Even if something happens to me… I seriously considered "end-of-life planning" and "preparations" for my cat, starting today.

Losing my beloved cat, Gigi, in May 2025 led me to think more deeply about "death"—not only the death of animals but my own as well.

Amidst these reflections, a strong desire grew within me: to do everything I can now to ensure my beloved cats will never experience loneliness or hunger, even if something were to happen to me.

In this article, I will share the "end-of-life preparations for my cats" I am currently practicing and the measures I believe are important to protect my "future beloved cats."

"End-of-Life Preparations for My Cats" Practiced by a 35-Year-Old Owner

When I lost Gigi, although it was heartbreaking and painful, I felt a sense of relief knowing that I had been able to care for her until the end of her life.

I have an underlying health condition and have been hospitalized frequently since childhood, so the thought that "I don't know if I'll end today in a healthy body" is always stuck in the back of my mind.

However, along with that relief came anxiety: is the preparation I have now truly enough to provide lifelong care for my two living cats?

From here on, I will introduce the actual preparations and end-of-life planning I am doing for my beloved cats.

① Recording my wishes in an "End-of-Life Notebook"

I began writing in an "ending note" (end-of-life notebook) when I turned 30. The reason was that I felt it was time to start thinking about and acting on the reality of death.

I have "single ventricle heart defect," a condition where the chambers of the heart do not divide properly from birth. Modern medicine cannot cure it completely. Radical surgical procedures only became widespread right around the time I was born.

Because the number of patients is small and there is no lifespan data available, frankly, it is unclear how long I can live. However, my heart condition is slowly worsening.

My former doctor once told me, "The oldest person with the same condition is around 50." I believe that statistic was derived from the lifespans of people who received an older type of surgery than the one I had.

Still, after hearing those words, I started living vaguely thinking, "How many years left until I'm 50?"

And then, when I turned 30, I felt that "the time I've lived has exceeded the time I'm likely to live," so I bought an ending note.

The ending note I purchased is great because it allows me to write in detail about how to dispose of digital data assets. In the notebook, I have also recorded "the future of my beloved cats" for my followers to post after my death.

Considering "Senior Cat Homes" if there is no one else to rely on

If something happens to me, I will absolutely protect my cats. My husband and I talk about this regularly to ensure we are on the same page.

These kinds of discussions are extremely important. We discuss "what if" scenarios, such as "I want to be responsible for raising the cats, but what should we do if something happens to me?" and we specifically convey which facilities or individuals we would want to rely on.

The cats in question are quite pleased to be looking down on us as we discuss this.

There is no guarantee that our surviving family members will be healthy enough to live, either. I think if you keep that perspective in mind while considering your cat's future, it's easier to decide what to do if an unexpected situation occurs.

In our case, we have discussed relying on a senior cat home if, for some reason, it becomes difficult for my husband or relatives to care for our cats.

This is exactly when my "cat savings" (which I am still diligently contributing to...) will come into play.

While there are still few senior cat homes nationwide, I believe if the commercialization of the AIM drug for feline kidney disease leads to more long-lived cats, the demand for facilities that accept cats when owners can no longer care for them will increase, and their numbers will grow across the country.

So, for now, I spend my days comparing facilities and costs, thinking, "I need to work even harder on my cat savings!"

③ Recording your cat's preferences and personality in a "Pet Profile Notebook"

Cats, like humans, each have their own personality. They have different likes, and sometimes I'm surprised to find, "Oh, they don't actually hate that!"

It is important to convey these preferences and personality traits in detail to the person who will be taking care of them. Cats are full of anxiety when living in a new environment or with a new owner.

If they can live in a way that respects their preferences and personality as much as possible, I think they will be able to feel reassured, thinking, "This place isn't so bad."

I use the "Neko Help Notebook" designed and produced by Keiko Oki, but there are many other notebooks where you can leave detailed information about your "precious pet," so I encourage you to look for one that suits you.

While writing their profiles, I am able to engage deeply with my cats again, and sometimes I even laugh, thinking, "My cat is just hilarious." (True story.)

Oh, and by the way, I also recommend "There is a cat in this house" stickers, which are useful in case of disasters or accidents.

"Future Measures" I want to take to protect my beloved cats

① Drafting a legal will

While writing my ending note, the desire grew that when it comes to the future of my beloved cats, I really want to create a legal will.

Answering the questions in the ending note was enough for my personal wishes, but since an ending note has no legal power, I feel it falls a bit short of being able to protect my cats.

I plan to consult with a lawyer in the future to draft an official will so that I can leave my assets to my cats.

You cannot leave assets directly to pets, but by bequeathing assets to the person who will care for them, you can indirectly pass on the savings you have diligently built up to your cats.

However, since unexpected problems could occur—such as the cat or the person entrusted with the will passing away before the testator—I want to proceed with drafting the documents while consulting with professionals like lawyers, anticipating every possible case.

While the phrase "consult with a lawyer" might feel intimidating, local free legal consultation sessions are easy to visit, so I recommend them.

② Save money so I can handle medical treatment and enter a senior cat home!

There are times when no amount of money can save a life, but having "cat savings" is still reassuring. After much deliberation, I decided not to get pet insurance and instead saved money to prepare for any "what ifs," but Gigi's battle with illness made me realize once again the high cost of veterinary care.

However, having gone through that, it was good to know the approximate treatment costs for examinations and surgery.

Of course, the cost of medical care varies depending on the illness and treatment, but I have clarified for myself how much savings I need to be prepared for such challenges.

Because of this, I can easily determine a savings goal by thinking, "I'll save this amount plus the cost of admission to a senior cat home," and my cat savings are progressing even better.

If I were to entrust them to a senior cat home, I would want a facility that is cage-free and provides meticulous care even if they become bedridden. Someday, I hope to visit and see with my own eyes a senior cat home that I can trust, as part of my "preparations."

"Services I wish were realized" to prevent my cats from being alone

This is just a service I personally wish for, but I would love to see a matching service that allows owners to find a new home for their cat while they are still alive.

Of course, it is difficult from the perspective of preventing abuse, and there is also the question, "Are there people who would wait for a cat without a guarantee of receiving it?" But if there were a service that allowed me to entrust my cat to a "next owner" with peace of mind even after I am gone, I think both the cat and the human could rest easy.

For example, it would likely alleviate the distress of owners who cannot be hospitalized because they are worried about their cats, and it would also help resolve the issue of elderly people being unable to care for their cats until the end.

While I celebrate the increased longevity of cats, if we can also implement measures for the "problem of whether I can outlive my long-lived cat," I don't think the momentum behind "welcoming rescued cats"—which has finally started to spread—will fade away.

To increase the number of happy cats, it is important to face the reality of your own mortality as an owner. I still have much I can do, so I will continue gathering information and working hard to ensure my cats never suffer a moment of hardship in their lives.