As a pet parent, do you ever worry about what you would do in a natural disaster or emergency? It’s not something anyone likes to think about, but in such uncertain times, we should all be prepared, just in case.
Having a plan in place for extreme situations can be a literal lifesaver. To make things easier, we’ve made a checklist of all the essential supplies your cat will need for homestays & emergency travel, with top tips on safety, recovery, and more. We’ve also condensed our guide into a printable Disaster Preparedness for Cats Checklist PDF for practical use. Let’s get into it.
Jump To
- Types of Emergencies
- Essential Supplies Checklist
- Extra Tips For Home Stays
- Emergency Travel
- What to do if You Lose Your Cat in an Emergency
- Post-Disaster Safety & Emergency Recovery
PS– If you’re a dog owner, check out our guide to Disaster Preparedness for Dogs over on our sister site, TechnoBark.
Types of Emergencies
Personal emergencies like illness aside, the types of emergencies we can all prepare for can be divided into two categories; natural disasters, like hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and other extreme weather, and human-related emergencies, such as civil unrest, long-term power outages, and pandemics.
As we have seen in recent years, nothing is impossible, and certain places are more at risk than others. While different situations can call for different actions, having a core plan in place with all of the basics covered is essential, and should take away some of the stress you and your cat experience.
Essential Supplies for Cats
The COVID pandemic taught us all that having the right supplies in times of crisis is crucial. Here is our essential supplies checklist for cats with everything you need to get through an emergency.
Food & water
The most essential supplies of all are food and water; canned food is great in an emergency, as it’s long-lasting, doesn’t require refrigeration, and has a high water content for hydration.
Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are also good choices for maximum nutrition – and with proper storage, they can last for many years so you don’t need to replenish your supplies as often. Plus, they’re lightweight and can be more nutritious.
Obviously, dry cat food is also a practical option, as it’s easy to store, lightweight, and can be kept for extended periods if properly sealed, making it a convenient backup supply.
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Dry Cat Food
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Canned Cat Food
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Freeze-Dried Food
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If your cat needs specific food for special dietary requirements like allergies or medical conditions, it’s important to stock up on those & keep emergency supplies.
Bottled water is the best way to ensure access to clean water in an emergency, and water filters or purifying tablets are something to consider in case of dirty tap water.
Automatic feeders and water fountains with backup batteries are also a good investment in case of separation, like being unable to get home in extreme weather. We recommend stocking up on food & water in bulk and storing them in a clean, dry, secure place, rotating the supply every 6-12 months.
Litter & hygiene
It’s also essential to have extra bags of litter, disposable trays, and waste bags to keep your cat & home clean during extended stays indoors. If you have an automatic litter box, make sure you’re familiar with manual scooping and cleaning to keep things hygienic. Poops should be scooped daily, and litter should be changed every week or every couple of weeks, depending on the litter type, so check the instructions that come with your cat’s litter!
Stop scooping cat litter, neutralize litter box odors, and give kitty a clean bed of litter every time with Litter-Robot 4. Elegantly designed to maximize comfort for cats of all sizes, Litter-Robot 4 features advanced litter-sifting technology, reduced litter tracking, and real-time monitoring of waste and litter levels, plus tracks your cat’s weight with SmartScale® in the Whisker app.
Comfort & stress relief
Whether you’re stuck at home or evacuated into a new environment, we recommend setting up a safe, quiet area for your cat to relax. Familiar blankets and favorite toys can help to keep them calm and occupy their minds in scary situations or strange environments, and calming supplements like CBD oil as well as sprays and diffusers like Feliway can relieve fear & anxiety.
First aid & health
A good first aid kit is absolutely crucial! First aid kits for pets should include basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, scissors, and thermometers, as well as any medications your cat needs. It’s best to buy a pre-made first aid kit for cats online and then add any specifics they need.
Safety & security
In times of disaster or emergency, it’s easy for pets to get lost due to panic, fear, and dangerous conditions. All pets should be microchipped and wear a collar with an ID tag anyway, but in an emergency, it could literally save their lives.
Your cat’s ID tag should have all of your necessary up-to-date information on it, including your contact number and address, as well as any urgent information, like serious health conditions or medication needs. In the event of lost tags, you should write your info on your cat’s collar using a marker until you get a new one.
Smart-tech security measures you can consider include GPS trackers like Tractive, and lost pet services like FidoAlert. For more security at home, you can also consider invisible pet fences and interactive pet cameras, just in case you encounter an emergency while you’re away.
Extra Tips for Extended Home Stays
In case of power outages, consider having a supply of extra batteries or alternative power sources, like generators or solar panels for essential devices.
Use the media and social media to monitor local alerts and keep updated on any emergencies, and create connections with neighbors to make sure you have someone who can help you care for your cat if you’re not there.
Emergency Travel
In case of emergency travel or evacuation, you should keep a supply of stuff you need for the journey, such as car seat covers and portable cat carriers, plus travel bags filled with essential supplies for your stay such as food, water, litter, comfort items, a first aid kit, and portable versions of home essentials, like disposable litter boxes and collapsible food & water bowls.
We like this grab-and-go Pet Evac Pak Cat Emergency Backpack Kit – it has it all the necessary supplies for up to 72 hours! If your cat has any other specific needs, like a coat that mats easily, you should pack a brush, too.
You should also keep copies of your cat’s medical records, vaccination history, and microchip details in a waterproof folder, and backed up digitally. Be sure to research nearby shelters, hotels, and facilities that allow pets and test your plan to ensure it runs smoothly.
What to do if You Lose Your Cat in an Emergency
If you lose your cat during a disaster or emergency, reach out to local shelters and veterinarians for further help and use social media to spread the word. You can also put up posters in your local area and look for your cat with friends and family if it’s safe to do so. Make sure you pass on all of the relevant information about your cat, such as their physical description, the sorts of places they like to hang out, and how to approach them if found, with clear photos to show what they look like.
We highly suggest signing up for Tabby Alert if you haven’t already done so. TabbyAlert is a free nationwide network designed to help reunite lost cats with their owners by connecting you with thousands of local Cat Finders in your area, ensuring your feline friend returns home safe and sound. You can claim your free Tabby Alert ID here.
Post-Disaster Safety & Recovering From Emergencies
When the emergency is over, check your cat for signs of injury and watch for behavioral changes that can indicate trauma, such as avoidance or aggression. We highly recommend taking your cat to be checked over by a vet after a dangerous or high-stress event has taken place, even if nothing appears to be wrong. Exposure to intense stress and foreign substances can have serious effects on cats, and minor injuries can turn into more serious ones if they aren’t treated properly.
Once you and your cat are back home, give them some TLC with lots of love and affection and all of their favorite things. Cats thrive on consistency, so the best way to help them recover is by getting back into a normal daily routine as soon as possible. Calming products like herbal supplements & plug-in diffusers will also help.
If your cat develops anxiety after the emergency or a phobia around something they associate with the experience, take things slowly and try some positive association training if you can’t eliminate the source of the fear. Don’t be afraid to ask a vet or trainer for more help!
Final Thoughts on Disaster Preparedness for Cats
This disaster preparedness guide for cats should help you to do your best if the worst happens. We hope you won’t have to use it, but it’s best to be prepared, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t forget to downloadable the printable Disaster Preparedness for Cats Checklist PDF guide. Thank you for trusting us to help you keep your cat safe!
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