Ana Maria is AMAZING!! She's a lovely host and sweetest person. She made me feel right at home. Her place is in an amazing gated community on a hill near everything you need full of families. The doormen are charming and felt like a small community feel. She gives you space to settle in but if you want to hang out with her, she's happy to as well.
The room itself was spacious and had a desk to work from, and the most comfortable bed and honestly the best shower of my life. The pigeon and cats are charming and don't bother you. Actually most of them are in the back and out of your way. I'm actually highly allergic to cats but it didn't bother me at all, and I enjoyed their company :)
I highly recommend staying at Ana's place. I'm actually coming back to visit her before I leave Rio!