Pet emergency kit checklist: free PDF

Written from the sources below on 17 October 2026. How we use sources.

Print the checklist, tick each box as an item goes into the kit, and keep the kit near an exit. It fits on one page, in US Letter or A4.

• Download the checklist, US Letter (PDF)For printers in Canada and the US. 8.5 by 11 inches, one page.
• Download the checklist, A4 (PDF)210 by 297 mm, one page.

Print at 100 percent or "actual size", not "fit to page", so the boxes stay a good size.

What is on it

• Before: where each pet will stay, a backup person, ID and a microchip, a rescue alert sticker, and practice with the carrier.
• Food and water, with the amounts three sources give.
• Medicine, a pet first aid kit and copies of papers.
• A carrier, a leash and comfort items.
• Clean-up supplies, and extras for cats.

It is built from the same sources as our full pet emergency kit checklist, which names the source of each item and covers what to do during and after an emergency.

How much food and water to pack

The sources give different amounts, so the PDF shows each one with its source.

• The ASPCA suggests 7 to 10 days of canned or dry food, and at least 7 days of bottled water for each person and pet.
• The CDC suggests a 2-week supply of food and of water for each animal.
• The Government of Canada says to keep food and water for at least 72 hours, at about 4 liters a day for an average dog and 1 liter a day for an average cat.

Your local emergency management office can tell you what applies where you live.

Keep the kit fresh and close

The ASPCA says to keep the kit and leashes close to an exit, clearly labeled and easy to carry, and to rotate food and replace bottled water every two months. Ready.gov says to keep two kits: a larger one for staying home and a light one for leaving in a hurry.

The first aid kit

Ready.gov and the ASPCA both say to ask your vet what belongs in your pet's first aid kit. The AVMA gives a list of example contents and says it is only a set of examples: talk to your vet about what to include and how to use each item.

Next

• Pet disaster preparedness for four emergencies: hurricane, flood, wildfire and winter storm.
• Pet emergency wallet card and window sticker: print and fill in by hand.

Questions people ask

What should be in my pet first aid kit?

Ready.gov and the ASPCA both say to ask your vet what belongs in it. The AVMA gives a list of example contents and says it is only a set of examples: talk to your vet about what to include and how to use each item.

How much food and water should I pack for my pet?

The sources differ. The ASPCA suggests 7 to 10 days of canned or dry food, and at least 7 days of bottled water for each person and pet. The CDC suggests a 2-week supply of food and of water for each animal. The Government of Canada says to keep at least 72 hours, at about 4 liters a day for an average dog and 1 liter a day for an average cat. Your local emergency management office can tell you what applies where you live.

Where should I keep the kit?

The ASPCA says to keep the kit and leashes close to an exit, clearly labeled and easy to carry, and to rotate food and replace bottled water every two months. Ready.gov says to keep two kits: a larger one for staying home and a light one for leaving in a hurry.

What does the checklist cover?

Before an emergency: where each pet will stay, a backup person, ID and a microchip, a rescue alert sticker, and practice with the carrier. Then food and water, medicine, a pet first aid kit, copies of papers, a carrier, a leash, comfort items, clean-up supplies and extras for cats.