Animal Profile

Thumper 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, leaning away and avoiding petting and fleeing repeatedly to avoid contact. 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.

You may know me from such films as...

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. Thumper is on the at-risk list due to behavior. She has warmed up considerably and now enjoys some petting when eating treats and when one approaches slowly. A volunteer writes: Thumper is an exquisite little gal born and brought up in a house overflowing with cats. I wonder if she even knew what a human was....Now, all alone in a cage, she is surrounded by people instead of felines...Thumper's cubby has been her safe place where she can avoid staff and volunteers' touch. We can only admire her. When I open her door, she usually lays in a relaxed pose or grooms herself. Within a few seconds, she backs off, dodging petting but blinking with soft words. Few days ago, I found her in her main kennel area, nested in a towel. She accepted my prudent petting, even leaned a little. As she left her towel, she stationed herself on her balcony, close to her door, calling me for attention and accepting pets on her nose. Yesterday, Thumper was back to her "old" habits although she was exiting on and off her cubby to have a look at me. I think there is hope for pretty and poorly socialized Thumper, of course, in experienced, giving and patient hands. A quiet and low traffic home is a must. Thumper has made excellent improvements since her last assessment. Thumper seemed calm on the shelf at the front, and when the assessor went to pet, she pulled back quickly and didn't appear to want petting, but she was interested in treats. Later, she seemed very friendly when the assessor put his fingers through the bars, and she rubbed up against his fingers, rolled on her side, and rubbed her cheeks against him. Then she went into the cubby and was given some treats and was a little hesitant about petting, but allowed it once again and ate squeeze up treats while being pet on the head and cheek. She appreciates a slow approach. Thumper tolerates attention and petting and even enjoys it at times especially when eating or not quickly approached, yet appears to be moderately fearful in the shelter. She may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to her new home. We recommend that she go to a home with some cat experience preferred and be well counseled in fearful cat behavior.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 6.8 lbs

Medical Notes

2/6/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 1-3y Microchip noted on Intake? scanned negative History: Owner surrender due to too many cats Subjective: BAR Observed Behavior - Tense with dilated pupils. Seeking exit and not tolerating restraint. Elected sedation for exam. 0.1 dexmedetomidine 500mcg/ml, 0.05 ketamine 100mg/ml, 0.1ml butorphanol 10mg/ml IM. Provided light sedation Evidence of Cruelty seen -no Evidence of Neglect seen- no Evidence of Trauma seen -no Objective T = P =wnl R =wnl BCS 5/9 EENT: Eyes clear, ears AU brown waxy dc, no nasal or ocular discharge noted Oral Exam: adult dentition with very minor tartar PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NR, NMA, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: female intact, no apparent scar or tattoo 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: negative Assessment ear mites Prognosis: good Plan: intake tasks OHE new home 45mg selamectin topically 0.1ml antisedan IM SURGERY: Okay for surgery

2/13/2026

SO: Reported drooling on symptoms board BAR, sitting up at back of cubby. Appears to have eaten some dry food. No drooling noted until approached. Starts immediately drooling profusely eent: eyes clear, no ocular or nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: ptyalism P: suspect is stress induced monitor appetite and for other URI signs

2/18/2026

Noted during rounds to have URI signs S: BAR, on top of shelf in kennel and looking at surroundings. O: EEN- Epiphora OU, clear nasal discharge noted H/L- Eupneic, sneezing MSK/i- Ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: Mild URI- r/o viral P: Fortiflora 1 packet PO SID x7d

2/19/2026

Not eating per patient care log S: QAR tense and on top of shelf in kennel. When brought to medical attempts to flee several times. O: EEN- Epiphora OU, green nasal discharge noted Oral exam- lingual ulceration on distal tongue tip H/L- Eupneic, sneezing and moderate audible congestion MSK/i- Ambulatory x4, healthy haircoat Neuro- alert/appropriate A: Moderate URI Oral ulceration High FAS P: LRS 100mls SQ once Cerenia 10mg/ml 0.3 ml SQ once Vitamin B12 0.25 ml SQ once Zorbium for appropriate weight Magic Mouthwash 0.1 ml PO once on distal tip of tongue Rx: Doxycycline 50mg/ml 0.6 ml PO SID x7d

2/20/2026

Brief recheck S: QAR in cubby. Wet food appears to be eaten O: EEN- eyes clear, clear nasal discharge H/L- Eupneic Neuro- alert/appropriate A: URI- moderate Appears to be eating today P: CWCT

2/25/2026

SO: BAR, eating with good appetite eent: eyes clear, no ocular or nasal dc apparent h/l: eupneic, no coughing or sneezing appreciated msi: ambulatory x4 neuro: mentation alert and appropriate A: URI apparently resolved P: monitor for recurrence of clinical signs

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 3. Yellow

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

KNOWN HISTORY:: Thumper was brought in with limited information on her behavior history in a home environment. She has lived with many other cats.

ENRICHMENT NOTES:: 2/8/26 PRIOR ASSESSMENT Thumper was crouched down on top of the den with her head and ears forward, focused on the assessor with a tense body and wide eyes. She leans back when offered treats on the scratcher tool and lowers her head when pet. She turns away and lip licks when receiving cheek rubs and then climbs down from the den when stroking her body. When she slowly crawls into the den to hide, the assessor strokes her body and then she speeds up to sit up in the den with her tail wrapped around her body. Pick up was not attempted to reduce stress. 2/13/26 Vol. Thumper was under the weather and not open to interacting. She sat upright at back of cubby, watching with narrowed eyes but not coming forward to investigate treats or toys. 2/15/26 Vol. Resting in back of top cubby, looking out portal. Sat up when tool approached with a cup of Temptations and squeeze-up, but seemed too distracted by drool to investigate. Fled to main kennel area when cubby door was opened. Seemed really unwell, almost continuously drooling. 2/16/26 Vol. Thumper was in loaf facing the wall when approached, but got up and turned around with soft eyes and whiskers down. She dodged attempts to be pet and showed no interest in the treat extended on the tool, then jumped through the portal and sat up in her litter box and licking her lips and swallowing hard (she’s congested and breathing is labored). Thumper does not like being approached by pokey things, but is very open to petting by hand first on her forehead and then on her neck and then at the base of her tail, and she became very relaxed, lying down, closing her eyes slowly. 2/20/26 Vol. Thumper was at front of kennel eating dry food. Her eyes were wide and dilated. She darted into cubby when approached, where she sat upright with tail wrapped around her paws. She cautiously ate squeeze up from scratcher tool after a minute or two, looking up frequently, her pupils still large. She accepted more squeeze up with some hesitance, remaining in cubby. She then began to groom herself. She quickly moved away to back of cubby to avoid attempted petting. 2/22/26 Vol. Sitting in litter box in cubby with widely dilated eyes. Did not move to investigate a cup of Temptations and squeeze-up on the tool, but came out to main kennel area to eat as soon as the door was closed and I turned my back. Fled back to cubby when door was opened again, but quickly came back out for a refilled cup. Watched a wand toy with interest, but did not play. Fled to another part of the kennel when offered squeeze-up directly from the tube. Left a refilled cup to enjoy. Seemed to be feeling much better this week! 2/26/26 Vol. Sitting in her kennel with large eyes and slightly flattened ears. Attempted to give her Squeeze-ups on the clicker but she kept running away into other parts of her kennel. She finally stopped long enough to eat a little bit. She did enjoy eating some tuna. Not interested in playing at this time *GAN*

ACTIVITY LEVEL:: Mellow

VOCAL:: Quiet

CHARACTER TYPE: : Social,Shy ,Calm,Sweet,Timid

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:: 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:: Thumper has made excellent improvements since her last assessment. Thumper seemed calm on the shelf at the front, and when the assessor went to pet, she pulled back quickly and didn’t appear to want petting, but she was interested in treats. Later, she seemed very friendly when the assessor put his fingers through the bars, and she rubbed up against his fingers, rolled on her side, and rubbed her cheeks against him. Then she went into the cubby and was given some treats and was a little hesitant about petting, but allowed it once again and ate squeeze up treats while being pet on the head and cheek. She appreciates a slow approach. Thumper tolerates attention and petting and even enjoys it at times especially when eating or not quickly approached, yet appears to be moderately fearful in the shelter. She may be a little more independent, and may need time to warm up to her new home. We recommend that she go to a home with some cat experience preferred and be well counseled in fearful cat behavior.