Printable pet emergency kit checklist

Written from the sources below on 4 October 2026. How we use sources.

A storm warning is the worst time to hunt for the cat carrier. Pack your pet emergency kit now, while the sky is clear. Print this page, tick each box as the item goes in, and check the kit again every two months, which is how often the ASPCA says to swap out stored food and water.

The lists come from Ready.gov, the ASPCA, the American Red Cross, the CDC and the Government of Canada. In Canada, your local emergency management office can tell you what applies where you live.

Before: make the plan

• Know where your pet will stay. Most evacuation shelters only accept service animals, says the Government of Canada. List hotels that take pets, boarding kennels, animal shelters, vets, and friends or family outside your area.
• Call hotels along your route ahead of time. The Red Cross suggests asking whether a no-pet rule can be waived in an emergency.
• Pick a buddy: a neighbor, friend or relative who can care for or evacuate your pet if you cannot get home. The ASPCA suggests giving that person a key.
• Microchip your pet, register the chip, and keep your address and phone number current. Ready.gov says to add an emergency contact outside your area.
• Put a collar and tag with current details on every dog and cat. Keep vaccinations current, since many pet shelters ask for proof.
• Put a rescue alert sticker on or near your front door, with the number and kinds of pets inside and your vet's name and number. If you leave with your pets and have time, write "EVACUATED" across it.
• Practice. Bring your pets into your evacuation drill, so the carrier and the car ride feel normal.

What to pack

Ready.gov suggests two kits: a larger one for sheltering at home and a light one for leaving in a hurry. The ASPCA says to keep the kit and leashes close to an exit, clearly labeled and easy to carry, and to plan for the worst. Even if you expect to be gone a day, you may not be allowed back for several weeks.

Food and water

• Food in an airtight, waterproof container. The ASPCA suggests 7 to 10 days of canned (pop-top) or dry food, and the CDC two weeks.
• Water. The CDC suggests two weeks' worth for each animal. The Government of Canada says at least 72 hours, at about 1 liter a day for an average cat and 4 liters a day for an average dog.
• Food and water bowls, and a manual can opener if your pet eats canned food.
• Written feeding instructions for each animal.

Medicine, pet first aid kit and papers

• A two-week supply of any medicine your pet takes, in a waterproof container, with the dosage and your vet's contact details.
• A pet first aid kit and a pet first aid book. Ask your vet what belongs in the kit for your pet.
• Copies of vet records: rabies certificate, vaccinations, prescriptions and medical history. Keep registration papers in a waterproof container and a digital copy.
• Microchip details and your vet's name and number.
• Notes on feeding times, medical conditions and behavior problems, in case someone else has to board your pet.
• A recent photo of you with your pet. If you are separated, it helps prove the pet is yours.

Carrying and comfort

• A sturdy carrier or crate for each pet, with the pet's name, your name and your phone numbers written on it.
• A collar with ID tag and a harness or leash, plus a spare of each.
• Bedding, a blanket or towel, favorite toys and treats. Familiar things can lower a pet's stress.

Cleaning up

• Newspaper, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach.
• Liquid dish soap and a disinfectant.
• Pet shampoo and grooming items, in case your pet needs cleaning up.

Especially for cats

Cats hide when they are scared, and a hiding cat can cost you the minutes you need. Add these to the kit for each cat.

• Litter and a litter box. The ASPCA suggests scoopable litter and disposable litter trays, and says aluminum roasting pans are perfect for the job.

• A carrier for each cat. Leave it out and open where your cat likes to rest, with treats and a familiar blanket inside, so it is not a stranger on the day.
• A pillowcase. The ASPCA lists one for cats, and the CDC says a pillowcase or a sturdy box can get a cat out of a hiding spot fast.
• Toys, and FeLV and FIV test results with the vet records.
• Know where your cat hides, and practice getting it out.

During the emergency

• Bring pets inside at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Never leave an animal outside or tied up during a storm.
• If officials tell you to leave, take your pets and the kit. As the ASPCA puts it, if it is not safe for you, it is not safe for your pets.
• Keep each pet in its carrier or on a leash, and keep it away from other animals, especially wildlife and strays. Keep cats and dogs apart.
• At a Red Cross shelter, workers try to accommodate household pets, but pets may be housed in a different place. Service animals are always welcome.
• Wash your hands after handling your pet, its food or its waste, and clean litter boxes and cages properly.

If you shelter at home

• Pick an inside room with few or no windows. Remove toxic chemicals and plants.
• Close off vents and the space under heavy furniture, where a frightened cat could get stuck.
• If flooding is likely, use the highest room, with counters or high shelves where animals can climb. If the power may go out, fill bathtubs and sinks with water ahead of time.
• Wet food can help your pet drink less water.

If you truly cannot take a pet with you, the Government of Canada says not to tie it up or cage it, to post a sign with the number and kinds of animals inside, to leave food and water, and to leave the toilet seats up. In the US and Canada, RedRover shelters and cares for animals displaced by disasters. The CDC lists its number as (800) 440-3277.

After the emergency

Familiar smells and landmarks may have changed, so a pet can get confused and lost. Keep pets on a leash or in a carrier when you go outside, and watch them closely, since fences and gates may be broken. Check your home for sharp objects and spilled chemicals, and look for exposed wiring. A calm pet may turn frightened or defensive. Call your vet if behavior problems last or your pet seems ill.

If your pet is lost, call the microchip company and check that its details are current. Then call animal control and your local humane society. Find local help lists organizations near you.

Horses, goats, pigs and other large animals

Ready.gov says to give every animal some identification, to leave early when you can, and to map a main and a backup route. You need the trailers and experienced handlers ready, and a destination with food, water and vet care. The ASPCA adds that horses should be used to a halter and to loading into a trailer, and that owners should set up a phone tree with other horse owners nearby.

Birds, reptiles and small animals

The ASPCA says to move birds in a secure carrier, to keep leg bands on, and to keep photos handy. Small animals need secure carriers, bedding, food and a water bottle.