Death/dying and wills

Im here for some gloomy talk.
We all need to make a will at one point or another. Our pets NEED to be in them. However, its just me now so I have no person to "pass" down my pets to. The family I do have, well, lets just say my pets wouldn't be in good shape there.
So...I imagine there are others out there who dont have someone to take their pets in the case of death. So, whats your plan? Send them to a shelter and hope they get adopted? Euthanasia in order to know they dont get stuck in a shelter for the rest of their lives?
Im really only looking for responses from those are in my position. No offense.

I've thought about this a lot.  

I have 2 sisters, who have had cats in the past.  I think I'd have to stipulate that they are the ones who should get them. I don't expect Casper to still be here by then as he's already 15 but I can't imagine not having cats as I continue to age and as the ones we currently have eventually pass on too.

If by then, that's not possible I know of a feline sanctuary in the state I live in.  They are known for taking in cats from owners who have died; you can have it set up years in advance to ensure their care.  

Last, if the rescue we got one of ours from is still around by then, I'd find out if they'd be able to take them to adopt out again.  Considering how much I donate to their cause, I'd hope the answer would be yes.

Whew! I gave this some long hard thought several months ago when I had to go to the ER for an episode of A-Fib. I laid there in the hospital bed wondering... What if? 

I talked to my sister about my concerns and she stopped me mid-sentence, threw up her hand and said, "Are you KIDDING me? If you croaked right now, I'd have me two cats and that's all there is to it!".  

She is an avid cat lover and he last cat went to the RB a couple months before I got my Boys. She had a solid black DSH and his name was Keeker III (I have Keeker IV - Mom had Keeker I & II). I was concerned because her daughter is very allergic to cats (so she says?), but my sister assured me that if she ever took my Boys in her daughter would just have to deal with it. Personally, I think she's just more of a dog person and doesn't like dealing with cats.

Anyway, my sister and I wrote up a contract and had it notarized (it includes pictures of both cats). We each have a copy, as well as my daughter, my attorney and my Vet. She has a full list of what they eat and won't eat, kitty litter brand, habits, behaviors, play-time preferences, vet information and medical history, that they are strictly indoor cats and will NEVER be declawed. 

Of course, she is familiar with both of them and they stayed with her when they were neutered (she picked them up from the vet because I was working at the time) and Kricket spent a week with her while they 'recovered'. 

In the event she would not be able to take them for whatever reason, then my daughter gets them (that is also in the contract. When the time comes that my Boys go to the RB, they are to be buried next to me. 

When my Mom passed away in 2011, she was 89 years old. Her cat, Georgie (a DSH Tabby) was 14. She (Georgie) was rapidly going downhill for several months and we truly wanted to have her PTS but knew that doing so would be devastating for Mom. However, the day after Mom passed away, Georgie was PTS and she was placed in the coffin with Mom. Yes, that is totally illegal but the Funeral Director was a close friend of the family and my Mom and Dad and his Dad went to grade school together. They were close friends for over 80 years. He knew what that cat meant to Mom! We had told him that we wanted to bury her cat next to her - meaning we were just going to put her in the ground next to the coffin - but he said, "Just bring her to me". After the service and before we went to the cemetery we were all present when Georgie was laid in Mom's arms.

 Since you don't have family or anyone to take your cat, you might discuss your concern with your Vet. It's quite possible s/he or one of the techs would take your cat in. Whatever you decide to do, have it put in writing, have it notarized and give copies to the necessary people. 

Be aware that sometimes your stated wishes can be overturned. My grandma's neighbor had in his will that his cat should be PTS when he died (I don't know if this was motivated by a wish to have her buried with him, out of concern for her future well-being, or because he didn't like his family and didn't want them to care for his cat), but because she (the cat) was young and healthy when he died, his kids couldn't stand to do it and asked a judge to overrule that stipulation, and the judge, after making sure the cat would be well cared for, did.

I don't currently have anything set up :/. I should, you just never know. I hope my mom or brothers would make sure the cats ended up in good homes, but I know that would be nearly impossible for them. What I should do is open a life insurance policy made payable to a rescue agency with the agreement that they care for my pets. There is a sanctuary in Nebraska that does that, they call it Legacy of Love. I think a lot of sanctuaries have similar programs.

I need to look into this myself. Honestly, I have been thinking about this lately.

I am an only child. Cousins on one side of the family dislike cats. They are only dog people.

On the other side of the family, they like cats. I know 2 cousins who would probably take any of my cat in, but they are older than I am. 

I also know, they will not be as on top of things as I am with Artie. They would go to the Vet, but not spend as much as I do.

I really do not know what I would do. 

I could ask the Humane society to take my cat in. They are a no kill shelter. 

While not being cared for the same way I would, at least I know my cat will not be suffering. 

After having Artie, I know, as long as I am able to care for one, I will always have a cat. 

I have talked to a friend that I trust and asked that if something happens to me that she take care of him. He will have a trust fund to make sure that he get what ever medical attention he needs. My family knows how important Midi is to me and I know that they will make sure he is safe and well taken care of. If not, I told them I will haunt their butts 

If you do this as well as asking someone who may or may not step up make sure you specifically exclude someone you would not want to have care, custody or supervision of your pets. Especially family members. A yearly stipend is better than a lump sum. The person taking care of our cats should it happen to both of us will be paid yearly with a reserve for vet bills and after the cats pass themselves the remaining monies if any will go to a charity.

Boy this topic really makes me feel like I've been punched in the gut.  But I really do need to think of it. I'm glad to have read what you've all been saying here.  It's helpful.  Ever since my mom died 1 yr and 1/2 ago, and then Gracie 7 months ago, I've just lost a big part of myself.  I don't know if I'll ever get that part of me back, and I'm quite aware of its negative impact on my health.  And I realize that fighting depression and despair makes the odds of death more likely from an accident.  I do so much traveling for work, early mornings and in the evenings when it's dark. I don't have sibs to help, I mean I have them but we've never been close and they wouldn't help me and mom when mom was sick.  So I don't have anyone either that could take my kitties if something should happen to me.  I guess I'd prefer that my kitties be PTS and buried with me, along with Garfy, Sammy, and Gracie.  Because they were 2nd generation ferals so they wouldn't be adoptable.  

Is there a friend you would trust? We opted to name a friend instead of family.

Our wills specify that "any and all animals in our possession at the time of our deaths" are to go to my sister for care. She agreed to take them, in addition to her own fur-brood. We also have a specific amount of money set aside for the care the animals will need, so it's not such a financial burden on my sister and her husband to care for them. This will help with any vet bills, special foods, meds, etc. It's not fair to have my sister take on the responsibility without some kind of money to help her. My sister has asked us "please don't get any more pets, if you can avoid it" and I completely understand.

Right now we have six cats and a dog. Two of the cat clan just passed their 20th birthday (this past Saturday), one is 15, and the other three are relatively young at 4-5 years old for them. As our pets pass, we will not be getting other ones. Jackie is 11; when she passes, there will be no dogs either. 

As we get older ourselves, we do not see us having other animals in the house. It's not fair to those who have to take care of them should something happen to us.

ETA: Willowy, I just saw your post about the animal being PTS. Mom originally wanted to do that with Muffin and she was going to put it in her will. At the time, Muffin was just around a year old and my sister and I pretty much told Mom that was total BS and that we would not go along with it.One of her friends had that in her will, too, and the woman's cousin who was the executrix of the friend's will refused to go along with it as the cat was fairly young; she ended up taking the cat home with her.

I'm assuming you meant me @Abbysmom. I have one that might be willing, but she already has her mom's cats and several dogs - 8 altogether. So she's not the best choice but possibly the most willing. She just can't say no. Another friend who is a neighbor is almost 80, and although she might be willing, I doubt it. So my plan at the moment is try not to die. I know. Not good. But I'm still on the lookout.

If it is just the 2 of us and Ruby is the one left behind, someone in my family would take her.  If that wasn't possible,  the SPCA where I adopted her has a "lifetime warranty" (yes that's how it's worded) clause on the adoption form that states that if at anytime the adopter is unable to care for the adoptee, the adoptee can be returned to the SPCA.  So at least I know Ruby would be cared for and would eventually be re-homed.

Ginny said:

I'm assuming you meant me @Abbysmom. I have one that might be willing, but she already has her mom's cats and several dogs - 8 altogether. So she's not the best choice but possibly the most willing. She just can't say no. Another friend who is a neighbor is almost 80, and although she might be willing, I doubt it. So my plan at the moment is try not to die. I know. Not good. But I'm still on the lookout.

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I'm in pretty much the same boat as you right now. My family would not take the cats. They don't like cats. 

Hopefully I will stick around at least until DD is living on her own and settled in her career. Then she's taking the kids whether she likes it or not because if she doesn't, I'm going to come back and whoop her 

She loves the cats a lot so I doubt it would be an issue. She's the only one getting my life insurance so it would be OK that way. My dog is knocking on 14 so I don't think she'll outlive me. 

Worst case scenario, the shelter that I got Henry from would take them and rehome them. They are a true no kill shelter with a good staff. I hope it doesn't come to that. I'd rather see them with DD. 

I've been thinking about this as well.  My oldest daughter and her husband love cats and just bought a largish home so they are the obvious ones for me to ask.   Also, they will be getting half of my life insurance payout so it wouldn't be a huge financial burden.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure it's a good idea to ask them right now.  Our relationship just went through a rough patch and I'm reluctant to ask them to do anything for me until things are back to normal, assuming they will be at some point.   I'd hate for them to say "No" now when they might say "Yes" if I waited to ask them.  

There are two other options I've considered.  One is contacting the person from whom I adopted Paul and Chula and asking if she would take them back, if I provided financially for their care through my life insurance.  Her reason for giving them up was financial so that might work.  Another option was to find a sanctuary who would take them for life, if I provided funding.  I've looked for something like this but not found it in my area.

It really does worry me.  Paul and Chula are only three and there is a chance they might outlive me.  Now I understand why my father wouldn't adopt a pet when he was in his 80s, lonely and living alone.  

I haven't thought about this a lot, but should. Next year I'll be 40, and mom will be 80. Obviously if I were to precede my mom, she would take them, but I also know it's super-difficult for her to manage on her own even for a few days. I have no kids, probably never will. I have four siblings, three of whom are not cat people. My one sister MIGHT be willing to take the two dogs, just not sure though. She's gonna be 60 in about two months though, and things are getting harder for her too.

My brother and his wife are my first thought to take the cats. They have one of their own right now; they lost two of theirs last year and one the year before that. I don't know if they'd want to take on the older two. Sara has the health issues and Maple is... special. The three younger ones they might take though. There's the issue of the fact they live in an apartment, and I don't think there are restrictions on pets right now, but I also know they want to move. They aren't interested in getting their own house.

There's also my best friend (who is my sister-in-law's sister). She recently got a cat of her own for the first time, so she might be a bit more willing to take others on. She and her husband have their own home, so that would not be an issue. She may even be willing to take on the dogs.

Whatever happens, I would need to make sure the three younger ones are not separated. They are all quite bonded, especially the boys being littermates, but Pea-Pea also. Maple and Sara are kinda loners, so probably wouldn't have any problem being separated from the youngin's or even each other.

I like Kittens Mom's ideal of the yearly stipend, with backup for unexpected issues. It would include the cost of food, litter, annual vet visits, and their insurance premiums.

Yeah, definitely need to think this out though. Sooner than later.

We both have sizeable life insurance policies. I'm not keen on handing a lump sum over to anyone. I have a very dear friend who said it so well. The best people can do the worst things.

I will repeat if there is someone in your family that you would never want to have care custody or control of your pet make sure they are specifically excluded.

I would like to add that older people have as much right to adopt the pet of their choice as anyone else. Accidents happen and even the young die and leave pets that have no prospects behind. But at least they had a life. But making some judgment over owning a pet based on age even more animals will live in rescues and shelters for life or face being PTS never knowing love.

The cat and kitten room will haunt me forever. Most of those cats will never know sitting in a home with a human that loves them.

Kittens Mom said:

We both have sizeable life insurance policies. I'm not keen on handing a lump sum over to anyone. I have a very dear friend who said it so well. The best people can do the worst things.
I will repeat if there is someone in your family that you would never want to have care custody or control of your pet make sure they are specifically excluded.

I would like to add that older people have as much right to adopt the pet of their choice as anyone else. Accidents happen and even the young die and leave pets that have no prospects behind. But at least they had a life. But making some judgment over owning a pet based on age even more animals will live in rescues and shelters for life or face being PTS never knowing love.
The cat and kitten room will haunt me forever. Most of those cats will never know sitting in a home with a human that loves them.

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I completely agree. I will have cats till the day I die, there is no question there. They have so many "seniors for seniors" programs out there too, especially with dogs (I imagine with cats too though). I just can't even imagine my life without cats though. I truly can't. I don't know any other way.

I've given this a bit of thought.  My ex-landlady adores Hekitty, and is willing to take her.  She owns her own home, and I am earmarking $5,000 of my life insurance for Hekitty's care.  It will have to be a lump sum, however.  My sons are not likely to take on the task of managing a cat trust.

Now, if I had absolutely no one at all, I'd go to North Shore Animal League, click on "About Us,"  then click on Surviving Pet Care, and sign her up.  This is expensive, if you pay upfront it is $10,000, if you make them a beneficiary of an insurance policy, it is $15,000, but they are wonderful people, and are willing to provide food, shelter, state of the art medical care and love until your pet is either adopted to a loving home or passes away of old age.  You do have to make transportation arrangements on your own.  Like I said, it's expensive, but it is there.

Yikes! The sanctuary I'm familiar with only charged $3000 (last time I looked; it may have gone up a bit since then, but I'm sure it's still under $5000). But I guess North Shore is famous so they can charge more .

Willowy said:

Yikes! The sanctuary I'm familiar with only charged $3000 (last time I looked; it may have gone up a bit since then, but I'm sure it's still under $5000). But I guess North Shore is famous so they can charge more

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Perhaps we could go online and try to find a bunch that will offer this, and make a list?  I'd volunteer, but until I can get a faster computer than computersaurus rex, here, I'm so slow I make myself a little crazy just posting here!