Do you have a plan for your pets after you're gone?

[zanana1]

I'm 74 and I was thinking about adopting a cat, then I thought about what would happen to it should the grim reaper come calling. I really don't have anybody who'd be willing to take it in. (One friend has two cats already and the other doesn't want any more pets.) I'd be adopting an older cat, but I'd still worry about it ending up alone. What do you think?

[10 Turtle Day]

1. I worry about the same thing

I have 2 cats. I have had cats my entire life. I have friends my age that have had cats all their lives but decided no more after the last one passed. I don’t know what the answer is. I can’t imagine living without a cat in the house.

[zanana1]

2. I couldn't be catless either.

I live alone and I have one aging cat. It helps me to know that there is one extra heartbeat in the house. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I didn't have a cat to feed, play with and clean a litter box.

[mercuryblues]

3. Have you thought about fostering cats.

[10 Turtle Day]

6. I know I would be a foster failure

and would end up keeping the foster so would be in the same situation.

[Raven123]

4. Good thinking on your part.

It’s quite a decision. Do you risk a pet outliving you with no one willing to take it in, or do you give a pet a home who is in a shelter, improving its quality of life and take a chance? No easy answers.

Honestly, I don’t know.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. When you find someone, make sure you explicitly put a provision in your Will

regarding ownership, care, etc. Maybe a stipend to cover the costs.

[biophile]

7. Adopt from a rescue that will take the cat back

I volunteer with a cat rescue and we sometimes get cats returned whose pet parent has died, moved into a nursing home, has become too disabled or head diagnosed with dementia. It happens- even young people can have life circumstances change - job loss, divorce, sudden death or disability.
I cannot imagine living without a cat. Dogs are needier, so my current dog will be the last one.

[Niagara]

8. I would definitely seek out a pet plan before adopting a precious cat

Is there any way that you could foster a cat?

Animals shelters are loud and over crowded and are frightening places for animals to be placed in.

There's generally a foster agreement and in the event that you unexpectedly left this universe (I hope that doesn't happen anytime soon), the cat could be returned to the shelter.

Something to think about, zanana.

[zanana1]

9. I would hate to have a cat brought back to a shelter.

[Niagara]

10. I realize that

We never know when our time is up. It is possible that you would outlive a senior cat. Their time here is much shorter than ours.

You would be providing a home and safety and making room for other animals in a shelter if you fostered.

If fostering is off the table. I know you recently had an injury and spent some time recovering from that. Would you be able to physically volunteer your time at a shelter in the cat shelter section? I wouldn't want to suggest a situation where you could get injured again because I know how serious that is.

I'm just trying to come up with solutions/suggestions so you can surround yourself with cat love.

[Midnight Writer]

11. My last cat died last year. I love cats, have always had multiple cats in my home, but there will be no more.

With my age and health, there is just no way. I've outlived my family and friends. There is no one that I could count on to take in my cat and give it a good home after I am gone.

I sure miss my furry friends, but taking in a pet is a sacred responsibility, and I can no longer meet those responsibilities.

I just have to settle for being thankful for the love I was gifted for all those years.

I'd like to see a non-profit program for seniors so they can "share" their pets, ensuring someone would step in and care for them if needed. I know it would mean a lot to many seniors to be able to have an unconditionally loving companion in their home.

A pet will love you no matter how decrepit you are, how sick you get, how disgusting you become as your body breaks down.

[EYESORE 9001]

12. I take solace in the knowledge

that I can always enjoy the company of other people’s cats when I reach the point where I feel incapable of caring for one of my own.

[AllaN01Bear]

13. i heard tell of a woman who had a dog , died here at tic toc baase .

a friend of mine who lives here took it in.

[mike_c]

14. this is us, too

Both in our 70s, we've lived with cats all our adult lives and neither of us wanted a life without them when our last old lady died. Our solution involves money. First, we bought a Maine coon kitten from a breeder. Since the breed is extremely popular, we figure a pure bred Maine coon will be easy to rehome if need be, and he is a lovely soul. He's the first cat either of us has paid so much for. When the old girl died we also rescued a shelter kitten so he would have a playmate, and found that the (no kill) private shelter has a program whereby they will oversee rehoming or simply take in cats from elderly people who die. We're saving money now to make the donation they request for the service.

The weak link is what happens if the only person left dies and nobody knows? We live in a retirement community that has a daily phone call welfare check program that we will enter when the time gets closer, so the cats don't get trapped in the house with no one to care for them.

All this requires some donations, but I love our cats more than I like most people, and we'll do whatever we need to keep them safe.