Today we’d like to introduce you to Mimi Baker.
Hi Mimi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Mimi Baker and in 2016 I founded Copper’s Cat Commune, a nonprofit sanctuary for special needs and adoption-challenged cats. It started with just my husband and I helping cats whenever we could while living in Dallas. When we moved to Houston, we selected our home with an eye to creating a sanctuary for special needs cats. In August 2015 we took in a baby paraplegic kitten named Aries; undertaking the care of this special soul was the impetus for seeking our 501(c)3 designation which we were awarded in August of 2016. While the Commune is named after Copper, a personal pet of mine that was very special to me, Aries quickly grew to be the face of the Commune. He brought us many followers and was a favorite of everyone’s until his passing in 2022. He remains the face of the Commune to this day, with his big smiling face found on everything from stickers to t-shirts. Here at the Commune, we work with many types of special needs cats – paraplegics, incontinent cats, cats with severe stomatitis, cats with other mobility challenges, blind cats, deaf cats, the list goes on. We try to provide them the best possible care and a happy life. At Copper’s Cat Commune we believe every cat deserves their best life.
We currently house just over 100 cats here at the Commune. Some are feral community cats whose homes were threatened requiring relocation, while others fall under the “Special needs” banner. There are currently 26 cats who require specialized care on a daily basis beyond just feeding and clean litter. Some of our cats remain adoptable and are in search of their loving forever home.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth. Cats with complex medical needs face complications and challenges regularly; we ensure that the cats receive all the routine care to stay healthy and the extra care to overcome challenges. Unfortunately, while our cats live wonderful lives, many of those lives are shorter than the average housecat. Between medical complications, hospice foster, and the march of time we say goodbye to more than our fair share of furry friends. Compassion fatigue is a constant presence as we face a community with overwhelming need for rescue and sanctuary for at risk felines. Finances are also a constant struggle. Very few grants exist for sanctuaries, so we rely on the support of individual donations, member of our local community and beyond who believe in our work. Covid deeply impacted all rescues, and we have been no exception. Even though we have some truly loyal donors, finding new ones is challenging. In addition we are in constant need of volunteers to help with the daily work at the sanctuary; at this time we rely on paid staff, which only adds to our financial struggles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Copper’s Cat Commune focuses on special needs cats. This is not an area most rescues handle so every day brings new and different challenges. I am a veterinary technician and also have a background in pet nutrition. This training has served me well as Executive Director of the Commune. On a regular basis I am required to make medical decisions, always in consultation with our veterinary partners, to adapt to the current needs of the cats in our care. In addition, quality nutrition is vital for our cats with medical needs.
I am proud of the work we have done with paraplegic cats in particular. They receive top-notch care from our loving staff members and have the chance to not just experience life, but to really enjoy life here at the Commune.
Our special needs cats require extensive extra care – from the paraplegics needing to have their bladders expressed twice daily, to the incontinent cats requiring daily baths, and all of the special needs cats requiring medications twice daily. This all necessitates having well-trained staff and I am blessed in that area for sure.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
I have always been involved with animals, but during my childhood it was horses that had my attention. My favorite memories revolve around riding my horse on our family ranch in Kaufman, TX. I rode every chance I could get, and when it wasn’t horses, it was stray animals following me home or playing with our dogs. I was a teenager before I had my first cat, but it’s cats that have my heart today.
Pricing:
- It costs $5.75 to care for one of our cats for one day.
Contact Info:
- Website: copperscatcommune.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copperscatcommune/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copperscatcommune
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@copperscatcommune5941
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@copperscatcommune
Image Credits
Mimi baker
Keri Parrish
Alexis Allred
