A pet emergency kit should hold a 2-week supply of food, water and any medicines for each animal, copies of vet records and a recent photo, a leash, collar with ID tags, a carrier and basic first aid supplies. The CDC also suggests microchipping your pet and keeping the chip's registration up to date.
This list follows the CDC's guide to building a pet disaster preparedness kit. The CDC suggests asking your veterinarian to help you put it together.
Food, water and medicine
A 2-week supply of food for each animal, stored in waterproof containers
A 2-week supply of water for each animal
Non-spill food and water dishes
A manual can opener
Written feeding instructions for each animal
A 2-week supply of any medicines, with instructions
A 1-month supply of flea, tick and heartworm preventive
Gear
A leash, an ID collar and a harness
A pet carrier of the right size, with bedding, a blanket or a towel
Litter and a litterbox for cats
Toys
A pet first aid book and a first aid kit
Cleaning supplies for accidents, such as paper towels, plastic bags and disinfectant
Documents, in a waterproof container
Copies of vet records: rabies certificate, vaccination history, medical summary and prescriptions
The latest heartworm test result for dogs, or FeLV/FIV test result for cats
Copies of registration papers, such as proof of ownership or adoption records
A written description of each pet: breed, sex, color and weight
Recent photos of each pet
Microchip details: the chip number and the microchip company's name and phone number
Your contact information, plus phone numbers and addresses of family or friends you could stay with
Photos matter more than people expect. If you get separated, a clear picture helps shelters match your pet to you.
Pets should wear collars and tags with your current contact information.
The CDC recommends microchipping your pet. Always register the microchip with the manufacturer, and update your details if you move or change your phone number.
Write your pet's name, your name and your contact information on each carrier.
Keep a leash or carrier near the exit so you can grab it on the way out.
This is the step most people miss. The CDC notes that pets may not be allowed in local shelters unless they are service animals, and many evacuation centers, including some Red Cross centers, do not accept pets. Sort this out now:
Find shelters, or friends and relatives outside your area, that will take your pets.
Look up pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation routes.
Find boarding facilities or animal hospitals near your evacuation shelter.
Set up a buddy system with a trusted neighbor who can check on your animals and evacuate them if you can't get home.
Find a veterinarian near where you might stay, and add their details to your kit.
Ask your local emergency management office about arrangements for people with pets.
And one firm rule from the CDC: never leave a pet chained outdoors.
Make the carrier a comfortable place, and train your pet to go in and stay there.
Practice car rides in the kind of vehicle you would evacuate in. If you don't have a car, arrange rides with neighbors, family or friends.
Learn where your pet hides when scared, and practice catching it. For cats, practice getting them out of hiding with a carrier, pillowcase or sturdy box.
Have the whole family practice, so everyone knows what to take, where the pets are and where to meet.
If you're told to stay home, the CDC suggests a pet-friendly safe room, ideally an interior room with few or no windows. Remove toxic chemicals and plants from the room. Close off small spaces where a frightened cat could get stuck, such as vents or the space under heavy furniture.
Check your home for sharp objects, spilled chemicals and exposed wiring before letting pets roam.
Watch for changes in your pet's behavior, and call your vet if you notice stress, discomfort or illness.
Keep pets out of standing water, especially after flooding, and don't let them drink water that may be contaminated. Wash your hands after handling pets, their food or their waste.
Watch out for snakes, wildlife and downed power lines.
Injured pets may bite or scratch. Move slowly, keep your face away from their mouth, and get them to a vet as soon as you safely can. The CDC says pet first aid is never a substitute for veterinary care.
If a pet bites someone, report the wound to medical staff right away. If any person is badly hurt or in danger, call 911.
If your pet goes missing, make sure your family is safe first. Then call your microchip company, contact local shelters, animal control and humane societies, and post flyers once it's safe.
This is an example layout, not an official form. Print one per pet and keep it with the documents in your kit.
Pet name, species and breed:
Sex, color, weight and any markings:
Microchip number and company phone:
Vet name and phone:
Medicines, with instructions:
Feeding instructions:
Owner name and phone:
Backup contact (friend or relative outside the area):
The CDC suggests a 2-week supply of food and a 2-week supply of water for each animal, plus 2 weeks of any medicines.
Not always. Many evacuation centers don't accept pets unless they are service animals. Plan pet-friendly options ahead of time and ask your local emergency management office.
Everything in the main list, plus litter, a litterbox and a carrier your cat is used to. Include the latest FeLV/FIV test result with the vet records.
Family Ready: Emergency Plan is a free iPhone app, with optional paid upgrades, that includes a pets section in its household plan. Its editable emergency kit checklist is based on Ready.gov and Get Prepared guidance and has an optional section for pets. You can also make a free, dated Emergency Snapshot PDF of your plan.
Get Family Ready free on the App Store