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Estate Planning For Your Cat

Rebecca Schmidt • Sep 29, 2015
We plan for many happy life events like birthdays and weddings, yet we postpone planning the major life event we all face – our death and what happens to our animal companions. We like to think our family or friends will take in our cats and love them as we do, but that is not always the reality. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make plans now for our cat’s future. By making these plans, you can be sure your cat will be provided the level of care you want them to receive.
 It is now possible to legally provide for your cat’s future care with provisions established in a pet trust. A pet trust is a legal arrangement that provides specified terms and care for one or more pets in the event of the owner’s death or disability. The person who established the pet trust is called the “settlor” and the person responsible for handling the funds is the “trustee.” The trustee then delivers the cat to the designated caregiver and makes payment to the caregiver to cover the cat’s expenses.
Things To Consider
Choose the best plan-There are several options available each with advantages and disadvantages. Talk to an attorney to choose the best plan for you and your cat based on your preferences and state laws.
Choose a caregiver- Choose someone who will give the best care to your cat in the event of your death or disability. You made need someone specifically for immediate care and a different person for lifetime care. This should be arranged with the individuals ahead of time because this is an important responsibility.
Written plan-In a written plan you state exactly how you want your cat to be cared for. This would include food, grooming, veterinary visits, etc.
Fund it-This covers all the expenses to care for your cat such as food, toys, veterinary care, etc.
Make it known-Now that you have your plan in place, let someone know where to find it. It does your cat no good if no one knows where your written plan is.
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