Pet Emergency Kit Checklist: What Dogs and Cats Need
Updated: 2 days ago
When a wildfire, flood or hurricane order says "leave now," you get minutes, not hours. That is the worst time to hunt for a cat hiding under the bed or to remember that the dog's pills are in the kitchen drawer. A pet emergency kit fixes that. It puts your animal's food, water, medicine, ID and carrier in one place, near the door, ready to grab. This checklist covers what to pack for dogs and cats, how much food and water to plan for, the records that help you get your pet back if you're separated, and the drills that make an evacuation calmer for everyone.
Why Your Pet Needs Its Own Emergency Kit
Ready.gov puts it simply: if local officials ask you to evacuate, your pet should evacuate too. Pets left behind may end up lost, injured or worse. The CDC adds that leaving pets out of evacuation plans can put pets, owners and first responders in danger, and that pets left behind are likely to be injured or lost even if you try to create a safe place for them.
There is also a practical problem. The CDC notes that many disaster evacuation centers, including Red Cross centers, do not accept pets other than service animals. So you need two things: a kit your pet can live out of for several days, and a plan for where the two of you will actually sleep.
Your own family kit doesn't cover this. Pet food, medicine, litter, a leash and a carrier are bulky, and they are exactly what gets forgotten in a rush. Give your pet its own bag.
How Many Days to Plan For
Different groups give slightly different numbers, so here is what each says:
Ready.gov: keep several days' supply of food and water, and build two kits: a larger one for sheltering in place and a lighter one for evacuating.
ASPCA: its Pet Disaster Kit checklist calls for a 7-10 day supply of food and water for each animal, a 10-day supply of any medications, and a 1-month supply of flea, tick and heartworm preventative.
A practical way to use both: pack a go-bag with at least 3 days of food and water that one person can carry, and keep the rest of the 7-10 day supply at home in a bin next to it. If you drive out, throw the bin in the car too.
The Pet Emergency Kit Checklist
Print this list, check off what you have, and tape it to the inside of the bin.
Food and water
Food in an airtight, waterproof container. Use your pet's normal food so a stressed stomach isn't also dealing with a diet change. The ASPCA suggests rotating stored pet food every two months.
Pull-top cans, or a manual can opener if you pack canned food. Skip anything that needs refrigeration.
Water for each animal, stored in a cool, dark place. See the water math below.
Non-spill food and water bowls. Collapsible bowls save space in a go-bag.
Feeding instructions written on a card, in case a friend, shelter or boarding facility has to feed your pet.
Medicine and first aid
A 10-day supply of any prescription medicine in a waterproof container, plus written dosing instructions.
Flea, tick and heartworm preventative. The CDC warns that pests from stray animals can be a problem right after a disaster.
A pet first aid kit and guide book. Ready.gov and the ASPCA both say to ask your veterinarian what belongs in it for your pet. Many basic wound-care items (gauze, tape, bandages) overlap with a human kit, so a sealed kit like the Rothco General Purpose First Aid Kit can cover the household basics while you add pet-specific items your vet recommends.
ID and records
Collar with an ID tag, plus a backup collar, leash and tag. The ASPCA recommends packing a harness too, for safety and security.
Microchip number and the name and phone number of the microchip company. The CDC calls microchipping one of the best ways to be reunited after a separation, but only if the chip is registered and your contact information is current.
Copies of vet records: rabies certificate, other vaccinations, medical history and prescriptions. The ASPCA list also includes proof of ownership or adoption records.
A recent photo of you with your pet. Ready.gov recommends it because it helps prove ownership and helps others identify your pet. Keep one printed and one on your phone.
Your vet's contact information and the number for a vet or animal hospital near the place you would evacuate to.
Put the paper copies in a zip-top bag or other waterproof container, and save photos of them on your phone or a USB drive.
Carrier, leash and comfort
A sturdy carrier or crate, ideally one per pet. Write your pet's name, your name and your phone numbers on it, as the CDC recommends.
Bedding, a towel or a blanket. It makes the carrier smell like home and helps in a cold car.
Favorite toys or treats. Familiar items help reduce stress.
For cats: a pillowcase. The ASPCA lists one for cats, and the CDC mentions it as a quick way to get a panicked cat out of a hiding spot.
Sanitation and cleanup
Litter and a small litter box for cats. The ASPCA suggests disposable aluminum roasting pans as cheap litter trays.
Poop bags, paper towels and plastic trash bags.
Dish soap and a disinfectant. Ready.gov also lists household chlorine bleach for sanitation.
Grooming basics in case your pet needs cleaning up after smoke, mud or floodwater.
Light and gear for you
You will likely be walking a dog or checking a carrier in the dark. A hands-free light like the Rothco Cree LED Headlamp keeps both hands free for a leash and a carrier. Add spare batteries.
How Much Water Does a Pet Need?
This is the item most people underpack.
For dogs, a common rule of thumb from the American Kennel Club is about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day for adult dogs. Puppies drink more, and hot weather and active days raise the number too. Here is the math for one adult dog using that rule:
25-pound dog: about 25 ounces a day, or about 1.4 gallons for 7 days.
50-pound dog: about 50 ounces a day, or about 2.7 gallons for 7 days.
80-pound dog: about 80 ounces a day, or about 4.4 gallons for 7 days.
Cats drink less than dogs, and cats on wet food get some water from their food, so ask your vet for a number for your cat. Either way, round up. Water also cleans bowls, paws and wounds.
Store pet water the same way you store your own. A folding container like a 5-gallon collapsible water carrier packs flat in a go-bin and has a spigot for filling bowls. Fill it before a forecast storm, or carry it out if you have to leave. Our guide on how much water to store for a family emergency walks through the human side of the math, so you can add your pet's gallons to the total.
One more water rule from the CDC: don't let pets drink or play in floodwater or stagnant water. It can carry leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that can spread from pets to people.
Pack the Kit for a Grab-and-Go Evacuation
The go-bag has to be light enough to carry while you are also holding a leash or a carrier. A few tips:
Use a backpack, not a tote. Two shoulder straps leave your hands free. Our guide to choosing a bug out bag backpack covers size and fit.
Keep it by the exit with the leash and carrier. The ASPCA recommends storing the kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible and making sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
Label it clearly with your pet's name, so a neighbor on your buddy list can grab the right bag.
Rotate food, water and medicine on a schedule. The ASPCA suggests every two months for food and water. Set a phone reminder.
If you'd rather start with a ready-made cat bag and add your cat's own food and medicine, our Catastrophe Commander: Deluxe Cat Survival Kit comes in a backpack. The listing's typical contents include emergency drinking water pouches, cat-specific emergency food, a first aid kit, an emergency blanket, a collapsible food and water bowl, a collar, toys, a flashlight or headlamp option and a notepad for vet contact, medication, allergy and microchip details. Check the listing for the current contents, then add your cat's prescriptions, records and a carrier. Dog owners can start with our Deluxe Dog Survival Kit, a ready-made emergency go-bag, then use the checklist above to add what's unique to your dog: medications, vet records, a recent photo, and enough food and water for your dog's size.
Make a Pet Evacuation Plan
A kit only works if you can get your pet and get out. Both Ready.gov and the CDC stress planning ahead.
Know where you'll go
Many public shelters and hotels don't allow pets. Before an emergency, make a short list of:
Friends or relatives outside your area who would take you and your pet.
Pet-friendly hotels along your likely evacuation routes.
Boarding facilities and animal hospitals near where you might stay.
Your local emergency management office or animal shelter, which can tell you whether any local shelters accept pets.
The CDC also lists RedRover, which shelters and cares for animals displaced by disasters in the United States and Canada, at (800) 440-3277.
Set up a buddy system
You might be at work when an evacuation order comes. Ready.gov recommends asking a neighbor, friend or relative to check on or evacuate your pets if you can't get home. Give them a key, show them where the kit and carrier are, and tell them where your pets hide.
Practice with the carrier
Ready.gov's tips for a calmer evacuation:
Leave the carrier out where your pet spends time, with the door open.
Feed treats near it, then inside it.
Put a familiar blanket or small bed inside so it smells like home.
Take short car rides in the carrier.
Note where your pet hides when scared, so you can find it fast.
For cats, the CDC suggests practicing getting your cat out of its hiding spot with a carrier, a pillowcase or a sturdy box.
Mark your home
The ASPCA offers a free rescue alert sticker for a door or window that tells rescue workers how many and what kinds of pets are inside, along with your vet's name and number. If you evacuate with your pets and have time, the ASPCA says to write "EVACUATED" across it.
Sheltering in Place With Pets
Sometimes the order is to stay put. The CDC recommends choosing an interior room with few or no windows, removing toxic chemicals and plants, and closing off vents or gaps under heavy furniture where a frightened cat could get stuck. Bring pets inside at the first sign of a storm. Keep cats in carriers and dogs leashed if the house is noisy or damaged, since a scared animal can bolt.
After the Emergency
Familiar smells and landmarks can change after a disaster, and pets can get confused and lost. The CDC advises:
Keep pets leashed or in a carrier when you go outside or travel.
Check your home for sharp debris, spilled chemicals and exposed wiring before you let pets roam.
Watch for behavior changes. Quiet animals can become irritable after a flood or storm.
Handle injured pets carefully. Even the gentlest pet can bite or scratch when hurt. Move slowly and keep your face away from its mouth.
If your pet goes missing, call your microchip company, update your contact details, and check with your local humane society, animal control and county or state animal response team.
Call your vet or an emergency animal hospital right away if your pet has trouble breathing, heavy bleeding, a seizure, signs of heatstroke, or may have eaten something toxic. For a suspected poisoning you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, available 24/7 (a consultation fee may apply). If a person is hurt or in danger, call 911 first.
Pet Emergency Kit FAQ
What should be in a pet emergency kit?
At minimum: food and water for several days, bowls, any medicine, a first aid kit, a collar with ID tag and a leash, copies of vet records and microchip details, a photo of you with your pet, a carrier, sanitation supplies and a comfort item. The full checklist is above.
How much food should I keep in my pet's go-bag?
Pack at least 3 days in the carry bag and keep the rest of a 7-10 day supply in a bin next to it. That splits the difference between Ready.gov's "several days" and the ASPCA's 7-10 day checklist.
Can I bring my pet to an emergency shelter?
Sometimes, but don't count on it. The CDC says many evacuation centers, including Red Cross centers, don't accept pets other than service animals. Ask your local emergency management office what's available and line up friends, pet-friendly hotels or boarding ahead of time.
How often should I update my pet's kit?
Check it every two months, as the ASPCA suggests for food and water, and any time your pet's medicine, weight or vet changes. Update your microchip registration when you move or change phone numbers.
Do I need a separate kit for each pet?
Each pet needs its own carrier, ID, food and medicine. Supplies like the first aid kit, cleanup bags and light can be shared in one household bag.
This guide is general preparedness information, not veterinary advice. Ask your veterinarian about your pet's medicine, first aid supplies and water needs.
Pet Kits for Dogs and Cats
Ready-made emergency go-bag backpacks. Add your pet's own food, medicine and records.
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