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The Cat Chronicle – January 2026

The Cat Chronicle – January 2026

Cat of the Month: Swiffer
This special guy is a big boy with an even bigger personality. If you’re looking for a companion for 2026 and beyond, look no further. Swiffer is a big fan of boundaries and is looking for a low-key home that understands his need to be an only kitty. Learn more about the first Cat of the Month for 2026!​

Save the Date
Mark your calendars because this year’s Tuxedo Cat Ball returns on April 10! We’ll be celebrating the purr-severance of our feline friends, having a great time on the dance floor, enjoying delicious food, and raising money with our auctions to continue saving lives. Stay tuned for our ticket launch!

Starting the Year Off with a Purr
If you’ve expanded your family by a few paws, we have tips on how to help kitties live their best lives! Here are a few resources to look at:

Save the Date

    • April 10, 2026: Tuxedo Cat Ball

Thank YOU for Your Support

Click here to DONATE

Cat of the Month: Swiffer

Cat of the Month: Swiffer

Every month, SAFE Haven features a special cat who deserves a little extra attention. If adopted, this sweetheart will come home with you, along with a special care package!

I’m Swiffer, January’s Cat of the Month. I’m a big, handsome boy with a big personality and an even bigger appreciation for boundaries. At almost 4 years old, I know what I like, what I don’t, and I’m not afraid to let you know.

I’m looking for a very specific kind of person—someone who’s cat-savvy, great at reading body language, and totally on board with living in a calm, low-key home. I’ll be great if I’m your one and only animal companion, with no other cats, dogs, or small children competing for my space. Quiet vibes only, please. I’ll be the perfect roommate, keeping to myself sometimes and hanging out at others. I’d be great company if you work from home, and might help keep you calm during stressful meetings.

I’m a chatty guy who enjoys expressing my opinions (often out loud) and loves vertical space. Cat trees, shelves, or any kind of “cat decoration” are a must—I appreciate a home that lets me climb, perch, and survey my kingdom. Once I feel secure, I’m playful, very food-motivated, and full of charm. Once you’re approved in my book, you’re always approved. I’m not judgmental; I just need a little time before I jump on your lap.

Like everyone with anxiety, I can be a little unsure in new environments, so I need someone patient who will let me settle in at my own pace and respect where I’m at along the way. In return, you’ll get a loyal, entertaining companion with enough personality to fill your whole home. I love toys, so I’ll let you know when I want to play.

Think you might be my perfect match? I’m ready to meet my person: experienced, understanding, and ready to love a cat who knows exactly who he is. Maybe we can learn how to combat anxiety together? If you think we could, fill out an Adoption Interest Survey!

The Cat Chronicle – December 2025

The Cat Chronicle – December 2025

A Purr-fect Way to End 2025
2025 has been a big year! From our Fire Ant Kittens to sweet Freya, we’ve been able to help a lot of kitties who needed us. You can help us continue our work into next year with your end-of-year donation. Best of all, it’s matched up to $100,000, so your donation will go even farther to save lives!

Looking for other ways to support us?

  • Become a Paw Pal, a monthly donor, and you’ll get sneak peeks of what’s ahead for SAFE Haven with the exclusive monthly Mewsletter.
  • Donate a gift of stocks or through a Donor Advised Fund!
  • Volunteer and give our cats the gift of time to our cats.

Cat of the Month: Fento
If you’re looking for a cat of mystery, look no further than Fento. While he may appear to be ordinary, this handsome feline is more than meets the eye. His mysterious origins are just part of what makes him intriguing. He also has two extra teeth! Get to know this special guy and see how you can give him a home base for life.

The Cat’s Out of the Bag
In case you missed our announcement earlier this week, we have a new Executive Director! We’re delighted to welcome Annie Schmidt to the team. She’s an experienced nonprofit leader and strategist who will help SAFE Haven continue to grow its lifesaving programs and serve as a trusted resource for cat lovers like you across the Triangle. Get to know her.

 

Sponsor a Cat for the Holidays
This holiday season, you can give a gift that brings comfort, care, and a second chance to a cat who needs it most. By becoming a virtual sponsor for just $25, you’re making sure their bowl is full, their medical needs are met, and their hearts stay hopeful through the holidays. And as a thank-you, you’ll receive a photo and story about the special kitty you’re supporting. Spread joy, love, and lifesaving care this season. Sponsor a cat today!

 

 

Mission: Pawsible Report
On #GivingTuesday, we sent out the call to all of our agents, and boy, did you respond! With our triple match, you helped us raise over $58,ooo to help us continue our lifesaving mission. Because of you, critical medical support and loving care will be provided to the cats who come to us. We’re beyond grateful for you.

 

 

Save the Date

    • December 25, 2025: Closed for the Christmas Holiday
    • January 1, 2026: Closed for New Year’s Day

Thank YOU for Your Support

Click here to DONATE

Cat of the Month: Fento

Cat of the Month: Fento

Fento has been adopted! Here are a few cats still looking for their homes. Stay tuned for our next Cat of the Month! 

Every month, SAFE Haven features a special cat who deserves a little extra attention. If adopted, this sweetheart will come home with you, along with a special care package!

They call me Fento. Is that my real name? You’ll never know. I’m a cat of mystery and… secrets. To the uninitiated, I appear to be an ordinary, albeit extraordinarily handsome, feline. In truth, I am far, far more than meets the eye. I’ve lived many lives in many places, and I’m just getting started. My origins are murky, even to me. Legend has it that I was born to a beautiful but complicated stray named Belladonna. Though an accomplished singer and chessmaster, she found herself unable to keep her litter after my father left her, heartbroken, to return to his one and only true love- the sea. I never knew my father, but I’ve been told I inherited my supernumerary teeth from him. You heard that right, I have not one but two extra teeth. While I am a cat-of-the-world, I have but two weaknesses. The first is food. I have always been a gourmand despite my humble upbringing (I only eat wet food in order to keep my manly physique). The second is laps. I cannot resist a good snuggle, and I’m not embarrassed to say that, if the pets are top-notch, I’ve been known to drool a little. We all have our vices, no?

I currently reside at SAFE Haven for Cats while awaiting my next assignment. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is as follows:

  1. Visit the Adopt section of our website. 
  2. Fill out an Adoption Interest Survey and mention the codeword FENTO.
  3. Wait for your approval email or follow-up phone call.
  4. Once approved, come to 8431 Garvey Drive in Raleigh, Suite 137. Enter the lobby and ring the doorbell. When the operative (I mean Adoption Counselor) answers, tell them you’re here to see me. They’ll know what to do…

***DESTROY AFTER READING***

SAFE Haven for Cats Welcomes Annie Schmidt as Executive Director

SAFE Haven for Cats Welcomes Annie Schmidt as Executive Director

SAFE Haven for Cats, the Triangle’s leading no-kill cat shelter and clinic, is pleased to announce the appointment of Annie Schmidt as its new Executive Director, effective December 1, 2025.

Annie is an experienced nonprofit leader and capacity-building strategist with over a decade of success in strengthening organizations and advancing community well-being. Most recently, she served as Senior Manager of Field Capacity Building at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), where she helped state organizations nationwide grow stronger, more equitable, and more effective.

As the former Executive Director of NAMI Wake County, Annie transformed a volunteer-run affiliate into a thriving nonprofit with professional staff, expanded funding, and inclusive, evidence-based programming. Her leadership has been recognized with honors such as NAMI NC Affiliate of the Year and United Way of the Triangle’s 10 Leaders to Watch.

Annie holds a Master of Science in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences from the University of Florida and certificates in Nonprofit and Volunteer Management from Rollins College. She has also worked with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Children’s Home Society of Florida, and the Florida Literacy Coalition. Annie is also the proud mom of two cats, Cortez and Sasha.

“I’m thrilled to join SAFE Haven for Cats,” Annie shared. “This organization’s compassion, commitment to community, and dedication to every cat’s well-being are truly inspiring. I’m honored to build on that legacy and help even more cats and people in the Triangle thrive together.”

Throughout the transition, SAFE Haven’s shelter and clinic teams remain steadfast in their mission to provide the best possible medical care, nutrition, and love to every cat in our care.

Under Annie’s leadership, SAFE Haven will continue to grow its lifesaving programs and serve as a trusted resource for cat lovers across the Triangle.

Media Contact:
Dawn Crawford
720-231-1930
dawn@bcdcideas.com