Emergencies can strike unexpectedly, so it’s crucial to be prepared for the unknown, including making emergency plans for your cat. Evacuations can be chaotic, but having a plan in place can make the process smoother. If you’ve practiced car rides with your feline friend, they may handle the emergency with less stress.
Natural disasters like hurricanes, forest fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other emergencies like chemical spills and structure fires can require evacuation. Having a plan in place can make a significant difference in keeping your cat safe.
Prioritize safety with emergency preparedness for your cat before disaster strikes.
Emergency preparedness for your cat simplifies evacuation.
Prepare Your Cat for Emergencies
1) Ensure Proper Identification Tags and Microchipping
Collar and ID Tags
It’s essential to have proper identification for both yourself and your cat. Even if your cat doesn’t normally wear a collar and ID tag, it’s important to have one on hand in case of emergencies. Keep the collar and tag with other essential items for easy access during evacuations.
If your cat is not used to wearing a collar, try to have her wear it occasionally so she gets familiar with it. This familiarity can reduce stress during emergencies when she needs to wear the collar and ID tags.
Collars are crucial for emergency preparedness for your cat.
Choose a quick-release or breakaway collar to prevent injuries if the collar gets caught on something.
Microchipping
Microchipping your cat can be a lifesaver if you and your cat get separated during an emergency. The process is simple and relatively painless, and it involves implanting a microchip with identification numbers that can help reunite you with your cat if she gets lost.
Micrchips do not require batteries or transmit signals but hold important identification information. Shelters and rescues use scanners to read the microchip’s numbers and contact the maker to reunite lost cats with their families.
If you’re unsure about microchipping your cat, consider the statistics provided by the AVMA. Cats without microchips are reunited with their owners only 1.8% of the time, while microchipped cats are reunited 38.5% of the time.
Microchipping can potentially save your cat’s life and help you find her in emergencies.
2) Plan Where to Evacuate with Your Cat
When creating your disaster plan, consider where you will evacuate to with your cat in case of emergencies. Many hotels do not allow pets, so it’s essential to have a list of cat-friendly hotels or shelters in your emergency kit or saved in your phone.
Go Pet Friendly provides a list of cat-friendly hotel chains, including Affinia Hotels & Suites, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Drury Hotels, Hotels by Hilton, Kimpton Hotels, La Quinta by Wyndham Hotels, Loews Hotels, Motel 6, and Red Roof.
The CDC also offers services to help you locate cat-friendly lodging. It’s recommended to find boarding facilities or animal hospitals near your evacuation shelter in case you cannot return home immediately.
3) Prepare a Disaster Kit for Your Cat
Just like you have a “go” bag packed and ready, make sure your cat has her own bag with essentials and information. Include documents, photos, veterinary records, medications, food, water, litter, cleaning supplies, and comfort items like catnip and treats.
Refer to the CDC’s guide for a full list of items to include in your cat’s emergency bag.
Store your cat’s emergency bag near or inside her carrier for easy access during emergencies.
4) Locate Veterinary Facilities Near Your Evacuation Point
Once you reach your evacuation destination, research local veterinary offices to ensure your cat’s health and well-being.
Identify a couple of offices that your research indicates are appropriate and store their contact information in your phone for quick reference.
5) Post a Rescue Alert Sticker in the Window
In case a disaster occurs at your home while you are away, but your cats are inside, having a rescue sticker on the window can help save their lives. These window stickers, available for purchase on iHeartCats.com, will alert emergency responders or neighbors about the presence of cats inside the house.
It is also advisable to keep this information in your wallet. Having a card with details about your cats on your person can alert emergency workers in case something happens to you, ensuring help reaches your cats.
6) Designate a Cat Caretaker
Although we hope that you never have to use a cat caretaker in an emergency, it is wise to designate a trusted family member or friend who can take care of your cat if an emergency involving yourself arises. Choose someone who has a good relationship with your kitty. Cats can sense when things are not right, and having someone familiar caring for them will help them remain calm in your absence.
Choose a caretaker you and your cat trust in case of emergency.
7) Familiarize Your Cat with Car Rides
Unknown situations can cause anxiety in cats. The more familiar they are with a situation, the better they can handle it. The car is one such situation that can stress out a feline, but regular practice can help your cat remain calm if evacuation becomes necessary.
Vet Street suggests that you and your cat practice sitting in the car before taking a ride. “Place the carrier in the car with the door open, give your cat a treat, and then remove the carrier from the car.”
Continue sitting in the car until your cat appears calm. “If your cat remains relaxed, start the car and then immediately turn it off. Next, move the car just out of the driveway, then return and park.” Once your cat is familiar with the sounds and movements of the car, take a short drive around the neighborhood and return home safely, with your cat enjoying some treats.
Prepare cats for disaster now so an emergency won’t seem so daunting.
While these emergency plans for your cat may never be needed, it is reassuring to know that you are well-prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.
following sentence:
The cat is sleeping peacefully on the windowsill.
The peaceful cat is sleeping on the windowsill.