Animal Profile

Octopus is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, 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 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. 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 Octopus is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She is not thriving in the care center and continues to display distance-increasing behavior when approached for interactions. She has not warmed up despite staff using treats to build a positive association. Due to her stress levels, 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 helping a fearful cat adjust to strangers. A volunteer writes: Octopus gave birth in a laundromat. I guess, she wanted a clean environment for her brood. She was not allowed to stay and was brought to the Manhattan Care Center with her few days old babies. Octopus was stressed and had a very hard time nursing so the eight babes were placed and fed in an incubator. Octopus remained defensive with her caretakers and not open to having a trusting relationship with them. Lately, Octopus is showing signs that she might want to engage with staff and volunteers. She likes treats and as she spends more time on top of her hiding place than in, I presented her with a tray of high end cat food that I held. She came forward and after some hesitation and back and forth, she ate while I was with caution, petting her(see video). I was not so lucky with feather wands she seemed to be scared of. Nothing really is known about Octopus. Was she a stray, a pet who got out of luck? We all wish Octopus could be given a chance because even if she shows tiny improvements at the care center, being in a quiet home with a compassionate while experienced adopter or foster could be the light at the end of the tunnel for her...Will you be Octopus' hero? What my friends at ACC say about me: My history is a mystery and my friends here do not know much about me yet! I'm an independent kitty who likes to do my own thing. I would appreciate slow introductions to new people and places to help me feel safe. I would do best in a home without very tiny humans, although I could be open to older human children once I meet them. Octopus is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and may require further investigation before placement in a home. She is extremely fearful in the shelter environment and does not currently tolerate petting or handling. The behavior department feels that placement with a New Hope Partner is the best option at this time.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 6.4 lbs

Medical Notes

6/24/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 3-6y Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Stray queen with 8 neonatal kittens found inside of laundromat. Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Hissing and striking when approached. Elected sedation using 0.1ml dexmedetomidine 500mcg/ml, 0.1ml ketamine 100mg/ml, and 0.1ml butorphanol 10mg/ml IM Evidence of Cruelty seen -no Objective T = P =wnl R =wnl BCS 3/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears clean, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: adult dentition with moderate dental tartar PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: female intact, lactating, but glands are not very full MSI: Ambulatory x 4, flea dirt, no masses noted, patches of tar on limbs and torso, shaved and removed with mineral oil CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Rectal: normal external Wood's Lamp Exam: negative Assessment underweight fleas mild dental disease tar patches in fur and on skin Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks OHE new home capstar 11.4mg administered in food patches of tar shaved out and removed with mineral oil SURGERY: Temporary waiver due to poor condition and lactating

7/8/2026

Feline Behavior requesting Gabapentin trial due to FAS noted in care. P: Gabapentin 100mg capsules PO BID indefinitely

7/23/2026

Per Feline Behavior inconsistently eating Gabapentin and minimal improvement noted, ok to d/c

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 5. Red

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Octopus was brought in as a stray, there is no known information on her behavior history in a home environment.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 6/30/26 Vol. Lying in her privacy den. She poked her head out so I could give her some Squeeze-ups on the clicker. Put some tuna into her den and she ate that too. Put some catnip toys into the den and she immediately started to sniff them. She never came out of her den but she wasn’t very fearful. 7/1/26 Vol. Octopus was crouched inside den, looking out with partly dilated eyes. She leaned forward to sniff treats on scratcher tool but did not eat. She also leaned forward to sniff a feather toy but did not play. She pulled her head back into den to avoid attempted petting. 07/07/26 FB47 Octopus was in the den, looking out and appearing fairly calm. She sniffed treats and allowed a little petting with a scratcher tool. When the treat bag was offered, she appeared to attempt to bite it. She followed the laser around and remained in her bed. 7/10/26 Vol. In hidey box, could not see her. No reaction to treat bowl. Approached with hard treat on tool - leaned out, eyes normal to sniff and pull back. Let rest and removed. Approached with squeeze treat on tool, leaned out to sniff and pulled back. Tried laser toy - she watched from entry, eyes and ears normal but did not move. Tried squeeze treat on tool again, she pulled back into box - let rest, removed and ended interaction. 7/22/26 FB73 Octopus is laying on top of the back of her den. observing the handler as they approach and open the kennel door. She is offered some squeeze up and after a few seconds comes forward to eat it. She is tolerant of some petting on the head while she eats before backing away. After a few moments she is willing to return to eating her snack.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Moderate

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Bold,Shy ,Timid,Independent

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: Fearful,New home adjustment period

Potential challenges comments:: See relevant behavior flyers.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION: : New Hope Only

RECOMMENDATIONS:: No young children

Recommendations comments:: No young children under 13 years old, counselor discretion advised.

BEHAVIOR SUMMARY:: 6/26/26 Octopus was lying in her litter box with dilated eyes and lowered, forward ears. She returned slow blinks at the handler but remained in place, not responding to coaxing with treats. She allowed extensive petting along her head and back, remaining calm. When transitioning to pick up, her body tensed as she let out a hiss. She shifted back but began returning slow blinks again. 7/26/26 Octopus is crouched on top of her den, body tense and pupils dilated as the assessor approaches. When going to open the kennel door, she lunges forward and hisses at the assessor. She is softly spoken to and after a few minutes does allow the assessor to open the kennel door. When petting is attempted with the scratcher tool, she is tolerant of petting on the head and cheeks, but leans away, flinches, and lifts a paw to avoid contact. Pickup is not attempted due to observed behavior. When the assessor goes to close the kennel door, Octopus once again hisses, spits, and lunges forward. Octopus is displaying behaviors that preclude placement in the adoptions room and/or may require further investigation before placement in a home. She is extremely fearful in the shelter environment and although she is tolerant of some handling, she will hiss, spit, and lunge to avoid interaction. The behavior department feels that placement with a New Hope Partner is the best option at this time.