Keep Kitty Safe: Disaster Planning for Your Cat

Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by Holly Anne Dustin

Disaster planning for your cat should be a part of your family emergency plan. No matter where you live there is some sort of natural disaster that could mean packing up your cats and either bugging out or sheltering in place.  Hopefully, you have a disaster kit ready for your family.  Now add one for your cat.

Updated 8/30/19

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Prepare Your Cat’s Emergency Kit

Packing a backpack or carrier with your cat’s needed items is the best way to make sure you have what your cat needs. But you can purchase a commercial kit like this one for a starting point and add to it. I like this kit because it is pretty complete. You’ll need to add food, water, and your kitty’s comfort items.

• Pack at least few days of food and bottled water.  If you are a raw feeder, pack up some freeze-dried food.  If you feed canned, make sure you have a manual can opener in case your pop top fails. Buy single serve cans, you are not likely to have access to refrigeration.
• Base the amount of food and water you pack on the risk in your area.  Your risk of being unable to get more supplies if you are in an earthquake zone is probably a lot worse than the blizzards I’m likely to face.  FEMA, the ASPCA, and the Red Cross’s recommendations for disaster planning suggest having anywhere from 3 days to two weeks worth of supplies.  Be sure to include enough water for drinking and cleaning.
• Add 2 weeks worth of any medications your cat will need and your first aid kit.  Also include a copy of your veterinarian’s contact information and a copy of your kitty’s medical records, especially her vaccination records. These will be critical if you have to board her at any point.
• Bring litter, a litter box, scoop, bags for waste disposal, and a small container of soap and bleach.  Disposable litter boxes or a collapsible box are good options.  Even a disposable roasting pan and sand can work in a pinch.
• Identify your cat.  Make sure your registration information is up-to-date if you microchipped your cat. Bring a collar with an ID tag, a harness, and leash.  Keep any license or proof of ownership on you. Add a recent clear photo of your cat to your disaster planning kit.  Should you get separated it will make it easier to be reunited.
• In addition to her regular carrier, bring a folding crate or tent style shelter that will give kitty room to move about and have room for a litter box and food and water bowls.  This will keep her safe and confined in any temporary space you might take shelter in.  Label both carrier and shelter with your name and contact information and your kitty’s name.
• It will help your kitty be less stressed if you can include a bed, blanket, shirt or favored toy that will smell like home.  A small cardboard scratcher can also help if you have room.
• Rescue Remedy can help keep Kitty calm. Spraying her carrier or bedding with Feliway Spray can help too.
• If your cats are pedigreed protect your registration paperwork and pedigrees safe in a water/fireproof container or take them with you.

Prepare to Shelter in Place

If you have enough warning of a weather event that you feel sure you can ride out at home then you can prepare to shelter in place.   Around here that seems to mean the obligatory run to the grocery store for milk and bread before the snow storm arrives.

• Ideally, you want food and water supplies to last for the duration of the expected event.  Your bug out bag can be your backup plan if you stay at home.  Be sure you have food that you can prepare without power.  Of course, you might have a grill or camp stove to use if you can light it safely.
• Be sure you have flashlights and lanterns with good batteries.  Avoid candles with cats.
• Do your laundry ahead of the event if you have warning.  You won’t have to worry about clothes.  Then fill the washer with clear water you can use for hygiene or cleaning if you lose power.
• Move anything in your yard that could become airborne in a storm.  Reinforce your windows if necessary.
• Charge all your devices.
• Gas your car and pack your emergency bag in case you have to leave.
• Bring your pets inside well before the storm.
• Gather in an interior space or basement without areas the cats can easily hide.  Keep their carriers with you. Hopefully, Kitty has been trained not to fear her carrier.  Try to keep it as stress-free as possible.
• See what your vet’s disaster plan is.  Know where you can go for medical help if necessary.
• Move feral cat shelters to higher ground and turn their entrances away from any storm surge or area that is likely to flood.  Leave them extra food in case you can’t get back to them for a few days. Don’t try to confine feral cats. Get pictures of your community cats if you can. It will help if you have to claim them at a shelter later.

Prepare your Evacuation Plan

• Make an evacuation plan for your cats.
• Prepare your house to withstand the storm as well as possible.
• Do not leave your cats at home if you evacuate.  If it isn’t safe for you then it isn’t safe for your kitty! Even if the authorities say you’ll be back in plenty of time, don’t do it. Take the cats.
• The most important part of disaster planning for kitty is to know where you will be going.  Have contacts for pet-friendly hotels in the area you will be heading.   Get a reservation if you can.  Have a list of vets or boarding facilities that could care for your kitty if you can’t find a place to stay with them.  Shelters or rescues might be options for a foster situation if necessary.  If you are registered with an association there might be a breeders’ assistance program that could help you find a place to shelter with your kitty.  Some areas have rules that require emergency shelters to accept pets along with people.  Check with your local emergency management to see if shelters in your area accept pets.
• Make an agreement with your neighbors, landlord or friends to care for each other’s pets in case an emergency happens while you are not at home.  Make sure the people have access to a key to your place and know where your cats like to hide, what they eat and where to find it.
• Contact the ASPCA or perhaps your local fire department or emergency management agency for a rescue alert sticker.  Label it with the numbers of pets you have in the home.  If you leave, write “evacuated” on the sticker so first responders don’t waste time looking for a pet that has gone out with you.

Click here for more cat safety tips

Complete Your Disaster Planning for Your Cat After the Fact

When you arrive home, be sure that there is no damage at “paw level” including things like debris, chemicals, toxic plants.  Keep Kitty out of any stagnant water.

Be aware that cats might act out from stress, either becoming aggressive or hiding away.  If their scent markers have been disturbed they will feel disoriented even though coming home.  Give them the time they need to readjust.  Take the time to reset your emergency supplies, refill your kit with food, water, and litter supplies that you used during your emergency.  Put the cage and carriers back where you can grab them easily the next time you need them.

Check on your ferals or community cats. Don’t panic if you don’t see them for a couple days. They might hide for a few days.  Go in person to the local animal shelter to try to locate any missing cats.

The ASPCA has a guide for disaster planning here.