Your cat is unlikely to pack a bag. That part’s on you.
This guide helps you prepare for an evacuation or a disruption at home. It also includes a backup-care worksheet for the day you unexpectedly can’t get home. Start with the printable checklist; use the notes below to make it fit your household.
Download the printable pet emergency preparedness checklist (PDF)
Scope: U.S.-oriented guidance for households with dogs and cats. Other species need their own plans. Follow local emergency instructions and ask your veterinarian about your pet’s individual needs. This is preparation guidance, not veterinary treatment advice.
1. Pack for the pet you actually have
Ready.gov recommends both a larger kit for staying home and a lightweight kit for evacuation. Include several days of food and water, bowls, regular medications, identification, sanitation supplies, a sturdy carrier or crate, and familiar comfort items.1
The printable checklist groups these into things to pack and things to arrange. A practical way to begin: gather what you already own, then make a short list of what’s missing.
Ask your veterinarian how much medication to keep available, how to store it, and what first-aid supplies are appropriate. Don’t use this guide as a medication-dosing or treatment plan.1
Suggested household worksheet:
- Food packed for: ______ days. Water packed for: ______ days.
- Kit location: ____________________
- Medication stored separately / last-minute items: ____________________
- Person responsible for grabbing those items: ____________________
2. Make identification and records usable
Keep collar-tag contact details current. If your pet has a microchip, check that it is registered and that the microchip company has your current contact information.2
Prepare copies of identification and relevant records in a waterproof container and electronically. Include vaccination records, prescribed medications, and medical history.1 2
Ready.gov also recommends a photograph of you with your pet to help document ownership if you become separated.1
Our suggested record packet: a short care summary on top, followed by supporting records. List feeding instructions, medications exactly as prescribed, allergies, handling concerns, veterinarian details, and an emergency contact. Save an offline copy and include paper copies; don’t make the packet depend on a login or a working mobile connection.
Keep detailed access instructions and sensitive household information in a private copy shared only with trusted caregivers. A public pet-identification page is not the place for your door code.
3. Decide where you’ll go—and who can help
Identify a destination that accepts your pets before an emergency. Don’t assume a public shelter or hotel can accommodate them; ask about arrangements and identify a backup. Arrange a buddy who can care for or evacuate your pets if you cannot.1 2
Suggested backup-care handoff:
- Primary caregiver / phone: ____________________
- Backup caregiver / phone: ____________________
- How they can access the pets safely: ____________________
- Where each pet hides: ____________________
- Where carriers, supplies, and records are kept: ____________________
- Feeding, medication, and handling instructions: ____________________
Agree on the arrangement with the person. Writing down a friend’s name is not quite the same as recruiting them.
4. Practice before it’s urgent
Make carriers familiar, learn where pets hide when frightened, and practice an evacuation with your household. Everyone should know what to take, where to find the pets, and where to meet.1 2
If officials direct you to evacuate, take your pets with you. Follow local instructions rather than a generic guide when deciding whether to evacuate or shelter in place.1
For a prolonged outage or a pet with medical, mobility, or temperature-sensitive needs, discuss a tailored plan with your veterinarian in advance. This checklist does not prescribe safe temperatures, medical-device backup arrangements, or medication substitutions.
5. Check the kit again
Review supplies regularly and replace food and medicines before they expire.1 Our suggested reminder: check the kit when the seasons change and whenever a pet’s care, your contact details, or your caregiver arrangement changes.
After a disaster, familiar scents and landmarks can change. Keep pets leashed or in carriers during transport and outdoor trips, and check for hazards before letting them explore.2
Start here
If you’re starting from nothing, choose one manageable task: pack the carrier supplies, check the microchip registration, or call your backup caregiver. Then work through the rest of the checklist.
The goal isn’t a perfect bag. It’s a plan someone can actually use.