A Serious Question, I Need Your Input Please!

[Medusa]

Hey, Gary, it's better to be prepared than to, God/dess forbid, something would happen and your cats would be left to fend for themselves. Yes, they're adaptable but it still would be unfortunate. You're thinking ahead and thinking of someone other than yourself, which is becoming a rarity nowadays.

[KitCat]

Try to find a way to have a guardian or some no kill shelter to take cats. they could still be happy and well.

[jennielynn1970]

My grandfather had left arrangements for his cats in his will. He didn't leave much of anything to his family (which was fine by me), but he made sure that his cats were taken care of.

[Catsnclay]

We have several no-kill shelters around who make up wills and such for this very purpose. Not only do they take in your animals, but they also have a sheet for you to fill out their names (with a current picture) and their habits, likes & dislikes, medication and who their best buddy is (another animal or stuffed), just like Emeraldgreen did (great idea BTW- it is good for the fire or police if there is need for them).


Of course this does cost, but it eases your mind knowing that 'IF' something happens to you, your babies will be well taken care of.

I am associated with one shelter, and this weekend is their annual Cat/Artists show.

There is all sorts of different cat art, paintings, jewlery and anthing related to cats and the shelter gets 50% of what is sold!

This year I made a whole bunch of stoneware dishes - let's hope they all sell so we can raise some money for the shelter!!

It is a really nice show and we have had really good press and people at the last ones........it is suposed to rain this weekend, and most of the show is outside, so cross your fingers & paws it doesn't rain on opening day!

[phesina]

I'm in the process of writing a new will right now, and I am trying to answer some of these same questions.

My attorney and I are putting together a trust with the primary purpose of attending to the needs of my cats for the rest of their lives. When they are finally gone (of natural causes after long, healthy, happy lives, of course), then whatever is left (if anything) is to be divided among several non-profit charitable organizations, most of which care for cats, of course. I'm still trying to decide just which organizations and what percentage for each.

In the will itself, I'll make specific bequests. The lawyer advised putting organizations that might not last long here, because it's easier to change a will than a trust. I have no human descendants, so aside from a good chunk to my sister and token bequests to my two nephews, I'll give more money to more deserving cats.

My sister will be my executor and will see that my cats are looked after, but I don't know if she could take them herself. And if anything happened to her, I don't really know anyone to be backup or who will agree to take them. My sister knows someone who says she will take them, so she's possible but I haven't met her or talked with her about it yet.

I wish there was an organization like you describe, Catsnclay, around here.. especially one that would have a Cat/Artists show! As far as I know, there isn't. I think the shelter I work at would take them, though they don't have a program set up to do wills or contracts for that purpose. And since the shelter is funded primarily by the wealthy couple who began it and own it, if anything happened to them the shelter could become history.

Lots of things to track down and figure out and make decisions over.. but I really want to get this set up as well as possible!

Pat

[catmandu]

THE PAMPERED ELINE IS A BOARING FACILITY , A GOOD ONE AND WITH MY LEGACY MY SURVIVING FOUND PARADISE HOTEL CATS WILL ALL LIVE IN THE LAP OF LUXURY AND WILL BE INDEED PAMPERED FELINES.
PLEASE LOOK UP PAMERED FELINE, BEAMSVILLE ONTARIO AND I THINK THAT YOU WILL THINK I MADE A WHISE CHOICE.
I HAVE BEEN THERE AND THE FACILITIES ARE FIRST RATE.
AND WE WILL VISIT TO SEE THAT THEY ARE HAPPY CATS, UNTIL WE ARE ALL REUNITED.
ONE FINE DAY.

[phesina]

Thanks for the information about the Pampered Feline, Gary. I just looked it up with Mapquest. It's about 250 miles away from me, which is much closer than another wonderful place in Ringoes, New Jersey named Tabby's Place: A Cat Sanctuary (http://www.tabbysplace.org), which is about 600 miles away.

Tabby's Place runs a "Guardian Angel Program" which agrees to provide a home for life for each cat delivered to it pursuant to the agreement. It is NOT cheap: $15,000 per cat ("Note that lifetime care for many felines may exceed this amount.").

Would the Pampered Feline set up such an arrangement for others besides you and your cats, Gary? Cats from outside the Hamilton area? Foreign cats? I looked them and the Animal Welfare Association up on the web (http://awa.xux.net/PetServices/PamperedFeline.html) but didn't find anything about such a program.

Catsnclay, you said the shelter you are associated with does this. Do you know if there is any blanket organization for these places? I'd like to find out if there are any nearer to me. Does your shelter have a web site? I'd love to look at it and see what they do (also see anything from Cats/Artists that might be there!).

More than anything else, I want my will to GUARANTEE that any of my cats surviving me will be taken care of for life.

Thanks, folks.

Pat

[catmandu]

I Am Not Sure About American Cats And The Pampered Feline , But Iw Ill Ask. This Arrangement Is Being Set Up By My Attorney Who Also Works With The Animal Welfare Association , And Maybe Because I Have Close Ties With Them.
I Will Ask Though, But You May Have To Stay In The Usa As They May Not Be Able To Bring Your Cats Over The Border.