Meet the Raleigh kitten featured in Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl, plus how to watch
The big game is almost here — and we don’t mean Super Bowl LVI.
Before the Bengals and Rams face off Sunday night, a “posse of puppy players” will take to the gridiron for Puppy Bowl XVIII at 2 p.m.
And while the puppies, who will be coached by Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, will do most of the playing throughout the game, local viewers shouldn’t miss the halftime show of the three-hour event.
That’s when Sunny, a 16-week-old Flame Point Siamese mix kitten up for adoption at SAFE Haven for Cats in Raleigh, will join other adoptable kitties in a “purr-fect beach party” that’s sure to entertain viewers, and hopefully, secure adopters for the adorable felines.
Sunny and the other cats featured during the halftime show will become available for adoption during the broadcast, so for any local viewers who are looking for a new furry friend, we’ve compiled information from SAFE Haven about Sunny and the organization’s adoption process.
And, of course, for those who just want to get their fill of cuteness by watching the action unfold during the Puppy Bowl, we’ve included information about how you can watch the broadcast, both live on TV and by streaming.
Here’s what to know.
What is the Puppy Bowl?
The Puppy Bowl, now in its 18th broadcast, features puppies from around the country who come together “to celebrate their incredible shelters and rescues and to promote puppy adoption.”
▪ The bowl features two teams of puppies: Team Fluff, coached by Snoop Dogg, and Team Ruff, last year’s champion team, who will be coached by Martha Stewart.
▪ This year’s game will feature more than 100 adoptable puppy players representing 67 shelters and rescues across 33 states.
▪ The three-hour event will feature the teams giving it their all to “chase, fetch, guard, heel, and sprint to the end zone” in pursuit of the “Chewy Lombarky Trophy” and, of course, their fur-ever homes.
This year’s bowl will also feature a “Kitty Halftime Show” with adoptable kittens dancing their way through a “purr-fect beach party.” That’s where we’ll see local kitten Sunny.
▪ At the oceanside getaway, viewers will experience the “beach-tastic party” where the kittens will enjoy some fun in the sun. Along the way, viewers will learn about the cats’ heartwarming stories, then have a chance to adopt them.
You can find more information about the Puppy Bowl, including a look at this year’s adorable puppy players, at discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl.
Who is Sunny, the Raleigh kitten on the Puppy Bowl?
▪ Sunny is a 16-week-old Flame Point Siamese mix kitten who was one of four kittens born to an abandoned and stray cat, Tellie, under a house.
“Thanks to compassionate and selfless community members who scooped them up and brought them to SAFE Haven for Cats, they have been lovingly taken care of, and Sunny is now ready for her real home,” the organization’s website says.
▪ Sunny has had complete medical care, including spaying.
▪ SAFE Haven says Sunny is “one of the most beautiful kittens we have ever seen,” and when you hold her like a baby and sing “Lion King” songs to her, she purrs and falls asleep in your arms.
▪ When Sunny is awake, the organization says, she “scoots around playing with footballs, shiny objects and circular ball tracker toys. She then pauses for rest, relaxation and more petting.”
Sunny and SAFE Haven staff won’t actually be traveling to the Puppy Bowl, but they’ll be featured in photo and video segments during the broadcast.
What is SAFE Haven for Cats?
SAFE Haven for Cats is a Raleigh-based nonprofit animal shelter with the mission “to use no-kill principles and education to save cats’ lives through rescue, adoption, spay/neuter services and community programs.”
▪ In the organization’s more than 25-year history, it has orchestrated the adoptions of more than 10,550 cats and kittens and spayed or neutered more than 34,000 cats, kittens and small dogs in its clinic.
Find out more about SAFE Haven for Cats at safehavenforcats.org.
Information on adopting Sunny
Sunny will be adopted through SAFE Haven for Cats’ online adoption process, which includes a required application.
Potential adopters can apply online to adopt Sunny beginning Sunday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m., when the Puppy Bowl airs live on TV.
SAFE Haven provided the following additional information about the adoption process for Sunny:
▪ Potential adopters must apply to adopt Sunny through the organization’s online interest survey. Do not come to the shelter to visit Sunny, adopt Sunny or complete a paper adoption form.
▪ The application to adopt Sunny will open online once the live Puppy Bowl broadcast begins at 2 p.m. Sunday.
▪ Sunny will be adopted on a first come, first served basis to the best adoption candidate per the SAFE Haven for Cats adoption process. This is the same process for all of the organization’s adoptions.
▪ Potential adopters will be contacted by SAFE Haven staff on Monday, Feb. 14, to complete the adoption process in Raleigh. Do not come to the shelter until you are contacted as a potential adoption candidate for Sunny.
▪ Do not contact the adoption center to check on your adoption status. SAFE Haven staff will contact you.
▪ If you are selected as the best adoption candidate for Sunny, she will need to be picked up in person at the SAFE Haven adoption center in Raleigh.
Note: While Sunny is being featured on the Puppy Bowl, SAFE Haven has plenty of other adoptable cats who are looking for homes, too. You can learn more about the adoption process at safehavenforcats.org/adopt, and view the organization’s available cats online at safehavenforcats.org/adopt/meet-the-cats.
And if you don’t have room for another cat in your home, or if you’d just like to support SAFE Haven’s efforts, you can sponsor one of the organization’s cats until a permanent home is ready for them. Learn more about sponsoring a cat at SAFE Haven at safehavenforcats.org/donate/sponsor-a-cat.
How to watch the Puppy Bowl
The Puppy Bowl will air Sunday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. on Animal Planet.
▪ You can find the Animal Planet channel at channel 46 on Spectrum, channel 282 on DirecTV, channel 333 on Google Fiber TV and channel 184 on DISH.
The Puppy Bowl will also stream on Discovery+. Learn more about Discovery+ at discoveryplus.com.
This story was originally published February 11, 2022 at 1:56 PM.
