Get to know Alaska Humane Society (Adopt-a-Cat) (2024)

Shelter Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 7pm-9pm: Visitation Only
Wednesday: 7pm-8:30pm: Visitation Only

Weekend Hours by Appointment Only.
Please text 907-230-6394 to make these arrangements.
Appointment times are:
3:15, 4:00, 4:45

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 opti
Once you’ve made that purrfect connection here some factors to consider:

Do you rent? If you do, do you have Landlord approval and documentation to show that?

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 have met the cat?

Do you have a carrier to transport your cat?

If you are purrepared then you have two options:
1. Adopt the cat that day.
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.

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, or if the adoptive family is no longer able to keep the cat or provide him/her with the necessary healthcare.

For the first 30 days, cats who do not work out in their new homes may be returned for a refund or exchanged for another, more suitable, cat.

Our cats eat IAMS Proactive Health Chicken Flavor kibble and we send home a small bag with their adoption. They also eat Friskies canned food daily with lysine supplement.

You will also receive an adoption folder with many supports to help make the transition process smooth and successful for you and your cat!

Here is a list of suggested supplies to get your home ready.
•Food/Water dishes • Uncovered Litter Box/Litter
• Scratching Posts/Cat Trees
• 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

Get to know Alaska Humane Society (Adopt-a-Cat) (2024)

FAQs

How to answer why do you want to adopt a cat? ›

7 Reasons to Adopt a Cat
  1. Adoption saves many lives. ...
  2. Adopting is a smart financial choice. ...
  3. It's good for your mental health. ...
  4. It's good for your physical health too! ...
  5. Cats can complete your family. ...
  6. When you adopt a cat, you know what you are getting. ...
  7. Rescues seem to have fewer health issues.
May 4, 2022

How to pass a cat adoption interview? ›

Be honest in your answers and don't lie about anything that you're asked. It's tempting to write down what you think the rescue wants to hear, but this could lead to you matching with a cat or dog who won't fit well in your home environment.

Are cats happy to be adopted? ›

Every cat will adjust a little differently. Outgoing felines might feel like the master of their new home after only a day or two; others may take six months or longer to build up their confidence and form strong bonds with their people.

Is adopting a cat worth it? ›

According to Research Gate, owning a cat, or any pet you adopt from a shelter, has been shown to have positive effects on humans' ability to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Taking a cat home from a shelter can improve your sense of happiness and general well-being.

Why do you want to adopt answers? ›

For many adoptive parents, there are no mitigating circ*mstances that lead them to make the choice to adopt. They simply know they want to grow their families through adoption. For some of these families, they recognize a need within the community to provide loving homes to children in need.

What do you write to adopt a cat? ›

An easy way to make readers feel connected: picture the ideal owner for a pet and write about them! “Would be a great companion for someone who _______” (Loves to stay active, enjoys a cozy night with a good book, likes to stick to a routine). Or, “if you enjoy ______, you'll love Charlie!”

What questions do they ask in an adoption interview? ›

Why do you want to adopt?
  • Why do you want to adopt?
  • What do you think your parenting style will be like?
  • How well do you understand the adoption process?
  • What do you know about some of the unique challenges adopted children can face?
  • What are your hopes for your child?

Is it ever okay to return an adopted cat to the shelter? ›

Returning an animal because of behavioral issues is not unusual or frowned upon by shelter staff. Some animals belong in a quieter household. “Anonymous” should not feel guilty, nor subject her family and the cat into a situation that benefits neither.

Which cat gets adopted the least? ›

Black cats and black and white cats are the least often adopted. These cats spend the most time living in shelters, waiting to be adopted. At times, shelters won't accept these cats for their adoption programs because of their color.

Do cats miss their owners when rehomed? ›

Also, cats often miss their previous owners when rehomed and try to find their way back. If you've just moved or taken in a new cat, keep a sharp eye on him for the first three weeks or so until he gets settled in his new place. Do senior cats experience memory loss? A cat's memory declines with age.

Do cats get sad when you give them away? ›

In general, cats will go through a period of mourning when they are rehomed, as they may feel confused and scared by the sudden change in their living situation. The only exception is if the cat was in a traumatic environment, where they didn't have an owner who loved them.

What not to do when adopting a cat? ›

Don't in the first week after adoption:

Don't make sudden changes in the environment, food, litter, or water of the cat/kitten. Cats find change stressful and a new home is a major stress.

What age cat is best to adopt? ›

Waiting until a kitten is at least eight weeks of age before they are adopted or purchased will help to ensure that the kitten has had some opportunity for behavioural development, and has at least received adequate amounts of their mother's milk for growth and overall health.

Is it better to get a kitten or older cat? ›

An older cat will be less demanding of your time and will require less supervision. Kittens require significantly more time to supervise and care for. Many households are not able to provide what is needed during the first six months of a kitten's learning and growing.

Why would you choose cat as a pet? ›

Cats offer companionship, unconditional love, entertainment, affection, lots of purring, comfortable silences and they're trainable! Cats are: Happy living indoors. Neat, grooming themselves regularly.

Why are you interested in adopting a pet? ›

You'll be saving an animal's life

Approximately 2.7 million cats and dogs are euthanized each year in the united states. That's because there are more cats and dogs than homes for them to stay in. With millions of animals looking for a home, it is truly beneficial to adopt rather than buy.

Why do I want to pet a cat? ›

It is well known that petting cats can reduce stress1 and even lower blood pressure2 in humans, and it may also reduce stress in some cats. Of course, some cats dislike petting and will hiss, growl, swat, or bite when someone tries to pet them. There are several reasons cats can be so opinionated about petting.

Why are you interested in fostering a cat? ›

When you take in a foster cat, it gives us room to help other cats who might otherwise be brought to shelters that euthanize for time and space. It also lets us learn more about a cat's personality than we ever could in a shelter environment, which, in turn, makes the cat much easier to adopt out.

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