This story at a glance…

1. Some people are leaving their fortunes to pets, using pet trusts to ensure their furry friends live in luxury.  

2. Pets can't inherit directly, but owners can set up guardians or trusts to manage their care.  

3. High-profile cases, like Karl Lagerfeld’s cat, show that pet inheritances can be a mixed bag.  

4. Experts suggest separate trustees or animal charities to avoid misusing funds meant for your beloved pet. 

Your Pet Can Become a Millionaire. Fur Real! 

Move over, kids, there’s a new heir in town, and it’s probably licking itself right now. That’s right, it turns out that some people really are leaving their fortunes to their pets! From pampered pooches to cats that live in the lap of luxury (literally), furry companions are finding themselves with estates worth more than some small countries.

Take fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld, who left a generous chunk of his fortune to his blue-eyed feline, Choupette. “I never thought I would fall in love like this with a cat,” Lagerfeld once said, and he put his money where his whiskers were. But Choupette isn’t the only pet living the high life; more and more people are rewriting their wills to include their non-human best friends. In fact, every state in the U.S. now has laws allowing some form of pet trust, proving that Fluffy’s future is no laughing matter.

Trust Issues: Can Your Dog Be a Millionaire?
Now, let’s get one thing straight: Your pet can’t technically inherit your money. Despite what Fluffy might tell you, she's still classified as "property" under U.S. law. (Sorry, Fluffy. It’s not you; it’s the legal system.) But there’s a workaround! You can appoint a guardian for your pet and leave money to them with a little sticky note saying, “Please use this to spoil Mr. Mittens rotten!”

However, here’s where things get hairier than a cat on a velvet couch. If your chosen guardian decides they’d rather spend the money on a new Tesla than on tennis balls and tuna, there’s not much to stop them. Unless, of course, you set up a legally binding trust—a fancy way of saying, “No funny business with Fluffy’s funds!”

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, widow of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, set a gold standard by establishing a $4 million trust for her dogs, complete with an extra million-dollar fund to pay an employee to care for them. We can only assume these were the most pampered pooches in the galaxy!

When Pet Trusts Go to the Dogs
But don’t be fooled, just because you’ve arranged for your pet’s care doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing. Take the cautionary tail (pun fully intended) of Leona Helmsley, the hotel heiress who left $12 million to her Maltese, Trouble. A judge later reduced Trouble’s windfall to $2 million, which, while still a lot of bones, was a big cut from the original plan.

And it’s not just American pets rolling in the dough. An elderly woman in Shanghai recently made headlines when she announced that her $2.8 million estate would go to her cats and dogs instead of her children. Moral of the story? Visit your mom more often, or she might leave her mansion to Mr. Snuffles and his whiskered companions.

Alternative Ways to Paw-tect Your Pet
To avoid any unexpected “surprises” from beyond the grave, experts recommend putting a trustee in charge of the pet trust—someone who isn’t also the pet’s caretaker. This two-person strategy helps ensure that your precious pet gets their due, rather than financing someone’s unexpected vacation to the Bahamas.

If that sounds too complicated, there’s always the option to partner with an animal protection group. For a donation (starting at $10,000), these organizations will provide care for your pet and try to find them a new “forever home.” Because no one wants Fido to spend his golden years in a shelter when he could be lounging in a loving home, nibbling on gourmet treats.

Reflection
How might we spin this to have a deeper, heavenly meaning you may ask? Watch this! Leaving an estate to a pet might seem whimsical, but it touches on a deeper truth: our call to care for all of God’s creatures. Proverbs 12:10 says, “The righteous care for the needs of their animals,” reminding us that love and stewardship aren’t just for people, but for all of creation. While we may not endorse leaving all your wealth to your cats (shoutout to an underrated Disney movie: The Aristocats), caring for our animals is important, since God made us a steward over all creation. By caring for animals, we reflect God's care for us—a love that watches over every sparrow, lamb, and yes, even our lovable Labradors. How was that?