When our cats outlive us...

I was just looking at a thread on S.O.S. about a woman who died and the tricky situation with the cats left behind. And it would have been allayed had provision been made for them.

If I dropped dead tomorrow, my two will go to a good, cat loving friend with financial back-up for their needs.  Of course this has all been discussed with her.  It hadn't always been that way.. in fact my cats are one of the reasons I amend my will.  People move, things change and it may not be appropriate anymore.

I know this is not the most wonderful thing to ponder, but having our animals in our Will is pretty essential. ( And I'm probably thinking a lot about this as I just  found myself on a drip in hospital... nothing like a good scare to make sure everything is in order!!!  )

Have you provided for kitties?

Absolutely. We have funds set aside for their care and my brother and SIL are going to take any and all cats that we have. We also put it all in our will, so the furkids will be OK if anything happens to both of us.

If anything were to happen to us, my Masonic brother will race to our place and retrieve the kitties, cat food and their things. He and his fiancee are cat people, too and the kitties already know and like him. As soon as we can (in September my wife will be able to get free estate planning from work), we will make financial provisions for them. They also have health insurance and we'll make sure that's paid for in advance.

Winchester said:

Absolutely. We have funds set aside for their care and my brother and SIL are going to take any and all cats that we have. We also put it all in our will, so the furkids will be OK if anything happens to both of us.

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  As I understand it, it is now possible to leave an estate, or a portion of it, to your pets. This is to help avoid the shenanigans that can happen when the money is left to the caregiver.

I can't... I have nothing to leave them, and no friends who love cats enough to take care of them. I have trouble taking care of myself sometimes; I'm on the edge of homelessness. I couldn't pay for medication last month... They are with me because I'm the only one they have. Tiny walked in off the street and Christy was refusing to eat at the shelter... what was I supposed to do? I had to give them at least some chance. I hate that our position is so precarious, but this is the best I can do. Sometimes, the only reason I can push myself hard enough to stay off the streets is that I know it would be dangerous for the cats. It's comforting that we are all still young, and that I have the chance at getting steady employment if I try hard enough, that there are a lot of people trying to help me get a degree. If we can all hold out until I can take care of all of us better, then we'll be okay. But if not... well. I tried. That's all I can do.

I'm sorry if that's depressing...

Callista said:

I can't... I have nothing to leave them, and no friends who love cats enough to take care of them. I have trouble taking care of myself sometimes; I'm on the edge of homelessness. I couldn't pay for medication last month... They are with me because I'm the only one they have. Tiny walked in off the street and Christy was refusing to eat at the shelter... what was I supposed to do? I had to give them at least some chance. I hate that our position is so precarious, but this is the best I can do. Sometimes, the only reason I can push myself hard enough to stay off the streets is that I know it would be dangerous for the cats. It's comforting that we are all still young, and that I have the chance at getting steady employment if I try hard enough, that there are a lot of people trying to help me get a degree. If we can all hold out until I can take care of all of us better, then we'll be okay. But if not... well. I tried. That's all I can do.

I'm sorry if that's depressing...

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Just do the best you can. :nod: One thing you could consider is making provision for them to go to a no-kill shelter if something ever happened to you.




As far as me, yes we have a provision in our will that one of our friends will take any pets we have at the time.

Thanks for the encouragement. I need to stop feeling so sorry for myself. After all, none of us have been hungry in a long time, the cats not since I adopted them; and last time Tiny needed vet care I was able to get him some, even if I did have to carry his carrier to the vet's on foot 'cause cabs are expensive. I always seem to find a way, somehow. I suck at giving up on anything.

If I were to die before Parker, I have several people I know I could rely on. My parents first, my sister, my Aunt or my roommate. Everyone just loves him so much, so I know I need not worry about him should I cross the bridge first.

No idea anymore.  I try not to think about it but at times I admit am very depressed in general and will think man if I do something my family will need to scramble to just feed them/take care of the chores.  I do try to keep alot of food and litter on hand just in case so they would not have to do the hsopping. 
 

My parents would be taking the dogs and the cats, if for some reason they couldn't handle all of them, then they would keep Sadie (dog) and the cats. Mike would take Fynn (dog) or he would go to my friend that coowns him. If for some reason that didn't work out, my sister would take the cats, Sadie would go to my parents and Fynn would either go with Sadie or to Mike or his coowner. Should my parents pass before I do, My sister would take the cats and Sadie, Fynn would go to Mike or his coowner, or Mike would take the cats and Fynn. 

My entire estate (not much) is going to the animals, to be divided equally between them. My father is the beneficiary for my life insurance and has strict instructions to give Mike a set amount (if we're still together, lol), they get a set amount and the rest goes to the animals. Should the animals pass away before their money has run out (doubtful, but you never know), the remaining amount is to be divided up equally between the remaining animals. Should they all pass and there is still some left (even more doubtful), it is to go to an animal related charity of my choosing (I still haven't chosen). I figured that way, they couldn't just put them down at the first sign of illness and take the remaining money.