Former Stray Cat Inherits €10M Fortune

Tommaso, a four-year old Italian cat, became a beneficiary of real property worth an estimated €10M after his 94-year old Italian owner, Maria Assunta of Rome, passed away. In a handwritten will dated Nov. 26, 2009, Tommaso’s mistress instructed her attorneys to identify “the animal welfare body or association to which to leave the inheritance and the task of looking after the cat Tommaso.”

Animals can not directly inherit under Italian law, but animals can be beneficiaries of a trust. Tommaso’s owner decided to entrust Tommaso and her fortune to her friend, Stefania. Stefania is now looking after Tommaso as his trustee.

See John Hooper, Italian Cat Inherits €10M Fortune, The Guardian, Dec. 9, 2011.

Special thanks to Neda Johansouz Garret, Mark Killingsworth (Attorney,Texas), Payson Lederman (Attorney, California), Cyndi Hernandez, Adam J. Hirsch, and Doug Edwards (Attorney, Houston, TX) for bringing this article to my attention.

For more information on planning for your pets, see Gerry W. Beyer & Barry Seltzer, Fat Cats & Lucky Dogs – How to Leave (Some of) Your Estate to Your Pets (2010).