The Scratching Post: August 2025

Aug 13, 2026 | News, The Scratching Post

NOTES FROM OUR OUTGOING & INCOMING BOARD CHAIRS:

As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with deep gratitude for the compassion and generosity you’ve shown to SAFE Haven for Cats. Thanks to your support, this year we provided loving care and second chances to hundreds of cats and kittens, and performed thousands of affordable spay/neuter surgeries to help control overpopulation in our community. Your belief in our mission has allowed our team to turn your dollars into miracles for countless cats: aiding in the restoration of eyesight to previously blind Pine Nut; helping little Corazón regain the use of her back legs; turning a weak and listless Xena Warrior Princess into an absolute spitfire of a kitten.

We are proud of the progress we’ve made together, and confident in the continued leadership of our incoming Chair, Cathy, who shares our deep commitment to our mission to use no-kill principles and education to save cats’ lives through rescue, adoption, spay/neuter services and community programs. With your continued partnership, we’re ready to meet any challenges ahead with determination and heart. Together, we can build an even stronger safety net for vulnerable animals in our corner of the world.

We invite you to be part of the change in our community, whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word about SAFE Haven. Your continued investment of time, resources, and trust ensures that we can keep providing life-saving services and compassionate care. On behalf of the entire board, staff, and every whiskered friend you’ve helped, thank you for being part of our team.

Warmly,

Mary Ka Powers,
outgoing Board Chair

Cathy Easop,
incoming Board Chair

Click on the image above to read or download this issue of The Scratching Post.

The Cat Chronicle – August 2026

Aug 10, 2026 | The Cat Chronicle

POV: Your donation just brought me one step closer to my forever home - 1

August Cats of the Month: ALL of Them!

Choosing just one Cat of the Month this August? Impossible.

Every single cat at SAFE Haven is extraordinary, and our 100 cat adoption goal deserves to be celebrated. This August, which is Clear the Shelters Month, is the purrfect time to show them!

Some are ready to steal your heart immediately. Others need time to show you who they really are. All deserve to find a loving home and their happily-ever-after.

This August, we’re celebrating every cat in our shelter, and we have Spirit Week surprises coming!

If you’d like to learn more about Avocato or Jazz, visit our adoption page or stop by SAFE Haven for Cats.

Help us Clear the Shelter this Month!

Ready to find your new best friend? Our Clear the Shelters event is happening tomorrow, Friday, August 7, where all cat adoptions are just $10! With limited spots and first-come, first-served availability, arriving early gives you the best chance of finding your match. Whether you’re looking for a playful kitten or a calm companion, a cat is waiting to meet you.

Want to know what to expect? Visit our Know Before You Go page for all the details and tips.

Join Our Shelter Cleaning Team

Summer is here, and we have the perfect way to spend your time: helping cats at SAFE Haven for Cats! Our Shelter Cleaning Team is where we need the most help, and we’re looking for dedicated volunteers like YOU.

Volunteers arrive each morning from 9 am -11 am to keep our shelter clean, comfortable, and safe for the cats in our care.

What You’ll Do:

Scoop litter boxes
Change linens and toys
Fill water bowls
Sweep floors and maintain a healthy environment

Plus, if time permits, you can play and socialize with the cats, the best part of the job!

Learn More

Sips for Snips - Square (Instagram Post (4:5)) - 1

Upcoming: Sips for Snips Event!

Raise a glass for a great cause at the Salty Turtle Beer Company in Raleigh for a purr-fect afternoon of craft brews, community, and cat love.

Every beer sold on August 20 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM helps fund low-cost spay/neuter surgeries through the SAFE Care Clinic, preventing unwanted litters and keeping cats healthy across the Triangle.

Bring your family, friend, or even a co-worker for an eventful happy hour; all are welcome!

See You There

Upcoming Events

August 7, 2026: Clear the Shelters Event
August 20, 2026: Sips for Snips Event

Thank YOU for Your Support

We couldn’t save Cammie. But we could love her.

Aug 2, 2026 | News

We love sharing happy stories with you. But today, we have a heartbreaking story that reflects the extraordinary compassion and dedication of the SAFE Haven team. If sad stories about cats are difficult for you, we completely understand if you choose to skip this one.

Cammie should never have spent her final days fighting to survive.

On Wednesday, July 15, a Good Samaritan found her lying beside a road in north Raleigh and brought her to SAFE Haven just before 4:30 p.m. She was only about two years old, and devastatingly thin, weak, and cold.

Jumping Into Action

The workday was nearly over, but no one hesitated. Our SAFE Care Team immediately gathered around Cammie. They examined her, ran tests, and tried to understand what her fragile body needed. Most of her results offered hope. But her white blood cell count was dangerously high. And although a cat’s normal temperature is around 101 degrees, Cammie’s body would not warm above 95.

Cammie needed more help than we could provide at the clinic. We rushed her to Wake Veterinary Urgent Care, where the medical team stayed in close contact with our Medical Director around the clock. The SAFE Haven shelter team joined the effort, monitoring her condition and preparing for the long-term care we desperately hoped she would need.

For a little while, Cammie made progress. We had a foster home ready for her. We were already imagining the soft bed, nourishing meals, and gentle care that would help her grow strong again.

Then, on Friday night, her exhausted body could fight no longer. She became comatose, and we made the heartbreaking decision to let her pass peacefully.

We could not give Cammie the long life she deserved. But because she was brought to SAFE Haven, she did not die alone beside a road.

She spent her final days surrounded by warmth. She knew gentle hands, soft voices, and people who refused to give up on her. She was safe. She was cared for. She was loved.

And now, we are asking you to help us be ready for the next Cammie.

Another sick, injured, or starving cat will arrive at our door. We may not know when, but we know that when they do, there will be no time to wait.

Your donation will help provide emergency veterinary treatment, diagnostic testing, medication, nourishing food, and foster care when a cat’s life hangs in the balance.

For Cammie, and for every cat still waiting to be found, thank you.

Please make a gift today in Cammie’s memory.

We could not change how her story began, but together, we can help change how the next cat’s story ends.

Give In Cammie's Memory

Thank you SAFE Haven staff!

We’re deeply grateful to the incredible team members who stood by Cammie’s side and surrounded her with compassion and care:

Shelter Care team members: Alexis, Fox, Stiles, and Clinic team member Julie

Directors: Patti and Ashlyn

Our Medical Director: Dr. Kutner

100 Cats. 31 Days. Let’s Go!

Aug 1, 2026 | Cat of the Month, Events - Adoption, News

This August, SAFE Haven for Cats is setting one big, bold, slightly whisker-raising goal: find loving homes for 100 cats in 31 days.

That is 100 cats trading shelter nights for sunny windowsills. It’s 100 cats discovering their favorite spot on the couch. And 100 families hearing the tiny thump of paws running through the house at 3 a.m.

Can we do it? With our community behind us, we believe we can!

Check back all month long to see our progress!

Aug 12 update!

Every Cat Is Cat of the Month

Normally, we introduce you to one extra-special feline as our Cat of the Month. But this August, choosing just one feels impossible. So we are not doing it. Every cat is our Cat of the Month this month!

The kittens. The seniors. The lap cats. The independent types. The playful troublemakers. The shy sweethearts. The cats who want to supervise your every move and the ones who simply want a quiet place to nap. Every one of them deserves a chance to be chosen.

Clear the Shelters on August 7

We’re kicking our adoption goal into high gear with our Clear the Shelters event on Friday, August 7! If you have been thinking about adopting, this is the purr-fect time to meet the cats waiting for homes. Get all the details you need to know before you go here.

Spirit Week Is Coming!

We’re ending August with a full week of themed adoption fun during SAFE Haven Spirit Week! Each day will feature a different silly theme and a special adoption discount. The themes are still TBD, but we can promise costumes, cat jokes, and plenty of reasons to visit more than once. We’re still plotting, but it will be fun.

Help Us Reach 100

Adopting 100 cats will take a whole community. Here is how you can help:

Adopt

Visit SAFE Haven and meet your new best friend.

Meet the Cats

Share

Tell your friends, family, and coworkers about our August goal. Make sure to send them cats that are PURRFECT for them.

Follow along

Watch our social media channels for featured cats, event updates, and our adoption total. Join the fun on Facebook and Instagram.

Cheer us on

Every share, comment, and conversation helps more people discover SAFE Haven’s cats.

One hundred adoptions may sound ambitious, but every big number begins with one cat meeting the right person. This August, let’s fill homes with purrs, couches with cat hair, and our adoption board with 100 happy endings.

Ready to help us reach 100? Start by meeting our adoptable cats today!

The Cat Chronicle – July 2026

Jul 8, 2026 | The Cat Chronicle

Back by Popular Demand – Cats of the Month: Avocato & Jazz

Still waiting for their forever homes!

You have seen Avocato and Jazz featured as our Cats of the Month before, and we’re bringing them back because they’re still waiting for their forever homes.

Avocato is our charming boy with undeniable leading-man energy. He’s been patiently waiting for someone to recognize just how special he is. If you’ve been considering adoption, we’d love for you to meet him again!

Jazz is our fabulous showgirl who truly deserves her happily-ever-after. We wanted to give you an important heads-up. This is your last chance to adopt Jazz before she transitions into our foster care program. If Jazz has captured your heart, now is the time to make it happen.

Both of these incredible cats have waited long enough for their perfect matches. We hope you’ll consider opening your home to one of them.

If you’d like to learn more about Avocato or Jazz, visit our adoption page or stop by SAFE Haven for Cats.

Holiday Hours: July 4th Weekend

As we head into the Fourth of July weekend, we wanted to let you know about our holiday schedule so you can plan accordingly.

Clinic Closure: The clinic is closed today, Thursday, July 2nd.

Adoption Hours: We’re open for adoptions on Friday, July 3rd, during regular business hours. However, we’ll be closed for adoptions on Saturday, July 4th, so our team can celebrate the holiday with family and friends. We’ll resume normal operations on Sunday, July 5th.

As you celebrate with fireworks and festivities this weekend, please remember to keep your feline friends safe and calm. The loud noises from fireworks can be frightening and stressful for cats. We recommend creating a quiet, safe space indoors where your cat can retreat if needed.

For more tips on how to keep your cat calm and stress-free during fireworks, check out these helpful tips.

We hope you have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!

Clinic Update: New Deposit Policy Effective July 1

Due to high demand for spay and neuter appointments, SAFE Haven for Cats now requires a $25 deposit per cat to reserve your appointment slot. This helps us ensure that as many cats as possible receive the care they need.

Your deposit is not an additional fee. It will be applied directly toward your cat’s surgery cost, with the remaining balance due on the morning of your appointment.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please provide at least three (3) business days’ notice so we can offer your spot to another family. Cancellations with fewer than three business days’ notice, or missed appointments, will forfeit the deposit.

For more details on our updated policy and to book your appointment, visit our website today.

Thank you for your patience, as we work to serve more cats in our community!

Keeping Your Cat Cool During the Summer Heat

As summer temperatures rise, it’s important to remember that cats are more sensitive to heat than we are. They need extra care and attention to stay cool and comfortable during the hottest months.

Simple Ways to Help Your Cat Beat the Heat:

Make fresh, cool water available at all times and change it frequently throughout the day.
Brushing your cat removes excess fur, helping them regulate their temperature
Create cool spots around your home where your cat can escape the heat, such as shaded areas, tile floors, or a basement.
Use fans to improve air circulation in your home, and consider offering ice cubes or frozen treats for a refreshing lick. Dampen a towel for your cat to rest on during particularly hot days.
Finally, try to schedule playtime during the cooler parts of the day, such as early mornings or evenings.

While these tips will help keep your cat comfortable, it’s important to watch for signs of overheating, such as excessive panting, lethargy, or drooling. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

With a little extra attention during hot weather, you can help ensure your feline friend stays healthy and comfortable all summer long.

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