emergency kit for cats keeping Kitty safe while her human is tended too by EMS personnel

Creating a Pet Emergency Kit: Essential Supplies for Cats

ByHolly Anne Dustin

Cat guardians love their furry companions and want to keep them safe at all times. However, emergencies can happen at any moment, leaving pets vulnerable to getting lost, coming to harm, or worse. That’s why it’s important to have a pet emergency kit for cats on hand in case of an unexpected disaster.

It’s important to have a specific emergency kit tailored to cats’ needs because they can become stressed or even sick during an emergency. With a well-stocked pet emergency kit for cats, cat guardians can ensure that their furry friends are well taken care of during a crisis.

Key Takeaways:

  • A pet emergency kit is essential for keeping cats safe during emergencies.
  • The kit should be tailored to a cat’s unique needs.
  • Proper preparation can help prevent stress and illness in cats during an emergency.

Why You Need a Pet Emergency Kit for Cats

Emergencies and disasters can happen at any time, and it’s important to be prepared to keep your furry friend safe. A pet emergency kit for cats is an essential tool that every cat guardian should have. 

We tend to think in terms of “seasons” (tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, etc…) you should ALWAYS have a disaster preparedness plan in place. A disaster can also include fires, chemical spills, accidents, and other unexpected catastrophic events like the train derailments that happened this year in Ohio or the tanker fire that destroyed the bridge in Philadelphia.

In the event of an emergency or disaster, you may need to evacuate your home quickly.  It’s important to have a plan in place that includes meeting your cat’s needs, such as food, water, shelter, and medical supplies. Having a grab-and-go bag for your kitty will help you evacuate promptly when you hear the alert to leave.

This kit should be easily accessible and kept in a designated location that is easy to remember. Check the contents regularly to make sure nothing is expired, damaged, or missing. 

Related Post: How to Evacuate with a Cat

Essential Supplies to Include in Your Pet Emergency Kit for Cats

Preparing an emergency kit for your feline friend is crucial in case of a disaster. Generally speaking, the recommendation is to prepare for 3-5 days without access to supplies. But you know the risks in your area. If you regularly get ice storms that strand you in your house with no power for days, prepare for that. If hurricane season prevents supplies from getting to you and Kitty, prepare for that. 

Have two kits, one larger kit if you are sheltering in place and one lightweight version for if you need to evacuate. 

Think first about the basics for survival, such as food, water, and medicines. Then add hygiene and comfort items.  Add things like a swamp-cooler style, personal AC and battery-operated fans, or a solar power pack and space heater to your larger, shelter-in-place, kit.

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Here are the essential items to include in your evacuation pet emergency kit for cats:

Food and Water

  • A week’s worth of water. I like these collapsible containers for storage but I have a large cat family. These smaller canteen styles might suit you better if you only have one or two furbabies.
  • Several days worth of canned or pouched food.
  • Dry food in an airtight, waterproof container.
  • Manual can opener if you have cans, scissors if you have pouches. Just in case you need help with opening the packaging. Fork or spoon to serve the food.
  • Food and water bowls. I like these collapsible models. We use them when we travel to shows but I have a set in my emergency bug-out bag too. Paper bowls are another option if you are going to have trouble cleaning the bowl.
  • Copy of Kitty’s feeding schedule. If you end up in a shelter or boarding facility, they will want to have this information.
blue Himalayan cat sitting beside a red pet emergency kit for cats with a teal stethoscope hooked through the handle of the bag

Medical Supplies

  • Any medicines or supplements your kitty takes.
  • Anti-anxiety preparations like Rescue Remedy or prescription medications if necessary
  • First Aid kit

Related Post: Need a Cat First Aid Kit? Click here to learn how to create a kit for your cat.

Hygiene and Sanitation

  • Portable or disposable litter box
  • Litter
  • Litter scoop
  • Poop bags for scooping box
  • Trash bags to dispose of collected waste
  • Spray cleaner in case of accidents
  • Hand sanitizer for you 
  • Pet wipes and paper towels

Shelter and Comfort

Paperwork, Identification, and Records

Keep all your paperwork secure in a waterproof bag.

  • Make sure your cat has identification in case you get separated. 
  • Pack a collar with identification tags, especially if Kitty isn’t microchipped.
  • Recent photo of your cat face front and sideways and with any unusual marking showing that you could use on a lost cat poster if necessary. Have printed copies, don’t count on your phone working. Have photos of you and Kitty together too, in case you need to prove ownership. 
  • A copy of your ownership paperwork if Kitty is registered with an organization like TICA or the Cat Fanciers Association.
  • A copy of your cat’s medical records, especially vaccination records. 
  • Contact information for your veterinarian.  
  • List of emergency contacts.

Other Items

Other items that would make an emergency easier for you or your kitty could include:

Creating a Pet Emergency Kit: Essential Supplies for Cats 1

With a well-stocked emergency kit, you can ensure Kitty’s safety and well-being during an emergency.

To make it easier to pack your cat’s essentials, consider creating a checklist of everything you need to include. This will ensure that you don’t forget anything important.

Preparing Your Cat for Emergencies

Cats are beloved members of the family, and it’s important to have a plan in place to ensure their safety during an emergency. 

Creating an Evacuation Plan

The first step in preparing for an emergency is to create an evacuation plan. This plan should include a list of boarding facilities, animal shelters, and hotels or motels that allow pets in case you need to evacuate your home. It’s also important to identify a backup caretaker who can take care of your cat in case you’re unable to do so.

Review your plan regularly and update it as necessary to ensure that it remains effective.

Staying Informed

Finally, it’s important to stay informed during an emergency. Keep an eye on local news and weather reports to stay up-to-date on any potential threats. You can also sign up for emergency alerts from your local government to receive real-time updates on any potential threats to your safety.

Summary

Having a pet emergency kit for cats is an essential step in ensuring the safety and well-being of your feline friend during an emergency. By following these tips you can create a comprehensive pet emergency kit for cats that includes all the necessary items your cat will need to survive in a crisis for at least a week.

Don’t wait until it’s too late – start preparing your cat’s emergency kit today!

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