Double, Double, Purr and Cuddle: Meet Sweetie Pie and Taven
Something magical is happening at SAFE Haven. For the first time ever, we have named a bonded pair our Cats of the Month!
Meet Sweetie Pie and Taven, two beautiful black cats who are less “partners in crime” and more “partners in synchronized napping.” These twin souls have been best friends for a long time. They sit alike, sleep alike and often mimic each other so perfectly that you may wonder whether someone accidentally cast a copycat spell.
Sweetie Pie and Taven are both 9 years young, which means their magic is mature and refined. They have moved beyond kitten chaos and are ready to focus on the important things in life, like cozy naps, good company, and being adored. Both have received a good bill of health, although Taven may need to stay on a low-carb menu. If you know, you know.
Telling them apart can be tricky at first, but their personalities offer a clue. Sweetie Pie is the more outgoing one. She is ready to work the room while Taven hangs back to observe the situation. Once Sweetie Pie lets him know that everything is safe, Taven begins to relax and show his sweet side.
Let’s Break the Black Cat Curse
Despite being elegant, adorable, and capable of making every room look more sophisticated, black cats can face lower adoption rates and longer shelter stays.
In one study of nearly 8,000 shelter cats, black cats had the lowest adoption rate of any coat color studied. Their adoption rate was 10% compared with nearly 19% for white cats. Results vary among shelters, but other studies have also found that darker-coated cats may wait longer to be adopted.
Outdated superstitions have not done black cats any favors, but there may be another reason they are overlooked. A 2026 study of online adoption photos found that people rated black cats as less adoptable and had more difficulty reading their expressions. Black fur can hide subtle facial cues in a photograph, especially when the lighting is not ideal. A black cat who looks mysterious online may actually be thinking, “Hello, I would very much like a snack and a chin scratch.”
No bad luck here. Just bad lighting.
That is why meeting black cats in person is so important. A photograph may capture their sleek coats, but it cannot always capture the purrs, head bumps, silliness, and affection that make each cat unique.
Taven is on top and Sweetie Pie is below. Yes, these are actually different cats!
Two Familiar Faces for Your Home
Sweetie Pie and Taven have already perfected the buddy system. Together, they bring twice the companionship, twice the personality, and twice the cat love.
Come meet our first bonded Cats of the Month at SAFE Haven. You may arrive thinking you are meeting two nearly identical cats, but it will not take long to discover two distinct personalities and one truly bewitching friendship.
