What happens to my cat if I die? How to ensure their future?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that you are considering giving away your cats. I would advise contacting your vet office and see if they can help you place them. They often have a list of clients seeking pets. Other avenues would involve your local humane society, pet rescue groups, etc. These groups often screen potential adopters and would be a great resource. I know this is very tough for you, but if you get the right people involved, everyone will feel better in the end knowing that they were placed into good homes. Good luck

I would not recommend such a journey in an older cat especially if her routine will be changed from a free ranging cat to an indoor cat as this would provide an ongoing environmental stress even after the journey. Contact local humane societies and shelters to see if they can help provide a foster home for her or inquire of your neighbours if anyone is willing to monitor her and take responsibility for her ongoing care and health needs as she gets older.

She is really cute! I would see if any of your friends would be willing to take her if you would pay for her food, vet expenses, etc while they had her. I would make sure you put it in writing that you are to get her back after the 3 months of summer vacation just so there isn't any confusion. This is the best solution I can think of if a house sitter/vet clinic boarding aren't reasonable options. I hope this helps!

This is a great question! First off, thank you for your military service, it is very much appreciated. I know how hard it is to move around and not be able to take your pets with you. With Finn, it is absolutely fine to have someone look after him for a year, then take him back when you return home. I know this from personal experience. When I moved to New Zealand almost a decade ago from the US, I couldn't take my cats (or dogs) with me just yet, and they had to stay with family for about eight months before they could be shipped out. They were fine with staying with my family and then being shipped out to me in New Zealand. Yes moving is stressful, but cats can adapt, and there's no reason why you should give up Finn when you love him so much. Cats are amazing pets, and they are resilient, so I recommend having him stay with someone for a year and getting him when you come home. It gives you another great reason to look forward to coming home :-)

It’s hard to know what Jimmy will do once he moves homes. Jimmy will not forget you and it’s likely he will still enjoy your company but he may bond more strongly with the new owners. Think about what you want to do with Jimmy once you move out of your new apartment. If you want to retain ownership of Jimmy, then you will need to take care of his basic needs and cover the costs. If you sell Jimmy, then he belongs to someone else and you are not responsible, nor can you claim ownership at a later date. This is a decision that requires a lot of thought. Best of luck.

If Penelope is bonded with you she will likely be fine, but there are a few things you can do that might help make the move easier. Look into Feliway products and start using before the move and at new house. A vet checkup before a major change is never a bad idea since stress can exacerbate underlying illness. Keep food and litter the same as what she's accustomed to using if you make any changes don't do it right away with the move and make sure to change things slowly and gradually over the course of a week or two. Possibly get her some toys or beds now that you will take with you when you move so she has a familiar scent. And make sure that you're being realistic about when and where you're moving, if it will be a good move for Penelope. The fact that you're thinking about it this far in advance means you do have her best interest in mind. But many times pets are abandoned by college age students who don't understand the responsibility of taking care of them; so make sure you're doing what's best for her and hopefully you would be able to visit if you do leave her at home. Good luck with your decision and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am so sorry for your heartache, I know how difficult this time is. You have a couple of options to consider. 1) Let her pass at home. Make sure she's got a warm comfortable bed, allow her to be propped into a whatever position seems most comfortable. If she's having any difficulty breathing, it may help to prop her so that she's sort of lying on her chest, (so the breastbone is on the surface)--this allows both of her lungs to expand most comfortably. There is no medication that I can advise you to give her, but just being with her is the best thing you can do to make her comfortable. You can keep things she really likes (a cat toy she used to love, etc) and familiar scents (one of your worn t-shirts,etc) in the bed with her. Don't try to force her to eat or drink. 2) Call an emergency clinic. They likely have 24/7 full services, including euthanasia. Additionally, they may be able to refer you to "on-call" in home euthanasia services in your area. More and more of these at home services are available 24 hrs in metropolitan areas. Costs will vary, but will be more expensive than taking her in to your family veterinarian, due to the 24/7 service. You and your kitty are in my thoughts. Thank you for trusting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.