Pet Emergency Kit Checklist for Dogs and Cats

If you only have 10 minutes, do these five things

1. Check identification

   Confirm that collar tags and microchip registration have your current phone number.

2. Put transport gear by the exit

   Set out one correctly sized carrier per pet plus each dog's leash and harness.

3. Start a waterproof records pouch

   Add vaccination records, prescriptions, proof of ownership, and a recent photo of you with your pet.

4. Write the routine down

   Record food amounts, medication names, doses, timing, allergies, and your veterinarian's contact details.

5. Choose two possible destinations

   Identify a pet-friendly place nearby and another outside your immediate area; policies can change, so confirm before leaving.

These steps cover the hardest things to reconstruct under pressure: identity, safe transport, care instructions, and somewhere to go. The CDC also recommends a buddy who can reach and evacuate your pets if you are away.[1]

The complete pet emergency kit checklist

Use a portable, water-resistant bag or bin. Pack for each animal, not just for the household, and use your pet's normal products rather than introducing unfamiliar food during a stressful event.

If someone else must evacuate your pet

Choose a trusted nearby person before an emergency. Confirm that they agree to help, can access your home, and know your pets. The CDC recommends a buddy system; the FDA also recommends giving a temporary caretaker written care instructions.[1][6]

Walk through these five points together, then keep a copy in the records pouch:

1. Find and transport each pet: list names, usual hiding places, and the location of carriers, leashes, and the emergency bag. Share home-access details privately with your helper.
2. Follow the usual care: write each pet's food portions, allergies, and prescribed medication name, dose, and schedule separately. Use the current veterinary instructions; the helper should not have to guess.
3. Retrieve items stored elsewhere: name any refrigerated medication and its exact location. Ask your veterinarian how to transport and store it during an outage.[7]
4. Know where to go: include your planned destinations, owner and backup phone numbers, and regular and emergency veterinary contacts.
5. Arrange veterinary permission: ask your clinic what authorization it needs if your helper brings the pet. Give the helper signed veterinary-care authorization and a spending limit, as the FDA recommends.[6]

Start with the CDC's printable Pet Boarding Instructions (PDF) for each animal, then add the access, destination, and authorization details above. Update the sheet whenever care changes. Keep completed copies private; they contain personal and medical information. Only attempt pickup when local emergency instructions allow safe access.

Details that are different for dogs and cats

Ready.gov recommends a traveling bag, crate, or sturdy carrier for each pet. The CDC also advises labeling each carrier with the pet owner's contact information and practicing carrier use before an emergency.[3][1]

A three-minute evacuation rehearsal

A packed bag does not help if the carrier causes a chase or no one knows who grabs the medication. Practice on a calm day, reward voluntary carrier use, and stop before your pet becomes worried.

1. Bring every pet indoors and locate anyone who may hide when frightened.
2. Clip on each dog's harness and place each cat or small pet in a secure carrier.
3. Pick up the kit and any temperature-controlled medication listed on its reminder note.
4. Move to your vehicle or household meeting place using your planned exit.
5. Confirm which person would call the destination and which trusted neighbor is your backup.

The CDC recommends that the whole family practice and that pets become familiar with their carriers before an emergency.[1]

Where to store the kit—and when to refresh it

Store the kit somewhere dry and easy to reach. Follow the labeled storage instructions for food and medication, and use a reminder note for anything that must stay refrigerated. Check expiration dates regularly; Merck Veterinary Manual recommends checking medication expiration dates at least once a year.[4]

Keep the food label with the emergency supply

Put the original dry-food bag inside your storage bin. If you must portion food into another container, use a clean, dry one with a fitted lid and attach the product name, manufacturer, UPC, lot number, and best-by date. Replace that information when you change bags, and wash and dry the container between batches. These details let you identify the food if a recall or problem occurs.[9]

FDA recommends keeping dry food and unopened canned food below 80°F in a dry place; a parked car can be a poor permanent storage spot. Follow the product's label, including refrigeration instructions after opening. During each kit refresh, check your supplies against the FDA recall list. Do not feed recalled food, even if it is within its best-by date.[9][10]

Use a simple March-and-September reminder to:

• rotate food and water into normal use before they expire;
• check prescription quantities, expiration dates, and storage instructions;
• test the flashlight and replace weak batteries;
• confirm carrier fit, harness fit, and ID-tag readability;
• update photos, microchip contacts, veterinary records, and lodging options.

What to do when an emergency is happening

• Follow local emergency instructions and leave early when ordered.
• Bring pets inside, secure dogs on leash, and place small pets in individual carriers.
• Call your planned destination to confirm that space and its pet policy are still available.
• Keep pets separated from unfamiliar animals and away from floodwater, debris, chemicals, and downed lines.
• After returning, keep pets restrained while you check the area; familiar scents and landmarks may have changed.

If a pet is injured, has trouble breathing, collapses, overheats, or may have swallowed something dangerous, call your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital promptly. In the United States, the FDA also lists the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661; fees may apply.[5]