We offer a variety of services to help with strays, from referrals to our low-cost spay/neuter services to possibly placing the cat on our waitlist for participation in our adoption program.

Together, we can be part of the solution. Everything you need to know to get started is listed in the following sections.

What to do if you have lost your cat?
Read: What to Do If You Have Lost Your Cat

What to do if you have found a stray cat?
Read: Think LOST, Not STRAY

Is it a friendly stray cat?
If the cat is friendly try to provide basic care for the cat. If you are able, move the cat to a secure location. Take the cat to a veterinarian to scan for a microchip.

If the cat is friendly and tame, please search the listings on TriangleLostPets.com for the owner. Create flyers, post on NextDoor, post on Facebook pages for area lost and found pets and on Craigslist. Think LOST, Not STRAY

Is it a feral or unsocialized Cat?
Please see our feral cat services section.

I found a stray, no owner can be found and I can’t keep the cat. What do I do now?
Read: How to find a home for your homeless cat

We encourage you to try to find a home for this cat yourself but if all else fails please fill out this waitlist request here.

SAFE Haven is a limited access shelter. One cat or kitten has to be adopted before another is rescued. Because of this, we have a waitlist. Click here to place a cat on our waitlist. PLEASE NOTE: Completion of this form does not guarantee a spot on our waitlist. You will receive a follow-up phone call or email from SAFE Haven’s intake coordinator regarding this form.

Please remember, we always have a waitlist for our adoption program. We are, however, able to help stray cats quickly through our low-cost spay/neuter program. If the stray you have found has been sterilized, vaccinated and is healthy, you have a much better chance of finding it a home on your own.

If you can no longer keep a cat you adopted from SAFE Haven or are having a problem with it. We are here to help. Please contact us so we can work with you to resolve any issues related to the cat.

Additionally, our shelter can accept cats for adoption ONLY if:

• You have found stray cat(s) or kitten(s) that are approachable and have a good chance of being adopted. A good measure of adoptability is whether the cat is able to be picked up and is friendly after it gets used to its new surroundings.
• You have found young (six–10 weeks old) kittens among feral cats.
• You have placed flyers in your neighborhood, posted on Facebook and other sites, searched on trianglelostpets.com and made efforts to find the owner of the stray.

Unfortunately, due to the volume of requests we receive, SAFE Haven is unable to place cats into our adoption program if any of the following apply:

• You have feral/community cats in your neighborhood or place of business. A feral/community cat is one that is mostly nocturnal, cannot be approached, touched, easily picked up and/or put in a carrier. Please see our feral cat resources section.
• You live outside the Triangle area (area codes 919 and 984). Please see petfinder.com for resources in your area.
• You are seeking to give up a personal pet. A personal pet is defined as one you have cared for at least six months regardless of how you acquired the cat. Read: How to Find a Home for Homeless Pets
• The exception is a cat previously adopted from SAFE Haven. If you can no longer keep a cat you adopted from SAFE Haven or are having a problem with it, we are here to help. Please contact us so we can work with you to resolve any issues related to the cat.
• You adopted/purchased your cat from another rescue group or breeder. Please contact them directly.
• You have an abuse or neglect concern about an owned pet in your area. Please contact the appropriate Animal Control office.
• You have found a cat that needs immediate medical attention. Please take it to an animal hospital. We do not provide any emergency or wellness care through our spay/neuter clinic or shelter.

When It’s Kitten Season >>