Cat-loving Chinese man, 82, plans to leave feline his inheritance, seeks dependable carer

A cat-loving elderly man in China wants to leave his inheritance to strangers on the condition that they provide unconditional care for his beloved feline.

The wish of the 82-year-old, surnamed Long, from southern China’s Guangdong province has sparked a heated discussion on mainland social media.

Long is still searching for someone to look after his pet, Xianba, after he dies.

Mainland media outlets report that Long has no children and lived alone after his wife died a decade ago. He adopted four stray cats on a rainy day: Xianba and her three kittens.

Only Xianba remains with him, prompting Long to begin looking for carers in case he dies before her.

According to Guangdong Radio and Television, Long said he was willing to give all his inheritance, including his flat and savings, to anyone who is willing to “take good care” of his cat.

(82-year-old Long loves his cat, Xianba, and wants it to have the best life it can after he dies. Photo: Shutterstock)

However, so far, he has not found the right person. Many people online have expressed disbelief about the situation.

"If no one is willing to take the offer, it is either because they do not truly love cats or the old man's conditions are too strict," one person said.

The terms of the cat-caring contract have not been revealed.

"The old man might be willing to give away his property, but the person who accepts the offer might face lawsuits from the man's relatives who might claim they have the right to inherit it," another online observer said.

China's Civil Code, which took effect in 2021, allows people to make a will to gift their inheritance to the country, an institution or an individual.

Others online expressed a willingness to adopt Long's cat without taking his money.

"I would like to adopt the cat, and I do not need his money," one person said. "I am willing to adopt it," said another, adding that she understood Long's wish.

(Online observers have warned elderly Long to be wary of potential animal abusers during his search for a suitable carer. Photo: Shutterstock)

"I also once considered the same question. I do not know anyone who I can trust with my cat, so the best way is to give money to the adopter because I do not want my cat to be their burden," she said.

Some people also warned that bad people might adopt the cat to abuse her. Many such cases have been exposed online.

At present, China does not have a law that prohibits the mistreatment of pets. The country's pet market has boomed in recent years.

According to the 2025 China Pet Industry White Paper, the number of dogs and cats in China reached 124 million last year, a 2.1 per cent increase on 2023.

The size of the dog and cat consumer market also grew by 7.5 per cent to 300 billion yuan (US$42 billion) last year.

Ref: Cat-loving Chinese man, 82, plans to leave feline his inheritance, seeks dependable carer Photo Credit-Shutterstock