TOWN CATS SAFE HAVEN PROGRAM
A plan for your cats. A promise for their future.
We all hope our cats will outlive us. But life doesn’t always go according to plan.
What happens to your cats if you become seriously ill or pass away?
The Town Cats Safe Haven Program helps you make a plan for your cats’ future care if you are ever no longer able to care for them.
By documenting your wishes with Town Cats, including Town Cats in your estate plans, and making sure someone you trust knows your plan, you can help ensure that your cats have somewhere safe to go if they ever need us.
Why Make a Plan?
At Town Cats, we see cats arrive under circumstances their families never expected.
An owner passes away. A family member realizes they cannot provide the financial or physical care a cat needs. A person’s living situation changes. Sometimes, the person everyone thought would care for the cat simply can’t.
We don’t blame people for these circumstances.
We ask what we can do now.
That’s why we created the Town Cats Safe Haven Program: to help you make a plan before your cats need us.
How the Safe Haven Program Works
1. Make a plan.
Talk with your family and the people you trust about what should happen to your cats if you can no longer care for them.
2. Include Town Cats in your estate plans.
You can name Town Cats in your will or trust, or as a beneficiary of an eligible retirement account, life insurance policy, or other account.
A gift made through a will is commonly called a bequest.
We recommend working with your attorney or financial advisor when creating or updating your estate plans.
3. Tell us about your cats.
Complete our Safe Haven Enrollment Form for each cat you want included in your plan.
We’ll ask about their:
- Medical history and medications
- Veterinarian
- Personality and behavior
- Diet and routine
- Likes and dislikes
- Microchip information
- Bonded companions
- Special needs
The more we know, the better prepared we can be.
4. Tell someone you trust.
Your executor, family member, friend, or other designated person should know about your wishes and know how to contact Town Cats.
Keep a copy of your Safe Haven information with your estate documents.
5. Help us prepare.
There is no enrollment fee for the Safe Haven Program.
Participants are encouraged to make an annual gift to Town Cats of any amount. These gifts help us care for cats today and build the resources we need to be ready for the cats who will need us tomorrow.
When Your Cat Needs Us
If the time comes when you can no longer care for your cat, the person you have designated should contact Town Cats to begin the process.
Our standard $500 surrender fee per cat will apply when a cat enters our care.
We encourage you to make arrangements for this expense as part of your estate planning so the person carrying out your wishes knows what to expect.
Important to know
Safe Haven is intended to help with permanent future care when an owner is no longer able to care for their cat.
It is not a temporary boarding program for vacations, travel, short-term hospitalization, or other temporary situations.
Already Included Town Cats in Your Estate Plans?
We want to hear from you.
If you have already named Town Cats in your will, trust, life insurance policy, retirement account, or another estate plan, please let us know.
And if you have previously made arrangements with Town Cats regarding the future care of your cat, we want to know about that, too.
You may have made your plans years ago. We want to make sure they don’t get lost.
To tell us about your existing plans, email: donations@towncats.org
Keep Your Plan Current
Your life changes. Your cats’ lives change, too.
Please let Town Cats know if you:
- Move
- Change your phone number or email
- Change veterinarians
- Add or lose a cat
- Experience a significant change in your cat’s health or needs
- Change your emergency contact or executor
- Change your estate plans
We recommend reviewing your Safe Haven information at least once a year.