Animal Protection Association (APA) is one of the only all-volunteer no-kill cat shelters in the Southern Indiana and Louisville area. Our mission is to rescue and find homes for the forgotten cats and kittens in our area – the ones who are homeless, abandoned and mistreated. We believe all cats deserve the chance to live, love and be loved. We give every treatable, savable, rehabilitatable cat the second chance it deserves. We serve as their voice in the community. Founded in 1999, we are proud to be celebrating 25 years of saving lives.
Last year we cared for more than 200 cats and kittens. At any given time we have 135 cats and kittens in our care.
APA is run totally by volunteers. We have no paid staff- and all expenses are paid with monies raised through our thrift store, Purr-fect Treasures, donations, grants and fundraising events.
After 25 years, we know that every cat who comes to APA has a story. As the voice for the forgotten cats and kittens in Southern Indiana, we want to share their stories to help people in our community be more responsible pet owners. Today we want to tell you the story of the cats who came our way because their owners did not have a plan to care for their cats if something happened to them.
Hardly a day goes by without either a call, email or Facebook message from the family or friends of a senior who has either died or is moving into an assisted living facility and cannot take his or her cat with them.
At APA we work hard to place cats and kittens in homes that provide a responsible lifetime commitment to them. Most cats can live to be at least 15 years old. If you are in your 70s, will you be able to care for your cat in 15 years? We also work to educate potential adopters on the need to have a plan to care for their cats in case something should happen to them. We don’t care if you are 25 or 75, you need to have a plan for your beloved cat if you suddenly became ill, incapacitated, had to move into an assisted living facility or passed away.
You should think carefully about who you want to care for your pet and have thoughtful conversations with them about your expectations. Put it in writing. Make sure everyone knows your wishes. If you can, leave some money for your pet’s caregiver.
The past 12 months have been really rough for APA with the number of cats who came to us because their owner didn’t have a plan. It really is heartbreaking to see these cats. They are so confused, so lost and often very depressed. They do not do well in a shelter environment. We know you love your cats so please think about their future if you are not in it.
Most of the time, family members bring cats to a shelter. If they’re young, they can usually adjust, but if they are senior cats, most just curl up in a ball and quit eating. Remember, they have been adored by you. They’ve sat in your lap and slept with you. Can you imagine losing the one person you loved and being removed from that home, then thrust into a shelter with many other cats? It is devastating for them. In many instances, the cat becomes sick and ultimately dies.
You may say, I’ve never thought about that or I’ll outlive my cat, or, I’ve thought about that but didn’t know what to do. A little planning can provide some peace of mind—knowing that whatever happens to you, your pets will be just fine.
Here are some resources to learn more about making a plan for your pets.
https://www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/pets-in-wills-factsheet.pdf.
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-planning
https://bestfriends.org/resources/estate-planning-dogs-and-cats
https://blog.massmutual.com/planning/pet-care-death
Please, whatever you do, make a plan NOW for your beloved cat. Don’t wait because it may be too late.