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A Cat Named Dunder Inherited A Fortune And Then Disappeared

After their owner, a beloved pet became an heiress but was never able to enjoy the money that was left to them

Andrew Martin
2 min read6 days ago

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Many of us love our pets but it’s rare that in death we leave them with anything of financial significance in our wills. However, it does happen from time to time, including one cat named Dunder, who inherited a fortune when her owner committeed suicide. Unfortunately, before she could enjoy never-ending catnip and diamond encrusted scratching posts, she disappeared on the streets of New York forever.

In 1925, Dunder was a seven-year-old black cat belonging to Elizabeth Brehm, a noted lover of animals. Her owner had struggles that the beloved pet couldn’t cure, and that year she committed suicide by inhaling gas in her apartment.

When the body of Brehm was discovered, Dunder was laying next to her unconscious from the residual gas. Luckily, the building janitor was able to revive the feline and took her in to care for her while the sordid mess was sorted out — setting the kitty up in the basement of the apartment building.

Once Brehm’s will was read, it created a great shock that $4,000 (worth more than $70,000 in modern value) was left for the care of Dunder. The remaining amount of…

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Andrew Martin
Andrew Martin

Written by Andrew Martin

Dabbler in soccer, history, investing & writing. Master’s degree in baseball history. Passionate about history, diversity, culture, sports, film and investing .

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