Where will cats go if I die

[Perimenoanti]

Okay I cry writing this. I'm not ill and not dying. For various reasons I ended up without any family and I'm putting affairs in place so I know what will happen should I die.

I have two indoor cats. I want to put something in place for them should I die. Is there a scheme or something or somewhere I could pay a fee and I know they can go to in case I die. I would want them to find a new home after that. I would hate them having to go to a rescue. I would want them to stay together too.

Cats protection do a scheme called Cat guardians, where they will take care of your cats should you pass away. have a look on their website.

Will take a look. I'm crying just thinking about it.

How much do you get on with your neighbours?

In our village the cat redistribution system kicks in and cats get taken in by an assortment of cat ladies.

Im in London, so this isn't feasible. They are indoor too and need to go to someone who knows what they are doing.

Cats protection say they will never put a healthy cat to sleep. It is supposed to be reassuring but why are they emphasising 'healthy'. Unless my cats life isn't worth living I would want them to continue even if they have an illness.

There are rescues and rescues. The one I got my girl from fosters the cats in volunteers’ homes, & if I die before she does she’ll go back to them.

In our wills it says if we (and our children) outlive any cats we have at that time then our entire estate is to be spent on their care via Cats Protection and anything left after the cats die goes to the charity.

@SleepingisanArt oh this is wonderful.

Might The Cinnamon Trust be an option? A relative works for them and from what I gather, they certainly see pts as a very last resort. They also provide cooked meals for the animals every evening and they live in purpose built pet houses… not little ones, actual human sized homes adapted for animals. They provide a lifelong home for any pets that outlive their owners.

@PiastriThePastry I will look into this. Ideally I would want them to go somewhere nicer than a rescue, so this sounds good. If it can't be helped it would still help knowing someone will look after their best interests.

I used to volunteer for Cat Protection. We rehomed cats of all ages and that included those with chronic health conditions. We had adopters who took on a series of cats with life limiting conditions to give them the best time possible for their last years or even months. The oldest cat I fostered was 17, she was adopted by a lovely lady in her 80’s who wanted a similarly elderly cat. They adored each other at first sight.

What about a rescue where the cats are fostered in volunteers’ homes rather than all kept together?

If you are in London you can still hit up your 'cat network' - vet, cat sitter, friends with cats.

Do you know which do that?

Woodgreen also do a scheme where you can sign up and they agree to take your pet in.

Look, I won't be able to do that once I'm dead. I want to sort out their care and this isn't sorting out their care. Who knows what people's circumstances will be when I die in 20 years time and if they will still be willing to do what they said they would yonks ago.

Your vet might be able to advise on specific small orgs in your immediate area, speak to them about your concerns

You can't sort it now for when you die in 20/30/40 years time! You won't even have the same cats.

What happens to most people is that a friend/neighbour/relative/carer takes them in. Or they go to rescue. Or you outlive the cats and decide not to get another because you are getting older and frailer.

You can find out by Googling / asking your local rescues. I think Cats Protection do it where possible.

Of course I can. You completely failed to see the purpose of the thread.

My friends have it written into their will that if they both die I will take on their cats.

I update my will every five years or so, which includes updating provisions for my cat if needed.

If the rescue she came from closes, I’d need to update my will immediately.

Also have a look at National Animal Welfare Trust.

and get yourself a couple of ' i have a pet at home card ' as if you have an accident outside of the house someone needs to know you have pets - to be looked after until you return home ( you could be unconscious and unable to tell the ambulance driver )

@OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon I was going to get a keyring for that. Couldn't bear the thought of my cats being home alone and nobody knowing.

I'm in a similar situation OP, I've been considering Cinnamon Trust but it's good to see the other ideas on here.

If you think you've got at least 20 years left, It's highly unlikely your cats will outlive you, so I would cross this right off your worry list.