Back in 2009, the world community was shocked by the news - an Italian cat named Tommasino inherited a fortune. Its late owner bequeathed 10 million euros to the pet.
Heir cats
In 2009, news appeared in Italian newspapers: Maria Asunta, an elderly childless woman, bequeathed all her fortune to her only close creature - a mongrel cat, whom she once picked up on the street. A cat named Tommasino inherited an inheritance valued at 10 million euros.
In history, such a case of leaving a legacy to a cat is not unique. In 1988, Blackie's cat inherited £ 9 million. A whole house was bequeathed to the five cats of British actress Beryl Reid.
Is it possible to make a cat heir
A person who wishes to leave a legacy to a furry pet will face legal obstacles. In most countries of the world, including Russia, you cannot directly leave a legacy to a cat. The fact is that the animal itself is also property, from a legal point of view, it is the same as a table or a wardrobe. In addition, the animals do not have the documents necessary for inheritance. Therefore, you cannot bequeath an inheritance to a cat.
But how did Tommasino and other cats inherit the inheritance? In fact, journalists hunting for sensations deliberately focused on the fact that animals inherited the inheritance. And they kept silent about the fact that legally the wills were issued to people close to the deceased. Caring for cats was only a prerequisite for entering the right to inherit.
How to issue a will to a cat in Russia
In the Russian Federation, a cat is an object of law, it can be bought or sold. A cat can be bequeathed by obliging the new owner to take care of the animal. In the Civil Code of the Russian Federation there is a special article "Testamentary investment". Guided by this article, the owner of the cat can bequeath his property to an individual or legal entity (for example, a veterinary clinic or a zoo), obliging the heir to maintain and care for the pet. A notary will help to draw up such a will. A bequest investment is now the only legal way to take care of your pet after death.
However, our legislation is imperfect.
There are closed wills. The notary receives such a will in a sealed envelope, and if the property is bequeathed in it directly to the cat, this clause is canceled as invalid, and the animal may well end up in the trash heap.
But even if the testamentary investment is made in accordance with all the rules, this still does not guarantee a cloudless life for the cat. Article 1139 states "the testator also has the right to impose on one or more heirs the obligation to maintain the domestic animals belonging to the testator, as well as to exercise the necessary supervision and care for them." The heirs can understand the phrase "necessary supervision and care" in their own way and decide that feeding and watering once a week will be enough to fulfill the obligations. In addition, the law does not provide for who will control such heirs, and there is no guarantee that the cat will not be on the street soon.
The only way out for a person who wants to ensure a decent existence for his pet is to take a responsible approach to the choice of a future heir. If there is no suitable candidate among friends and relatives, you can draw up a will for an animal welfare organization.
