An emergency can strike anyplace, anytime, and may mean you have to evacuate your home. Do you have a disaster plan in place for your cat?
Flash floods were being forecast, and Nancy and her family were advised to evacuate. At the time, they didn’t really take the threat seriously, and assumed they’d be home again in a few hours, so they left their three cats behind. But the storm and subsequent flooding were even worse than predicted and they weren’t able to return for a couple of days. Nancy was frantic. “I’ll never do that again,” she shudders. “If we ever have an emergency and have to evacuate again, the cats are coming with us no matter what.”
At any time, for many reasons, and sometimes without much warning, you and your cats may experience an emergency situation. It could be anything from a flood, tornado or hurricane to a wildfire, earthquake, prolonged blackout or even a chemical spill. If the situation isn’t safe for you, it’s not safe for your cat. If you have to evacuate, take him with you – as Nancy’s story attests, you can’t know for sure when you’ll be able to return.
1. Have emergency supplies ready
Keep cat food, water, a litter as well as veterinarian contact info and pictures of your cat, just in case you get separated. Put individual items in Ziploc bags for best protection. since I do not put collars on my cats, I keep their iD tags attached to the carriers I plan to put them in.
2. Observe how your cat reacts to stressful and unpleasant experience
The bed is a very common hiding place. You don’t want to be searching the house for him if you have to evacuate in a hurry. I want my cats to come to me, and not hide from the unpleasant experience. And when they do, I put them in their carriers.
3. Have an animal-friendly place to go.
It could be the home of a family member or friend, a boarding kennel or motel that allows animals
4. Conduct an evacuation drill.
Have a trial run and make it fun for your cat. This will give you you are both prepared. chances are, you may never have to deal with an emergency and evacuation. But making sure you and your cat are prepared anyhow will ensure things go as smoothly and comfortably as possible if it ever does happen.
Chances are, you may never have to deal with an emergency and evacuation. But making sure you and your cat are prepared anyhow will ensure things go as smoothly and comfortably as possible if it ever does happen.
