. Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Hissing, growling and swatting when approached inside of den. Elected sedation using 0.1ml dexmedetomidine 500mcg/ml, 0.1ml ketamine 100mg/ml, 0.1ml butorphanol 10mg/ml IM Evidence of Cruelty seen -no Evidence of Neglect seen-no Evidence of Trauma seen -no Objective T = P =wnl R =wnl BCS EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: adult dentition with minor staining PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated, moderate amount of feces in colon, deformable and normal caliber U/G: MI, 2 scrotal testes MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted, healthy hair coat CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: normal external Wood's Lamp Exam: not performed Assessment apparently healthy Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks appropriate to hold neuter after hold-new home 100ml LRS sc once while sedated litter box monitoring form to monitor for feces production SURGERY: Okay for surgery after released from hold

9/18/2025

At approximately 7:30am on 9/18/25 Leo was examined, he was sitting on top of his den and looked at me while hissing during the interaction. He did not show any appreciable signs of neurologic deficits or abnormalities during the interaction or during his time in care. A: No signs of neurologic deficits or rabies P: Consider releasing from DOH hold

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 5. Red

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Basic Information:: Leo is an approx. 1-year-old DSH cat who was surrendered due to his behavior to the youngest child in the home.

Previously lived with:: 2 adults, 4 children (4, 9, 9, and 10 yo)

How is this cat around strangers?: Curious and prefers contact on his own terms.

How is this cat around children?: With the older children, friendly, curious, affectionate, and tolerant. With the younger child, avoids and swats.

How is this cat around other cats?: No experience

How is this cat around dogs?: No experience

Behavior Notes: Leo never had his nails trimmed. He was never placed in a carrier before being brought to ACC. During this time, he hissed and squirmed. Leo enjoys being brushed and being held.

Bite history:: Leo bit and scratched the owner's 4 y/o son on two different occasions within the last ten days. The owner told police that both incidents happened without provocation, as soon as the child entered the home.

Energy level/descriptors:: Very high

Has this cat ever had any medical issues?: No

Medical Notes: No reported medical issues. He did not see a vet recently.

For a New Family to Know: Leo is described as a couch potato, affectionate, and prefers contact on his own terms. He would spend most time in the bathroom sink. Leo likes to chase and pounce on toys. He would rarely get interactive playtime. Leo enjoys scratching on carpet and fabric. He was fed dry food. Leo loved when the older kids in the home would baby him, like scratching his belly and carrying him around. He is known to like water and join the kids baths at times.

KNOWN HISTORY:: Leo Previously lived with: 2 adults, 4 children (4, 9, 9, and 10 yo) Behavior toward strangers: Curious and prefers contact on his own terms. Behavior toward children: With the older children, friendly, curious, affectionate, and tolerant. With the younger child, avoids and swats. Bite or Scratch history: Yes, incidents were reported involving the youngest child, but limited details are available. Reported to bite and swat the toddler's face, possibly due to the toddler crying, whining, and messing around with Leo's space (litter box) and belongings (toys). Litter box training: Yes, no regular concerns reported. He likes to sleep with the children, but when Leo matting call/meows at night, the child removes Leo from the room. Leo may get agitated when closed off from the older children's room and then Leo urinates on the child's close. Energy level/descriptors: Very high; He was never placed in a carrier until being brought to ACC. During this time, he hissed and squirmed. Leo enjoys being brushed and being held. Other notes: Leo is described as a couch potato, affectionate, and prefers contact on his own terms. He would spend most time in the bathroom sink. Leo likes to chase and pounce on toys. He would rarely get interactive playtime. Leo enjoys scratching on carpet and fabric. He was fed dry food. Leo loved when the older kids in the home would baby him, like scratching his belly and carrying him around. He is known to like water and join the kids baths at times.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 9/25/25 FB20 Leo is laying on top of his den, eyes wide and ears flattened. He rushes to the front of the kennel as staff member moves closer, hissing. Squeeze up treat is slowly offered on a tool, Leo sniffs at it briefly and starts eating. Staff members speaks to him softly as he eats. Once squeeze up is finished, he bats playfully at the tool. He hisses and growls as tool is removed from the kennel, meowing loud and drawn out. Leo eats more squeeze up that is given to him, and after it is finished sits at the front of the kennel meowing loudly. He hisses, growls, and strikes at the kennel bars when staff member gets too close. 9/26/25 Vol Came out to front of cage as read report - eyes round, pupils dilated, ears forward, crouched - watching - put paw through bars briefly. Sat up erect when I walked away - tail wrapped and twitching slightly. Was in other cage when slide in squeeze treat on clicker tool. Leo came running over to lick treat and then hard swatted and meowed. Put more treat on tool and Leo swatted- realized there was now treat on his paw and started licking both paw and tool - when finished swatted again. Treat on stick again - he ate, swatted and then licked paw. Ended interaction. Leo sat close to front, eyes round, ears forward, watching both room movement and a little flying bug - quiet. 9/29/25 FB47 Leo was at the front, staring hard at the assessor with pupils that sometimes dilated and then constricted. He had forward-facing ears and did a little meowing, and when petting was attempted with the scratcher tool, he swatted at it with moderate intensity. 10/2/25 FB32 Crouched down on top of den with tense body and wide eyes. Leans head forward to sniff puree treat offered on scratcher tool. Steps back when reaching close, leans further back raising the tool over his head to pet, then flattens his ears, widens his eyes, and raises his paw up. When reaching around to stroke his body, he turns his head to sniff and lick puree treat off the tool. After eating it, the handler pulls the tool away to offer more; however, he softly bats the tool twice and hisses. He recovers and calms down fairly quickly and steps forward to accept more puree treat offered. At the end of the interaction, he climbs down and greets the handler at the front of the opposite kennel side and then spits at the handler walking past his kennel. After conducting a virtual interaction over video call, Leo appears to be calm, alert, and curious to the voices of the owner and children. He is motivated by puree treats to greet the handlers at the front and eat treats, but may still step back when reaching close to pet.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Lively

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Skittish,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,Very high energy level,New home adjustment period,Carrier aversion

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : Level 4

RECOMMENDATIONS:: Adult only home

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: Leo had his head outside the den and appeared very stressed, immediately hissing and lunging at the assessor without provocation. He remained mostly in place, and when the scratcher tool was put between the bars, he swatted it hard and then retreated into the den. When approached with treats on the scratcher tool, he continued to hiss and swat, striking the tool forcefully. He continued to growl inside the den after the assessment was over. He was not open to any interaction. Leo is not open to interaction at this time and does not currently tolerate petting or handling and is really struggling in the shelter environment. Because this cat previously lived in a home for some time even though without a known history, we feel that this cat will do best in an experienced, home with adopters who are willing to work with a cat who needs time and patience to help him adjust to their new home.