I'm in the process of writing a new will right now, and I am trying to answer some of these same questions.
My attorney and I are putting together a trust with the primary purpose of attending to the needs of my cats for the rest of their lives. When they are finally gone (of natural causes after long, healthy, happy lives, of course), then whatever is left (if anything) is to be divided among several non-profit charitable organizations, most of which care for cats, of course. I'm still trying to decide just which organizations and what percentage for each.
In the will itself, I'll make specific bequests. The lawyer advised putting organizations that might not last long here, because it's easier to change a will than a trust. I have no human descendants, so aside from a good chunk to my sister and token bequests to my two nephews, I'll give more money to more deserving cats.
My sister will be my executor and will see that my cats are looked after, but I don't know if she could take them herself. And if anything happened to her, I don't really know anyone to be backup or who will agree to take them. My sister knows someone who says she will take them, so she's possible but I haven't met her or talked with her about it yet.
I wish there was an organization like you describe, Catsnclay, around here.. especially one that would have a Cat/Artists show! As far as I know, there isn't. I think the shelter I work at would take them, though they don't have a program set up to do wills or contracts for that purpose. And since the shelter is funded primarily by the wealthy couple who began it and own it, if anything happened to them the shelter could become history.
Lots of things to track down and figure out and make decisions over.. but I really want to get this set up as well as possible!
Pat
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