Orphaned Cats - What to Do?

"Laura R." wrote in message
.. .
circa Mon, 17 May 2004 19:58:36 -0500, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav,
MaryL -OUT-THE-LITTER) said,

There was a wealthy old widow lady in England a long time ago,
hundreds of years or so. The lady had a cat whom she adored. However,
she was concerned about the welfare of her cat should anything happen
to her. She decided to give all her real estate (a substantial amount
of property) through her will to her butler "for the life of the cat
with remainder to the cat society." That meant that her butler would
have full use and enjoyment of the property, including all rents and
income from it, as long as the cat remained alive. Upon the cat's
death the cat society would gain title to the property and the
butler's free ride would be over.

So if you were the butler, how would you treat the cat?

--


I love it -- except that I do think someone under these circumstances
should
leave *part* of the estate to the butler for his devotion and longterm
care.
Otherwise, the butler could be left impoverished after caring for the
wealthy widow's cat.

Why am I having visions of a thirty-year-old cat on a respirator?


Or clandestine searches for cats identical to the legatee, cat switches, and
newspaper articles about the longest lived cat in the world?


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

"Mary" wrote in message . com...
"Laura R." wrote
Priscilla

How fiendishly clever!

Ain't it, though? :-)

Laura

Now I just need to work on beefing up my "estate.".


Can I do it too Mary? "me too! me too! me too Laura!"

"Mary" wrote in message . com...
"Laura R." wrote
Priscilla

How fiendishly clever!

Ain't it, though? :-)

Laura

Now I just need to work on beefing up my "estate.".


Can I do it too Mary? "me too! me too! me too Laura!"

On Mon, 17 May 2004 19:58:36 -0500, "MaryL"
-OUT-THE-LITTER dijo:

So if you were the butler, how would you treat the cat?

I love it -- except that I do think someone under these circumstances should
leave *part* of the estate to the butler for his devotion and longterm care.
Otherwise, the butler could be left impoverished after caring for the
wealthy widow's cat.

Well, we have to bear in mind that the story came from a long time
ago; a time when attitudes toward servants were different.

I should mention that this story is a favorite with law school
professors. The class always laughs, but they remember what a life
estate is and what it can be used for.

I should also have added that the story may come comes from a long
time ago in England, but life estates are very much alive and well
throughout the English-speaking world, and everywhere else the English
have transplanted their legal system. So if you want to do something
like the old lady's will, there is nothing to stop you.

What I like about the old lady's will is its simplicity. No big to-do
with pages of conditions and how the cat must be treated and cared
for. with penalties and potential lawsuits if they violate the
provisions of the will. It just all boils down to the cat's lifespan.

--
Bogus e-mail address, but I read this newsgroup regularly, so reply here.

On Mon, 17 May 2004 19:58:36 -0500, "MaryL"
-OUT-THE-LITTER dijo:

So if you were the butler, how would you treat the cat?

I love it -- except that I do think someone under these circumstances should
leave *part* of the estate to the butler for his devotion and longterm care.
Otherwise, the butler could be left impoverished after caring for the
wealthy widow's cat.

Well, we have to bear in mind that the story came from a long time
ago; a time when attitudes toward servants were different.

I should mention that this story is a favorite with law school
professors. The class always laughs, but they remember what a life
estate is and what it can be used for.

I should also have added that the story may come comes from a long
time ago in England, but life estates are very much alive and well
throughout the English-speaking world, and everywhere else the English
have transplanted their legal system. So if you want to do something
like the old lady's will, there is nothing to stop you.

What I like about the old lady's will is its simplicity. No big to-do
with pages of conditions and how the cat must be treated and cared
for. with penalties and potential lawsuits if they violate the
provisions of the will. It just all boils down to the cat's lifespan.

--
Bogus e-mail address, but I read this newsgroup regularly, so reply here.