Has anybody got experience of the UK RSPCA service Home For Life ?

We have a similar thing here, they are called RSPCA Legacy animals. My Queenie is signed up for it. As yet, since I´m still alive and kicking, haven´t had to use it, but I do trust them.

That´s what worries me. Can they be trusted. I am worried that they would just round up the cats and put them down. In order to use their free service you have to amend your will, which would be fairly expensive. I would not mind spending the money, if I could be sure they can be trusted.

That would go against their motto. I know they are Ok here, there have been many a story on our animal shows of how animals are looked after. Plus I knew of one such legacy carer, years ago, she had an old cat, that she was looking after for the owner that died. I have long since lost contact.

I am sure if you were to ask to meet some carers they would let you.

When I was younger I worked at the Cat Haven and it was my job to look after all the Legacy cats. They were all loved and really well cared. They all had their own special beds and toys. They all seemed very happy. I loved working there and being able to give them love & kisses
I´m sure your cats too will be well cared for oldwoman.

oldwoman, this is a truly genuine service and they could not get away with advertising it if it were not so. The RSPCA get more press scrutiny than almost any charity in the UK. They came up with it because ultimately they have to deal with it anyway on a daily basis so best to give it a name and make people aware of it.

Surely changing your will is a small price to pay for having your cats looked after? I have already written my cat into my will leaving money for her care after my death.

As an RSPCA volunteer who has met the kindest and best people in my life working for their shelters I do feel upset that you would think that they would take your cat from you, promise to care for it but put it to sleep. It is one of the great sad mysteries of this site that people are so suspicious of animal shelters when the people who work there move heaven and earth (and frequently do) for the pets in their care.

When a person makes a will they appoint executors to ensure the will is carried out. If the RSPCA were to lie to you, take your cat and destroy it ... (the mind boggles) then your executors who have every right ot sue them. Can you really see this happening? Could you imagine what the national press would do? I have also emailed you but check out what Celia Hammond (CHAT) offers.

I have read and been told in the past, that the RSPCA do not have the capacity to save all the pets and that they have tendency to put to sleep many of them - as compared to say the Cat Protection League. I have no idea if this is true and am just trying to find the best way to provide for my pets. I am weary of simply leaving money to my pets, as I think this would be contested by my stepchildren and other relatives.

This is such a worry for so many of us. I would love to find the ideal solution to this too.