94-year-old Italian woman with no living relatives leaves $15 million to stray cat

A 94-year-old Italian woman with no living relatives left her entire estate, which is around $15 million to a stray cat she found on the street.

Lawyers for Maria Assunta said their client adjusted her will in October 2009 after she found the cat, which she named Tommasino.

Since the cat obviously could not spend the money, the lawyers, Anna Orecchioni and Giacinto Canzona convinced  Assunta, before her death last month, to give her estate, which consists of homes and villas in Italy and several large bank accounts, to a “worthy animal association” since she had no next-of-kin.

Unable to find a worthy organization, Assunta told the lawyers about a former nurse, who like her had a love of animals and in particular cats.

The lawyers contacted the nurse named Stefania, who agreed to spend the millions on the cat and any other animal organizations that she sees fit.

Stefania said she never knew that the woman she had been taking care of had that much money.