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Article: Emergency Prep Tips: Keeping Your Cat Safe in Case of a Disaster

Emergency Prep Tips: Keeping Your Cat Safe in Case of a Disaster

From floods to hurricanes and house fires, you never know when disaster might strike—which is why it’s good to always be prepared. If you have a little fur baby to take care of, you’ll want to make sure they’re prepared too.

Keeping your kitty safe in case of an emergency doesn’t have to be hard or scary. In fact, with a little preparation, it can be easy. Here’s how to prep your cat for an emergency.

Pre-pack an emergency kit

When disaster strikes, you probably won’t have time to leisurely pack, and you may not be thinking too clearly. That’s why it’s important to have a pre-packed disaster-ready bag filled with all the essentials.

Here’s what to pack in your kitty’s emergency bag:

 

In addition to any prescription meds your cat takes, you may also want to pack something like dramamine (for motion sickness) or gabapentin (for pain and anxiety relief). To be safe, ask your veterinarian which medications they recommend for your kitty.

You may also want to pack a disaster bag for yourself, which could include things like:
  • Snacks (granola bars or energy bars work great)
  • Water
  • Prescription medications
  • Ibuprofen
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • N95 masks
  • Phone charger and charging cable
  • Kleenex
  • Feminine hygiene items
  • Pen and paper

 

Bring a carrier—and train your kitty to use it

When the fire alarm went off in Michele’s building, her kitty Willow Grace was unfazed: Michele simply scooped her up in the cat backpack Willow Grace already knew and loved. Willow Grace handled the emergency so well, she even made friends with the other evacuees!

As Michele’s story shows, having a good cat carrier—and training your fur baby to feel comfortable in it—will make things much easier for both you and your kitty in the event of an emergency.

Here’s a short guide to carrier-training your cat:

1. Choose a good (backpack) carrier
In an emergency, a cat backpack is the best option, since it allows you to have both hands free. You may also want to pack a collapsible crate-type carrier like “The Boop Coop” or “The Feline Fun House” in case you need to stay overnight in a new space.
Having a safe, familiar space to retreat to can help your cat feel comfortable in any situation. Get them used to the new carrier by leaving it open and putting your cat’s favorite treats or toys inside. Let your cat explore it on their own.
3. Take your cat for short, happy adventures
When your cat is ready after you’ve spent time with them using a harness and backpack inside, take them on short walks or road trips using the carrier. These should be fun excursions, like a walk to the park or a trip to a nearby friend’s house. As your cat gets more comfortable with their carrier, you can work up to longer trips.

You can find more backpack and carrier training tips here.

Train your cat to use a harness

With a harness and leash, your cat can explore and stretch their legs safely. It’s also a good way to keep them from running off if they get scared. In an emergency situation where every second counts, you may only have a few seconds to get your cat into a harness—which means you should start training them now.

Training your kitty to use a harness is a lot like training them to use a backpack; it’s all about helping them feel safe and comfortable. Here are some tips:

1. Let your cat warm up to the harness
Start when your fur baby is in a good mood. Just put the harness out and let them sniff it. When they do, reward them with treats and petting. You may want to leave the harness out for a few days, especially if your cat seems hesitant to approach it. You can also try putting treats directly on the harness.
2. Use the harness around them, not on them
Once you can pick up the harness without your cat noticing, try picking it up and showing it to them. Try buckling and unbuckling it, tightening it, attaching the leash, etc., but don’t put it on your cat just yet. First, they need to get used to its sounds and smells.
3. Try putting the harness on them indoors
You may want to do this right before mealtime so you can reward your cat with their favorite food afterward. Just put the harness on and let them walk around. Make sure the harness is snug but not too tight; you want your cat to be comfortable. Do this for a few days, leaving the harness on for a bit longer each time.
4. Try attaching a leash
Once your cat seems comfortable with the harness, try attaching the leash and walking them around indoors. Keep the leash loose, and let go if your cat pulls it too tight. After you’ve done this a few days in a row, you can try taking your fur baby outside. Start with a short trip and gradually work up to longer adventures.

Get more harness and leash training tips here.

Other emergency prep tips

Here are some more tips to prepare for an emergency:
  • Know where your cat likes to hide so you can find them in a hurry
  • Leave your backpack and carriers out all the time so your cat uses them as beds (if you’re lucky, they may be using them when you need to leave - for the vet, or an emergency)
  • Microchip your cat, and make sure your contact info is up-to-date
  • Map out evacuation routes and, if possible, practice traveling them with your cat
  • Find out which shelters and hotels allow not just pets, but cats, specifically (for emergencies, pet friendly hotels should be fine)
  • Make a plan with your neighbors or friends to check on your cat if you’re unavailable
  • Put up a sign (or sticker) indicating that you have cats, in case they need to be rescued


If an emergency does happen, you’ll have a lot of things on your mind: one of which will be ensuring your cat’s safety. If you’ve prepared ahead of time by packing the essentials, doing your research, and training your kitty to use their cat backpack, that’s one less thing to worry about.

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