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Original poster

Where will cats go if I die

55 replies

Perimenoanti · 26/01/2025 11:23

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
Perimenoanti · 26/01/2025 17:32

@TheBoysAndTheBallet what a bizzare comment. Nobody knows how long they have left.

OP posts:
gladwhiskers · 26/01/2025 20:11

The Cinnamon Trust houses are for animals that have health conditions that require a lot of care. I think they have two.

Otherwise the animals go to a foster carer vetted by the Trust. No animal is ever placed in any kind of shelter. The animals are officially owned by The Cinnamon Trust and the Trust pays all their vet bills for the rest of their lives.

My cat is registered with the Cinnamon Trust. They asked me to complete a profile with his details and the food he likes and what he likes to do etc so they can match him with a suitable carer and even use the same familiar words.

They also help older people to care for their pets eg by walking their dogs or getting cat food.

They will temporarily care for my cat if I am admitted to hospital and permanently if I die before he does.

They make no charge for any of this. They issued small cards with their number for me to carry and a larger card for me to display at home.

It's all on their website. As they suggest I have a clause in my will that any animals I have at death will go to The Cinnamon Trust.

They are a charity.

Original poster
Perimenoanti · 26/01/2025 20:17

@gladwhiskers thank you. I saw that they take on pets of terminally ill people so that's another weight off my shoulders. I have yet to check if there are any restrictions on geography, but hopefully there aren't. Such a brilliant idea and I will gladly leave them some of my estate.

OP posts:
gladwhiskers · 26/01/2025 20:59

@Perimenoanti You're welcome. I have no relatives so anything I have left will go to them even if I outlive my cat.

I think they're brilliant too and it makes all the difference knowing my lovely cat will be cared for if needs be.

Original poster
Perimenoanti · 26/01/2025 21:19

@gladwhiskers may I ask if you are over 65? It states that on their website. I'm a long way from that, but like you I have no family and the realisation of that makes me want to put affairs in order.

OP posts:
gladwhiskers · 26/01/2025 21:30

@Perimenoanti Yes I'm over 65. However the petprofiling section says anybody can register their animals for care in case of death.

Though I think some of their other services might only be for older people or the terminally ill.

You could always ring them if you want to make sure. I found them very helpful.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 26/01/2025 21:35

Perimenoanti · 26/01/2025 12:55

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.

Show quote history

There will still be vets who, after a suitable pause, will tell the bereft cat lady/man paying their final bill about some poor cats who had a lovely owner and they're just hoping to find somebody who can give them the same sort of love she did. And who see the local rescue people when they bring in others for checkups and defleaing.

<side eyes my vet>

And, of course, even in London, you get absolute mugs <ahem> who are suckers for a sad story.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 26/01/2025 23:15

We have agreed with MIL who is in her 70s that we will take her cat if she could no longer care for him. (She will most likely outlive us tbh!) One of my friends would have ours if we both dropped dead. A few of us put cat plans in place at the beginning of the pandemic, although the cat we had then very sadly had to be pts last year and our orange menace is a very different proposition to our gentle girl. I have a key for my neighbour’s house so I could care for his cats if eg he was taken into hospital or even unexpectedly delayed on a work trip - we would take them if he tragically died (he is 40 and hopefully that will not happen!).

I think most people I know have similar setups with friends/family.

Dunkou · 27/01/2025 08:59

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 26/01/2025 23:15

We have agreed with MIL who is in her 70s that we will take her cat if she could no longer care for him. (She will most likely outlive us tbh!) One of my friends would have ours if we both dropped dead. A few of us put cat plans in place at the beginning of the pandemic, although the cat we had then very sadly had to be pts last year and our orange menace is a very different proposition to our gentle girl. I have a key for my neighbour’s house so I could care for his cats if eg he was taken into hospital or even unexpectedly delayed on a work trip - we would take them if he tragically died (he is 40 and hopefully that will not happen!).

I think most people I know have similar setups with friends/family.

That's lovely, but the OP is specifically talking about a situation where she has none of those options (and neither do I).

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 27/01/2025 09:27

Dunkou · 27/01/2025 08:59

That's lovely, but the OP is specifically talking about a situation where she has none of those options (and neither do I).

Show quote history

Apologies, I only read that OP didn’t have family to ask. I shouldn’t have posted.

AChangeIsAsGood · 27/01/2025 09:41

My friend fosters for Cats Protection and many of the cats they get are from homes where the owner has died. They stay with friend until they have a new, carefully checked, home and friend works hard to identify any particular needs their fosters have to ensure that new homes are aware and planning for them. It's a system that works very well for those cats who get into it.

EmpressaurusKitty · 27/01/2025 10:28

AChangeIsAsGood · 27/01/2025 09:41

My friend fosters for Cats Protection and many of the cats they get are from homes where the owner has died. They stay with friend until they have a new, carefully checked, home and friend works hard to identify any particular needs their fosters have to ensure that new homes are aware and planning for them. It's a system that works very well for those cats who get into it.

That’s what I did when I was fostering for my local rescue, too.

Foster cats are well cared for & the system means that their fosterers are able to prospective adopters exactly what they’re like to live with, which leads to the best chance of matching the right cat to the right people.

JoanOgden · 27/01/2025 15:39

I live alone and very much understand the fear of something happening to me and my cat being left alone and hungry.

Do you have any neighbours who could keep a set of keys for you, or a keysafe so that if necessary you could message a friend to come round and feed them?

I wasn't aware of the Cinnamon Trust's work to support pets with old or seriously ill owners - this sounds great.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/01/2025 23:44

Just incase you don't have neighbours / friends that would come in and feed the cats if you were taken suddenly to hospital and are unable to talk, could you contact some professional cat sitters now and ask if you can put their details on one of these ' help i have a pet a home cards ' ?

Your Vet may well have a notice board with advertising for cat sitters etc. on it ?

Aintgointogoa · 29/01/2025 01:51

I know how you are feeling and I think it's a good idea for peace of mind to know your cats of whatever generation will be looked after....not the same scenario but when I left London / UK I had one senior cat and a feisty 8 year old rescue (I took her when she was a kitten) The hellcat bonded deeply with a tenant (hallelujah !) and she took HC with her when she moved to her own place. I eventually got in touch with the Lincolnshire Trust for Cats (obvs not close !) it just came up online, a beautiful country house in large grounds where they take senior cats to live out their days. The fee was £1 k. They arranged a round trip pick up service with their trusted driver. £200 I think ? Yes this is a lot of money but I didn't have a lot of choice being in a bit of a rush. You hand over all responsibility to them, they are not 'your' cat any more per se. But they send photos and updates and it really eased my mind. I loved that old boy so much but he wouldn't have survived the transition or the journey to another country. It worked out perfectly. He settled in, got lots of love and strokes from the volunteers and soon found his favourite armchair. Last year he died in his sleep, age 19. Cannot recommend them highly enough. Hope you find something that works for you and 😻

Aintgointogoa · 29/01/2025 01:58

Kato hovering around me in our garden ❤️

Where will cats go if I die
Original poster
Perimenoanti · 29/01/2025 09:49

Aintgointogoa · 29/01/2025 01:51

I know how you are feeling and I think it's a good idea for peace of mind to know your cats of whatever generation will be looked after....not the same scenario but when I left London / UK I had one senior cat and a feisty 8 year old rescue (I took her when she was a kitten) The hellcat bonded deeply with a tenant (hallelujah !) and she took HC with her when she moved to her own place. I eventually got in touch with the Lincolnshire Trust for Cats (obvs not close !) it just came up online, a beautiful country house in large grounds where they take senior cats to live out their days. The fee was £1 k. They arranged a round trip pick up service with their trusted driver. £200 I think ? Yes this is a lot of money but I didn't have a lot of choice being in a bit of a rush. You hand over all responsibility to them, they are not 'your' cat any more per se. But they send photos and updates and it really eased my mind. I loved that old boy so much but he wouldn't have survived the transition or the journey to another country. It worked out perfectly. He settled in, got lots of love and strokes from the volunteers and soon found his favourite armchair. Last year he died in his sleep, age 19. Cannot recommend them highly enough. Hope you find something that works for you and 😻

This made me tear up. What a wonderful thing to do for your cat. I'd pay any money if it meant my cats were happy. I will look it up.

OP posts:
sashh · 29/01/2025 10:06

Chemenger · 26/01/2025 11:49

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.

I used to foster for them too. The oldest cat I had was 19, a 90 year old lady was brought round by her daughter.

Elderly cat was put on the lady's knee and went, "so this is where I'm supposed to be" curled up and settled down.

Original poster
Perimenoanti · 18/02/2025 18:26

@gladwhiskers I completed profiles for each of my cats with the Cinnamon Trust. Do you know what happens next? Is that it or will I get confirmation that they would accept my cats?

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 18/02/2025 18:32

Perimenoanti · 26/01/2025 11:27

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

You are clearly a very loving owner.
ANY pet “owner” needs to think this way if we should become Ill or die-

There will definitely be people willing to take on a bonded pair especially if they have funding for veterinary treatments.

I know of a lovely elderly Whippet whose owner died- He lives with a lady in a home from home and is very contented.
Your cats will be fine 🥰

He is great great grandad to my Whippet, hence knowing about him.

oakleaffy · 18/02/2025 18:38

Perimenoanti · 29/01/2025 09:49

This made me tear up. What a wonderful thing to do for your cat. I'd pay any money if it meant my cats were happy. I will look it up.

Show quote history

I’ve heard of Cinnamon trust as well, your bonded pair might be happier in a home where they were the only cats.

Cats don’t always get on, as you know.

Orangesandlemonsq · 18/02/2025 18:45

The Blue Cross have a Pet Peace of Mind service you can sign up to. They will re-home your cat to the best of your wishes after you've gone. It's a free service.

gladwhiskers · 18/02/2025 23:24

Perimenoanti · 18/02/2025 18:26

@gladwhiskers I completed profiles for each of my cats with the Cinnamon Trust. Do you know what happens next? Is that it or will I get confirmation that they would accept my cats?

@Perimenoanti Once I completed the profile for my cat somebody from the Cinnamon Trust rang me to let me know he had been accepted. This was followed by a confirmation letter.

Best wishes.

Isithalftermyet · 18/02/2025 23:33

https://www.lincolnshiretrustforcats.co.uk/index.html

the5percentclub · 18/02/2025 23:37

My dog came to me via the Cinnamon Trust. They were amazing during the last year of his previous owner's life, providing a network of walkers for him.