Larissa🖤
Larissa came to our shelter back in 2020 in a trap, terrified and not trusting of folks. Over the last 6 years we have been making progressive changes to not only the structure of our shelter, we implemented a socialization training for any of our volunteers who are interested. We want every single one of our cats to feel a sense of safety and comfort around people. Years ago the setting was different and we are never going back. Larissa was one of our more challenging cats, due to her fear and lack of trust (who could blame her). Several volunteers have been working with her for many years and one in particular has been her biggest advoCATe. Jana is a gentle, kind soul who the cats feel a sense of comfort around. She offers a quiet voice, a gentle step and allows the cats to come to her when they are ready. Jana was smitten with Larissa and has been working with her steadily for over 2 years now. Each step has been about trust building and understanding life from Larissa’s purrspective. The biggest step for Larissa was accepting pets from volunteers, especially the one she trusts the most, Jana. Please enjoy Jana’s bio about Larissa as it expressed her love and understanding of her nature.
Darling Larissa is one of our shyer cats. Her RBF (or resting b*tch face) is a perfect example of why you should not judge a book by its cover. She might seem tough but once you gain her trust, she will melt in your hands like butter.
Being a shy cat, Larissa will benefit from being in a home without small children. Her home should be understanding of the process of gaining the trust of a shy cat that can take much longer time than with cats that are not shy. She will need a place that will respect her boundaries and be quiet and slow but steady.
Larissa enjoys following the laser light and getting gentle chin scritches from volunteers who she trusts. She enjoys Churu type treats and would lick them from the hands of trusted volunteers. Slow blinks are a great way of reassuring her of the environment being safe.
Although making a great progress, she is still easily startled by noises and fast movement and would sometimes react by hissing. In these situations it is important to know that she is not a bad kitty but she is feeling uncomfortable with the sound/fast movement. It is important to end every interaction on a positive note, give her some time to feel comfortable again and make sure she is feeling safe in the end.
Crafted purrfectly by Larissa’s biggest advoCATe, Jana.
Thank you Jana for your dedication to cats like Larissa who have learned to trust humans and helped her to show her softer side.
Interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, LIndsay at adoptacat907@gmail.com.
Please understand when we share that our cats are very shy, we are being very transparent about their needs. Shy does not just mean that they may hide from you when you come to visit, it means they may be very uncomfortable with a new person/people. This may cause them to retreat or freeze. We ask that you please be very mindful of this and understand that it will take time to build a relationship with them. Please do not impose on their space and implement strategies that our Behavior Team can share with you. If you are truly interested in adopting one of our shyer cats, we strongly encourage you to do multiple visits and work with our Behavior Team. This may give you the opportunity to see sprinkles of their beautiful personalities that they share with those they trust. After you meet him or her and feel he/she is a good match, everyone who is in the home will need to have a second visit with our Adoption and Care Coordinator to see the interaction. Once we see that you are a purrfect match, then the adoption application can be completed and our processing team will get to work. Our Care Coordinator will counsel you on how to set up your home to meet the needs of your new addition.
Shelter Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 7pm-9pm: Visitation Only
Wednesday: 7pm-8:30pm: Visitation Only
Weekend Hours: Closed to the public. Appointments Only.
Please text 907-230-6394 to make these arrangements.
Please visit our website to learn about our Adoption Policy and to complete our Adoption Application: https://adopt-a-cat.org/adopt/
Our adoption policies and procedures are rigorous and thoughtful as our goal is to match you with a cat who will become a loving addition to your home for the rest of his/her wonderful life.
Seeing photos and videos are great first steps, however, meeting the cat in person and seeing if you connect is critically important. You may even want to visit the cat a few times to ensure you have made that connection.
If you are interested in adopting one of our cats, you will need to complete our adoption application and have that approved prior to placement. Submitting an adoption application does not guarantee placement.
We do not do same day adoptions.
Please ensure you have permission to have a cat where you live before considering adoption! We will need to see a copy of your lease agreement along with a contact number for your landlord to ensure the adoption is allowed.
All parties interested must meet the cat before adoption to ensure that everyone is in agreement with the adoption. If you do not live in Anchorage, you must come in to meet him/her before the adoption and make arrangements to transport him/her to your home.
AHS will provide behavioral support for the transition and throughout the adoption to ensure that everyone feels secure with the adoption.
Our adoption agreement prohibits declawing an adopted cat, and stipulates that the cat will be returned to us if the adoption does not work out. We also ask that cats be returned to us regardless of when the cat was adopted if the adoptive home is no longer able to keep the cat or is unable to provide him/her with the necessary healthcare to maintain a healthy and happy life.
AHS has an indoor cat policy. We strongly support the utilization of cat harnesses and catios as these are positive ways of giving your cat the chance to explore, get some fresh air and provide him/her with the benefits of the natural world while keeping them and wildlife safe and sound.
These steps have been implemented to ensure the placement is the best one possible to meet the needs of the cat and the new home.
Our Adoption Application is available to complete online or download. If you download the application please email the completed one to ahscatshelter@gmail.com
Once You've Made That Purrfect Connection, Here are Some Factors to Consider
Do you rent? If you do, do you have Landlord approval and documentation to verify that you are allowed to have a cat? Is there a clause about declawing in the lease? We do not allow declawing.
Is your home ready for a new arrival? Do you need support with getting that together?
Does everyone in the home agree to the adoption and has everyone met the cat? (This is one of our policies)
Are you aware of the municipal code, Title 17, that requires a multi-animal license when you own 4 or more of the same species in the Municipality of Anchorage?
Do you have a carrier to transport your cat?
Once your application is approved, then you have two options:
1. Set up an adoption appointment on the weekend by texting at 907-230-6394 or emailing ahscatshelter@gmail.com.
2. Reserve the cat and put down a deposit ($25 minimum towards the $130 adoption fee) and set up a time with a volunteer to schedule pickup.
Suggested Supplies
* Food/Water dishes (Our cats eat IAMS Proactive Health Chicken Kibble and
Friskies/Fancy Feast Canned Food).
* Uncovered Litter Box/Litter (we recommend non-clay clumping litters)
Scratching Posts/Cat Trees
* World’s Best Cat Litter
* Feliway (cat pheromone that assists with stress and behaviors)
* Cat Beds/Hidey Spot/Cube/Kennel
* Cat Trees/Perches
* Music (Through a Cat’s Ear is highly recommended: www.icalmpet.com)
* Enrichment Toys (you’ll receive an enrichment brochure with some suggestions)
* Cat DVDs
* Collar/harness/ID tag
* Carrier (we recommend a larger sized hard sided carrier when picking up your
cat from the shelter). Soft sided carriers are great for when your cat is more
comfortable in your home.
LUCIA-SHY
Domestic Medium Hair
🇺🇸
Anchorage, Alaska
female, large, senior, mixed
Domestic Medium Hair
Anchorage, Alaska
