Member Highlight: Magicats, Inc.

Thank you to Magicats, Inc. for your continued partnership and service to the nonprofit community!

Q: How has your organization evolved over the years?

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Our organization began as a dream in 2010 when 3 of us who had volunteered for another cat rescue that had imploded  determined that the work had to go on. So over Mexican coffee in a local restaurant, we invented Magicats, Inc. - with the express purpose of implementing our own deeply held views about our mission and exactly what changes we wanted to make to what was then normal for feline rescue.  With the blessing and support of our "godfather," Twin Falls businessman, the late Ralph Wolter, we set about creating an organization that would ensure that rescued felines would have the medical, social and physical support in foster homes to prepare them for adoption to permanent, responsible homes that would guarantee them a "forever life."  We have been a 501(c)(3) organization since our inception; we are entirely volunteer, and deeply united in ensuring our mission on behalf of felines who don't get much chance in our part of the world.  We are all volunteers who spend our own money where necessary, and our support comes from a strong cadre of loyal and dedicated supporters that help us meet our annual budget of some $75,000 which helps us care for about 350 cats per year.  Our original founders are still with us, along with new and younger folks  ---- and we are proudest of all that we are just beginning our 12th year of service to Magic Valley kitties who "just need a little help from their friends."

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you face day-to-day?

​Our biggest day to day challenge is to make good decisions about where we can do the most good.  Our "deal" is always with the cat; the humans who are directly or indirectly involved in their salvation and future are incidental.  When we take a cat into our organization, we make a permanent commitment that there either will be a safe forever home, or we will step in and use sanctuary to ensure that the individual has a life.  We "trust our gut" when we make decisions about which cats are "our work" as we also :trust our gut" that the resources will be there when and where we need them.  Meantime, all of us who share our lives with cats and kittens, many from horrendous circumstance, find ourselves enriched and blessed by all they have taught us -- and all of the great stories that have resulted as they have found ways to "have a life" -- as they were intended to have.  Our work is a source of great joy to all of us.  And, I surmise, to the cats we help as well.

Q: What is your favorite part of INC membership?

​We love the fact of knowing you are there as we cope with the various sometimes insurmountable aspects of being a viable private non-profit volunteer organization - and we are blessed by the opportunities for networking.  We seem to have a better grasp of the values of networking than do most of our sister groups -- and part of what keeps is going in our "good works" is that we know there are others who face the same challenges and joys.  Thank you for being there.