Last updated on May 5th, 2021 at 11:46 am

Hand-picked Christmas presents, birthday gifts, occasional additional surprises and outdoor bathing reserved for a hot summer’s day – and that was before you got anywhere near the pan-fried meals and the insistence you had to share your bed with this pampered feline.

With lockdown causing a big increase in pet ownership, the situation has also brought about a spike in a lesser known area of the legal world – the pet letter of wishes.

The document – which is often described as a will for pets – lets the owner map out a care plan for the animal after they’ve gone; decides who will attend to their every whim and then provides them with the funds to pay for everything.

In the case of the pampered feline, it was a five figure sum to cover a list of demands stretching to two pages.

The case isn’t unusual Graysons is expecting more jaw-dropping demands if the rise in pet ownership continues.

Katie Birch, a private client advisor in our wills and probate department, said:

“We’re well versed in dealing with complicated wills but we’re now finding the pet letter of wishes is becoming more and more common. 

“Pets provide great companionship and it’s not surprising the number of people owning them has increased dramatically since the first lockdown. It’s only natural that you’d want to ensure they have a happy life after you’re gone.”

See the Derbyshire Times’ report on our story here.