Purr-poseful Planning: Estate Planning for Cat Lovers

We plan for so many parts of our cats’ lives. We choose their food, find their favorite sleeping spots, keep up with veterinary care, and learn all their particular quirks.

But what happens if we are suddenly unable to care for them?

It can be an uncomfortable question, which is probably why so many of us put off answering it. But planning ahead can help ensure that the cats who depend on us continue to receive the care, attention, and security they need.

What Would Happen to Your Cats?

An unexpected hospitalization, an accident, or another major life change can leave a cat’s future uncertain if there isn’t a plan in place.

Start by thinking about the people and information your cats would need.

Choose someone you trust. Identify a person who could care for your cats if you couldn’t, and talk with them about your wishes. It’s also a good idea to have a backup list of caregivers. Be sure they all know your wishes.

Make the important information easy to find. Keep your veterinarian’s contact information, medical records, medications, feeding instructions, routines, and other important details together in a folder or binder. Place this somewhere your caregiver can access them and update it every year at tax time.

Think beyond the immediate emergency. Your plan should consider not only who could care for your cats temporarily, but what you would want to happen if you could no longer care for them permanently.

Consider the cost of their care. Food, veterinary care, medications, and other expenses can add up over a cat’s lifetime. Your estate plan can address how financial resources will be made available for their care.

How Estate Planning Can Help

Your cats can’t inherit property in the same way a person can, but there are legal tools that can help you make arrangements for their care.

Depending on your circumstances, an estate planning professional may recommend options such as provisions in a will, a pet trust, or other arrangements for providing for your animals and identifying the people responsible for their care.

The right approach depends on your individual situation and the laws that apply to you. An estate planning attorney can help you understand your options and put your wishes into a legally appropriate plan.

And don’t forget to tell the people involved in your plan what you’ve arranged. A document is important, but so is making sure your chosen caregiver knows that the plan exists and how to access the information they’ll need.

Planning a Legacy for Cats Beyond Your Own

For some cat lovers, estate planning is also an opportunity to think about the cats they may never meet.

Including a charitable organization like Caring for Cats in an estate plan can create a lasting gift that supports animals in need for years to come. A bequest, beneficiary designation, or other planned gift may allow you to continue supporting a cause that matters to you even after your lifetime.

For an organization like Caring for Cats, these gifts can help provide shelter, veterinary care, food, enrichment, and loving attention to cats who are still waiting for their families. These gifts also help us with long-term financial stability, and the confidence to say yes to cats with complex needs.

Purr-poseful Planning: Our Webinar for Cat Lovers

We wanted to make this topic easier to understand, so Caring for Cats brought together Rachel Schromen and Stephanie Nepper of Schromen Law for Purr-poseful Planning: Estate Planning for Cat Lovers.

The webinar covers practical questions about planning for your pets, protecting your wishes, and considering charitable giving as part of your estate plan.

Rachel Schromen and Stephanie Nepper of Schromen Law joined Caring for Cats to talk us through how to protect your pets through thoughtful legal planning, ensure your wishes are honored, and explore meaningful ways to leave a lasting legacy for the rescue organizations and causes that have your heart.

Whether you’re owned by one cat or several, this session will help you create a plan that’s as thoughtful as your love for them.

Thank you to Schromen Law, for doing this fun, practical webinar all about estate planning for cat lovers with us in September 2026.