Cayenne-Idiopathic Seizure Disorder/Cystitis Domestic Short Hair Anchorage, AK

Update: Cayenne was moved to a foster home on 4/12/24. Please contact us if you are interested in being his purrever foster.

Cayenne as you can see here is an adorably sweet ginger lad. He was adopted from AACC back in 2017 and sadly showed up as a stray at AACC this summer. He was on the floor for adoption when he had a massive seizure. Thankfully the vet team on staff provided immediate care but then the shelter realized they would need a different setting to provide him with the continued care he will need for the rest of his life. That is when they reached out to us at AHS. Cayenne has what is considered an idiopathic seizure disorder. Idiopathic means no known cause, however if we were to pursue a CT Scan we may find he has a brain tumor, however the course of treatment would be the same. Since coming to AHS he has had at least 10 seizures. He began taking the medication Phenobarbital but because he was showing signs of oncoming seizures the medication needed to be increased. Unfortunately the pharmacy was unable to refill the script so the vet changed his medication to Zonisamide. He began on a smaller dose, but was upped to twice a day as he continued to have seizures. The frequency of the seizures began to increase so he was in need of adding Phenobarbital back to the regimen, but it has been so challenging to get it for him.
Then on December 5, 2023 Cayenne had three seizures!! If you have ever witnessed a grand mal seizure they are horrible and offering comfort for Cayenne is critically important. We needed to act swiftly and get him the care he needed as soon as possible so our care team requested to have him referred to the Pet ER.
The vet team at Pet ER gave Phenobarbital by IV to get Cayenne to a therapeutic level more quickly than can be done with oral Phenobarbital. While he was on IV Phenobarbital, they monitored for any seizures and thankfully he did not have any. We were comforted to know that he was under watch 24 hours a day for the next few days. We want to be able to give Cayenne a chance to be seizure free.
Since being back at AHS he has been responding very well to his treatment of taking Phenobarbital every 12 hours. A big thank you to Arleen who comes in twice a day to administer this for him at a consistent time every day. He will require taking this medication for the duration of his life and it must be administered on a consistent schedule every 12 hours. He is a hoot with taking his meds. We believe in force free methods so we use pill pockets, delectable treats, churro treats and ensure he takes it each time. We will be happy to train and guide his adoptive or foster home.
Ideally we would like for Cayenne to find his own purrever home, however we understand that with his condition that this may not be the ideal adoption. Therefore we are also offering the option to be his purrever foster home. What does that mean? A purrever foster is a foster home that Cayenne will live with for the rest of this life. A purrever foster provides the care in the home setting (communicating with our care coordinator) while AHS covers the medical costs. If you are interested in helping us help Cayenne find a loving and thoughtful home please email us at ahscatshelter@gmail.com or you can also complete our adoption application found on our website www.adopt-a-cat.org/adopt, or through Petfinder.
Cayenne also has hyperextension of his left front leg. This is instability but no palpable issues with the bones themselves. The vet thinks he may have jumped from too high or fallen when having a seizure causing the ligaments to overstretch.
Now who is Cayenne, he certainly isn’t his seizures. Cayenne’s purrsonality is true heart as a ginger lad as he is a spicy, chatty, adorable tabby king. He is affectionate and playful, even more so as he has been feeling consistently better. Cayenne has a great appetite and his greatest pastime is telling you all about his exciting adventures. We do not know how he came to be a stray, but he was left at AACC most likely because his former home observed the seizures and didn't know what to do. Despite being abandoned, this sweet boy is ready to trust again, open his heart and connect with a loving, trusting home.

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 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 Canned Food).
* Uncovered Litter Box/Litter (we recommend non-clay clumping litters)
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 (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.