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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / May 2004Orphaned Cats - What to Do?
My wife is concerned whenever we go on vacation that if something happens to us, the two cats will be orphaned. Does anyone have information or guidance on how to protect your pets (insurance...if you will) to ensure they are cared for if they were orphaned? Is there any organization that will ensure their survival, and if possible - without separating them? I would consult an attorney and make clear in your will that you wish the cats to not be split up and also provide for their care and survival. I would consult family members who are cat lovers as well and see if they might take in your cats in the event of your death. If you don't have that option make sure that the organization is no-kill and that they will do as your will wishes. Just make sure you have seen the shelter and of course believe they'll follow your wishes in the event of your death.  SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com > My wife is concerned whenever we go on vacation that if something happens to > us, the two cats will be orphaned. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > orphaned? Is there any organization that will ensure their survival, and if > possible - without separating them? I have designated "cat godparents" who will take care of my cats in the event of my untimely demise, one of my (younger) relatives. Ask a neice or nephew, or other young person who loves animals. -- M9 > My wife is concerned whenever we go on vacation that if something happens to > us, the two cats will be orphaned. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > orphaned? Is there any organization that will ensure their survival, and if > possible - without separating them? I know that if anything were to happen to me, my parents will take my cats and they'll live with them. I told them that sending them to a shelter is not an option. The cats will stay in the family. SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com > I have designated "cat godparents" who will take care of my cats in the > event of my untimely demise, one of my (younger) relatives. Ask a neice or [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > if > > possible - without separating them? > I know that if anything were to happen to me, my parents will take my cats > and they'll live with them. I told them that sending them to a shelter is > not an option. The cats will stay in the family. Tappity tap. It's the clue stick. When you're DEAD everyone does whatever THEY want to. << Tappity tap. It's the clue stick. When you're DEAD everyone does whatever THEY want to. >> I always think it's sad when a family member doesn't take a deceased loved one's pets. The survivors are always so distraught over this person's death and, yet, they don't take the pets? How can you say you loved your parent/sibling/child, etc. and then not take on the care of their beloved animals? I had a friend whose mom died unexpectedly and fairly young years ago and the mom had a dog. None of the kids would take the poor dog...and, yet, you would think they would know that this would make the mom happy to give her dog a home. Finally, one of the sons took the dog but he didn't want it and just left it outside and tossed it food now and then. I don't know what ever became of it but I thought it was awful. I will certainly take my mom's cat when she dies regardless how many of my own I might have by then. Candace (take the litter out before replying by e-mail) See my cats: http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace "One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other than human." (Loren Eisely) > << Tappity tap. It's the clue stick. When you're > DEAD everyone does whatever THEY want to. >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > became of it but I thought it was awful. I will certainly take my mom's cat > when she dies regardless how many of my own I might have by then. If my mother dies before her cat, Talitha will go to my niece, and if my sister claims they're still "not ready for a cat" I will give her a stern talking-to! Of course, Talitha would always have a home with me if she needed it, but my three have a social structure which can be thrown off without a great deal of effort, so I'd rather Emma got her. I've also promised to make sure my neighbors' cat finds a good home, should anything happen to my neighbors... Priscilla > > << Tappity tap. It's the clue stick. When you're > > DEAD everyone does whatever THEY want to. >> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Priscilla If your sister needs "a stern talking-to" to convince her to take the cat, then that might be the very worst home for your mother's pet. Your mother's cat deserves to go to a home where she is wanted, not one where someone might feel like the cat was foisted on her. It would be better to look for a friend who would love the cat under circumstances like this. MaryL > > > << Tappity tap. It's the clue stick. When you're > > > DEAD everyone does whatever THEY want to. >> [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > MaryL And be sure to dangle the incentive of some $ that is contingent upon the person taking good care of the cat. I'm not totally cynical, but just to be sure. > > > > << Tappity tap. It's the clue stick. When you're > > > > DEAD everyone does whatever THEY want to. >> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > --- I did the reverse. I made arrangements with someone I know who can be counted on to love my cats and take special care of them, without reservation. *Then,* I also added a bequest to my will for their care because I don't want to burden someone else and want to make sure that financial arrangements have been made for their care. Nevertheless, my *first* priority was to make sure that they would be wanted not not seen as some sort of burden. The agreement for my cats' care was made *before* any mention was made about financial help. I also linked the bequest to a requirement that the cats are never to be declawed and must be kept as indoor-only cats. I do *not* have this worry with the person who has agreed to care for them if something were to happen to me because she strongly supports these conditions. That stipulation was added in the event that something were to happen to her and the next person would assume responsibility. That person has also agreed to make arrangements in this (unlikely) event, but you can see that I have taken steps similar to what people do with children in that I have listed a sequence of persons in my will. I'm not being morbid about this. I simply think that it is important to plan ahead for the care of our pets. Legally, I understand what you meant in your previous message about people doing what *they* want to do, but that is the reason that we should take as many precautions as possible while we are still healthy and able to make decisions. MaryL <SNIP> You definitely want things handled in a Living Trust, though. Your Will can be tied up for MONTHS in Probate before funds can be dispersed. In a Trust, anything you put in becomes property of the Trustee instantly when the circumstances trigger it, if you're incapacitated instead of dead, for instance. eq >I did the reverse. I made arrangements with someone I know who can be >counted on to love my cats and take special care of them, without [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > >MaryL > <SNIP> > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > eq Thanks, I'll ask my attorney about this. You have raised a very important point. MaryL > If your sister needs "a stern talking-to" to convince her to take the cat, > then that might be the very worst home for your mother's pet. Your mother's > cat deserves to go to a home where she is wanted, not one where someone > might feel like the cat was foisted on her. It would be better to look for > a friend who would love the cat under circumstances like this. No, she'd make a good home for her. It's just that she often needs a push because she never thinks she's ready for things. She and my brother-in-law went out for 7 years before they got married, then they were 10 years married before my niece came along. Many other examples abound. They step up to the plate eventually, but they rarely believe they're ready for anything without a push. Priscilla >Tappity tap. It's the clue stick. When you're >DEAD everyone does whatever THEY want to. Well now, I have to tell y'all an amusing story. But before the story will make sense I have to explain a bit about real estate law. In real estate there is a thing called a "life estate." A life estate is an ownership, not a lease or rental. But unlike ordinary ownerships, it lasts for someone's lifetime. At the end of the person's lifetime, the estate then passes to someone else designated by the grantor. This ultimate ownership is an ordinary ownership, the life estate having ended. Now to the story. There was a wealthy old widow lady in England a long time ago, hundreds of years or so. The lady had a cat whom she adored. However, she was concerned about the welfare of her cat should anything happen to her. She decided to give all her real estate (a substantial amount of property) through her will to her butler "for the life of the cat with remainder to the cat society." That meant that her butler would have full use and enjoyment of the property, including all rents and income from it, as long as the cat remained alive. Upon the cat's death the cat society would gain title to the property and the butler's free ride would be over. So if you were the butler, how would you treat the cat? -- Bogus e-mail address, but I read this newsgroup regularly, so reply here. > >Tappity tap. It's the clue stick. When you're > >DEAD everyone does whatever THEY want to. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > -- I love it -- except that I do think someone under these circumstances should leave *part* of the estate to the butler for his devotion and longterm care. Otherwise, the butler could be left impoverished after caring for the wealthy widow's cat. MaryL circa Mon, 17 May 2004 19:58:36 -0500, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, MaryL (carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER) said, > > There was a wealthy old widow lady in England a long time ago, > > hundreds of years or so. The lady had a cat whom she adored. However, [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Otherwise, the butler could be left impoverished after caring for the > wealthy widow's cat. Why am I having visions of a thirty-year-old cat on a respirator? Laura SignatureI am Dyslexia of Borg, Your a.s will be laminated. > circa Mon, 17 May 2004 19:58:36 -0500, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > MaryL (carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER) said, [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Laura Ah, yes...and there's a possible *negative* for the cat in this plan. I wish I had thought of that myself. MaryL > circa Mon, 17 May 2004 19:58:36 -0500, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > MaryL (carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER) said, [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > > Why am I having visions of a thirty-year-old cat on a respirator? Or clandestine searches for cats identical to the legatee, cat switches, and newspaper articles about the longest lived cat in the world? >> So if you were the butler, how would you treat the cat? >I love it -- except that I do think someone under these circumstances should >leave *part* of the estate to the butler for his devotion and longterm care. >Otherwise, the butler could be left impoverished after caring for the >wealthy widow's cat. Well, we have to bear in mind that the story came from a long time ago; a time when attitudes toward servants were different. I should mention that this story is a favorite with law school professors. The class always laughs, but they remember what a life estate is and what it can be used for. I should also have added that the story may come comes from a long time ago in England, but life estates are very much alive and well throughout the English-speaking world, and everywhere else the English have transplanted their legal system. So if you want to do something like the old lady's will, there is nothing to stop you. What I like about the old lady's will is its simplicity. No big to-do with pages of conditions and how the cat must be treated and cared for. with penalties and potential lawsuits if they violate the provisions of the will. It just all boils down to the cat's lifespan. -- Bogus e-mail address, but I read this newsgroup regularly, so reply here. > >Tappity tap. It's the clue stick. When you're > >DEAD everyone does whatever THEY want to. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > -- Now this is a wonderful idea! > I know that if anything were to happen to me, my parents will take my cats > and they'll live with them. I told them that sending them to a shelter is > not an option. The cats will stay in the family. Don't you think you will probably outlast your parents? Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net Check out www.snittens.com Who is to say in this day and age? There have plenty of instances where the parents outlived the child. SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com > > I know that if anything were to happen to me, my parents will take my cats > > and they'll live with them. I told them that sending them to a shelter is > > not an option. The cats will stay in the family. > > Don't you think you will probably outlast your parents? circa Tue, 11 May 2004 22:14:47 -0400, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Billy (nospam@comcast.net) said, > My wife is concerned whenever we go on vacation that if something happens to > us, the two cats will be orphaned. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > orphaned? Is there any organization that will ensure their survival, and if > possible - without separating them? I achieve this via hefty life insurance policies that the beneficiaries don't get unless they take care of my cats. :-) Seriously. My parents and my sister and brother-in-law would benefit significantly from a financial perspective in the event of my unfortunate demise, but they get my cats along with the cash. IOW, put it in your will. Or is it that you don't have anybody to whom you would entrust them, and are seeking an organization instead? If so, I'm afraid I'm not much help there. :-\ Laura SignatureI am Dyslexia of Borg, Your a.s will be laminated. > circa Tue, 11 May 2004 22:14:47 -0400, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > Billy (nospam@comcast.net) said, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > I achieve this via hefty life insurance policies that the > beneficiaries don't get unless they take care of my cats. :-) Exactly what I was thinking. Not much help for have nots like me, but still the only realistic way to be sure your cats are cared for. There would have to be enough money for a disinterested party to inspect the homes to give it teeth. > > circa Tue, 11 May 2004 22:14:47 -0400, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > > Billy (nospam@comcast.net) said, [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Exactly what I was thinking. Not much help for have nots like me, but still > the only realistic way to be sure your cats are cared for. I'm a little confused here. Life insurance proceeds don't pass through your estate and therefore what you direct in your will has no effect on the receipt of life insurance proceeds AFAIK-the insurance agreement governs that. OTOH, hypothetically I suppose the life insurance agreement itself could make care for the cats a condition of receiving the proceeds of the policy, although insurance policies in most states are subject to regulation as to what they can and can't have in them and I wonder if that kind of condition would run afoul of the applicable state's regulation of insurance policies. > > > circa Tue, 11 May 2004 22:14:47 -0400, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > > > Billy (nospam@comcast.net) said, [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > have in them and I wonder if that kind of condition would run afoul of > the applicable state's regulation of insurance policies. I wondered about that, too. I left a bequest in my will, and that permits me to place some stipulations on it. I would be surprised if life insurance policies provide that option. MaryL > > > circa Tue, 11 May 2004 22:14:47 -0400, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > > > Billy (nospam@comcast.net) said, [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > have in them and I wonder if that kind of condition would run afoul of > the applicable state's regulation of insurance policies. You can make your estate to be the beneficiary, then your will can dole it out as you specify. Priscilla > > > > circa Tue, 11 May 2004 22:14:47 -0400, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > > > > Billy (nospam@comcast.net) said, [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Priscilla How fiendishly clever! circa 17 May 2004 10:10:18 -0700, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Napoleon (Napoleon@myeweb.com) said, > > > I'm a little confused here. Life insurance proceeds don't pass > > > through your estate and therefore what you direct in your will has no [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > How fiendishly clever! Ain't it, though? :-) Laura SignatureI am Dyslexia of Borg, Your a.s will be laminated. "Laura R." <UseFirstInitialPlusRobinson@technologist.com> wrote > > > Priscilla > > How fiendishly clever! > > > Ain't it, though? :-) > > Laura Now I just need to work on beefing up my "estate.". > "Laura R." <UseFirstInitialPlusRobinson@technologist.com> wrote > > > > Priscilla [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > > Now I just need to work on beefing up my "estate.". Can I do it too Mary? "me too! me too! me too Laura!" circa 18 May 2004 11:19:35 -0700, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Joe Bob Henry (kentuckyjoebobhenry@yahoo.com) said, <snippage> Did we meet in Redmond? Laura SignatureI am Dyslexia of Borg, Your a.s will be laminated. >> My wife is concerned whenever we go on vacation that if something happens >to [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > >Laura Sorry to piggyback; I'm not seeing the original: I'm probably not much help either, except we did adopt a cat to an elderly man who only lived about 5 years post-adoption. He had named a caretaker for the cat, and left a $10,000 trust for the care of the cat; to be assigned over a period of 5 years. For basic expenses I assume. I'd guess arrangements of this nature are pretty common these days--you'd have to see your attorney. Sherry > I achieve this via hefty life insurance policies that the > beneficiaries don't get unless they take care of my cats. :-) > Seriously. My parents and my sister and brother-in-law would benefit > significantly from a financial perspective in the event of my > unfortunate demise, but they get my cats along with the cash. That's my plan. My house (paid off with insurance money) will go to my sister and her twins in the hopes that if I go before she leaves her a.shole husband, it will give her the security that she can live without him. She's a cat person and has two of her own. I have already told her ways of introducing cats. SignatureCheryl > My wife is concerned whenever we go on vacation that if something happens to > us, the two cats will be orphaned. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > orphaned? Is there any organization that will ensure their survival, and if > possible - without separating them? There is a lot of information about this matter on the Humane Society's website. http://www.hsus.org/ace/11834 Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net Check out www.snittens.com > My wife is concerned whenever we go on vacation that if something happens to > us, the two cats will be orphaned. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > orphaned? Is there any organization that will ensure their survival, and if > possible - without separating them? I have designated a person in my will to care for my cats (agreed-upon in advance, of course -- don't ever *assume* that someone else will take care of your pets). I have also bequeathed a sum of money for their care, with payment based on specific criteria (including indoor-only and no declaw). MaryL I never assumed when it came to my parents. My mom and dad pretty much agreed when I asked them if they would care for the cats if something happened to me. Yes, one should never assume that someone will care for the cats in the event of death. SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com "MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in message > I have designated a person in my will to care for my cats (agreed-upon in > advance, of course -- don't ever *assume* that someone else will take care > of your pets). I have also bequeathed a sum of money for their care, with > payment based on specific criteria (including indoor-only and no declaw). > > MaryL >My wife is concerned whenever we go on vacation that if something happens to >us, the two cats will be orphaned. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >orphaned? Is there any organization that will ensure their survival, and if >possible - without separating them? Here's an excellent book on the subject: http://www.perpetualcarebook.com/index.htm What I did was put all my bank accounts & the house in a living trust. I designated my savings account as to be used for care of the cats, and made the beneficiary the one person I can absolutely without fail count on to administer care to them -- my sister. In the event she is dead too, or for some reason doesn't wish to care for the cats, than care goes to the local shelter I volunteer at --along with ALL of my estate, including the house. The beauty of the trust is that you can make changes as situations change, or even tear the whole thing up. I used Quicken Personal Lawyer to draft it and administer it. eq > >My wife is concerned whenever we go on vacation that if something happens to > >us, the two cats will be orphaned. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > eq I came across this reference recently, and I ordered it from Amazon together with another book ("When Your Pet Outlives You: Protecting Animal Companions after You Die," by David Congalton and Charlotte Alexander). I hope they turn out to be good references. If they are, I'm going to get copies for our local O'Malley Alley Cat organization. MaryL
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