No one expects an emergency.
A hospitalization. A serious illness. An accident. A move into assisted living. A temporary crisis. The death of a beloved guardian.
Yet every year, cats enter uncertain situations because no plan existed before the emergency occurred.
The Cats in the City Lifetime Care Program was created to help prevent that uncertainty.
This program allows guardians to document their wishes, organize care information, establish emergency contacts, coordinate future funding, and create a clear response pathway should they ever become unable to care for their cat.
Whether the interruption is temporary or permanent, your cat's care should not depend on chance.
When a guardian suddenly becomes unavailable, cats are often left facing uncertainty.
Family members may not know feeding routines, medications, veterinary history, or behavioral needs. Friends may be willing to help but unsure where to start. Important information may be difficult to locate. Decisions may need to be made quickly during an already stressful time.
The Lifetime Care Program creates structure before it is needed.
By preparing in advance:
Your cat's care history is documented and organized.
Family members know who to contact.
Emergency responders can identify that a cat may need assistance.
Veterinary information is easier to access.
Funding plans can be coordinated ahead of time.
Your wishes can guide future decisions whenever possible.
Your cat has a pathway to safety, stabilization, and long-term care.
Cats in the City already provides:
Clinical grooming
Specialized feline boarding
Medical coordination
Behavioral observation
Rescue services
FELINE TRANSITIONS® Structured Rehoming
The Lifetime Care Program is built upon this existing infrastructure.
Rather than simply storing documents, the program connects planning to a real-world organization that already provides daily feline care and crisis response.
Members create a detailed care profile that may include:
Medical history
Medications
Feeding routines
Veterinary providers
Behavioral considerations
Comfort preferences
Emergency contacts
Placement guidance
Long-term care wishes
We help establish practical next steps before a crisis occurs.
This includes:
Emergency contacts
Decision-making authority
Care instructions
Veterinary information
Access planning
Activation procedures
If the program is activated, Cats in the City may assist with:
Emergency boarding
Temporary care
Veterinary coordination
Caregiver communication
Placement evaluation
Long-term care planning
FELINE TRANSITIONS® Structured Rehoming when necessary
We begin with a discussion about your cat, your support system, your goals, and the role you would like Cats in the City to play.
Members complete a set of planning documents designed to organize important information before it is needed.
We help identify how future care expenses may be funded and encourage coordination with your attorney, trustee, executor, or financial advisor when appropriate.
All key documents are organized into a structured care file that can be accessed quickly during an emergency.
Members may receive emergency notification materials designed to help activate the plan quickly if they become unable to return home.
Life changes.
We recommend updating:
Emergency contacts
Veterinary providers
Medications
Care preferences
Funding arrangements
Caregiver designations
through periodic reviews.
Defines membership, responsibilities, activation procedures, and program structure.
Allows designated individuals and authorized parties to act on behalf of your cat's welfare if you become temporarily incapacitated.
Documents practical care information, routines, preferences, and important details that future caregivers may need.
Provides information you can share with your attorney when creating pet trusts, will provisions, or other care arrangements.
A wallet-sized card identifies you as a Lifetime Care Program member and alerts others that a cat may require immediate assistance if you are unable to return home.
This notification sticker helps first responders recognize that pets may be present in the home and that care instructions exist.
These simple tools can significantly reduce delays in activating a care plan during a real-world emergency.
Planning for future care also means planning for future expenses.
The Lifetime Care Program supports both pre-funded and cash-funded arrangements.
Common approaches include:
A pet trust can reserve funds specifically for your cat's future care and provide legally enforceable instructions regarding their welfare.
Some guardians choose to allocate funds through their will and designate individuals responsible for carrying out their wishes.
Others establish dedicated financial accounts intended exclusively for future feline care expenses.
In some cases, family members or designated caregivers agree to provide funding if the program is activated.
We encourage members to work with qualified legal and financial professionals when making these decisions.
No.
The program is designed to create structure, coordination, and planning in advance. Any future intake remains subject to available capacity, medical considerations, welfare needs, and organizational resources at the time assistance is requested.
Many activations may be temporary.
The program can support planning for short-term interruptions as well as permanent transitions.
Not necessarily.
Many members participate without a trust. However, funding arrangements often improve the long-term security and flexibility of future care plans.
No.
Unexpected emergencies can affect anyone. Many members enroll simply because they want a clear plan in place should the unexpected occur.
You have spent years protecting your cat.
The Lifetime Care Program helps extend that protection into the future by creating a practical plan for continuity of care, advocacy, and support if life takes an unexpected turn.
When the unexpected happens, preparation matters.
And for cats, preparation often starts long before it is needed.