Pet Emergency Kit Checklist: What to Pack Before You Need It

The most useful pet emergency kit is not one oversized bag. Prepare three layers: a larger supply cache at home, a smaller kit in the car, and a grab-and-go evacuation bag near an exit. Each should cover food, water, identification, records, medications, sanitation, restraint, and comfort.

Keep at least several days of supplies ready for every pet. ASPCA and government preparedness materials advise planning food, water, medications, records, carriers, and other essentials for an emergency; the exact quantity depends on the hazard, household, and pet. Check the linked guidance and local instructions rather than relying on a single fixed duration.^[1]

Printable pet emergency kit checklist

Print this compact checklist and check each item for every dog, cat, or other companion animal. Keep prescription medicines according to veterinary and pharmacy storage instructions; add them to the evacuation bag when leaving.

• ☐ Regular food, bottled water, bowls, treats, and a manual can opener if needed
• ☐ Prescription medications in labeled packaging, with written instructions
• ☐ Vaccination and rabies records, medical history, allergies, medication details, and veterinarian contacts
• ☐ Current collar and ID tag, spare collar or harness, leash, carrier label, and microchip details
• ☐ Updated microchip registration and recent photos of each pet
• ☐ Carrier or secure travel crate for each cat and small pet; secure leash or harness for each dog
• ☐ Waste bags, litter, litter box or disposable tray, paper towels, and cleaning supplies
• ☐ Familiar bedding, toy, treats, and an item that smells like home
• ☐ Pet first-aid supplies, flashlight, spare batteries, phone charger, and waterproof storage bags
• ☐ Emergency contacts, pet-friendly destinations, boarding facilities, and alternate evacuation locations

FEMA’s pet-preparedness guidance also highlights identification, registration information, photos, sanitation supplies, familiar items, and appropriate carriers or travel bags.^[2]

What to keep at home

Your home supply cache should support a longer disruption than the bag you can carry out in a hurry. Put it in a cool, dry location near an exit, and make sure everyone knows where it is. Use a labeled, tight-fitting container to protect food, records, and bedding from moisture.

Food, water, and feeding supplies

Pack the food your pet already eats rather than introducing a new diet during a stressful event. Keep dry food in an airtight container and rotate canned food before its expiration date. Include collapsible or non-spill bowls, measuring instructions, and a manual can opener for cans without pull tabs.

Water needs vary with the pet, weather, activity, and medical status. Store water specifically for the animals as part of your household emergency supply. If your pet requires a special diet, write the brand, formula, daily amount, and foods to avoid on a card inside the kit.

Records and medications

Place paper copies of medical and vaccination records in a waterproof pouch. Save the same information on your phone or a USB drive, but do not rely only on electronic access if power or internet service may be unavailable. Include the medication name, strength, dose, frequency, prescribing veterinarian, and pharmacy contact information. AVMA preparedness materials recommend recording each animal’s diet and medication instructions separately.^[3]

Follow the veterinarian’s and pharmacy’s storage requirements for every medicine. Do not routinely leave medications in a hot or freezing vehicle. Add the medicines when evacuating, using an insulated container if appropriate and approved for that medication. Do not add human medicines or new treatments to a pet kit without veterinary guidance. A pet first-aid kit can help with basic care while you arrange professional help, but it is not a substitute for an emergency veterinary clinic.

Identification and reunification supplies

Every pet should have current identification before an emergency occurs. Check that the phone number on the ID tag works, the microchip registration has current contact information, and the carrier has your name and phone number attached. Pack recent, well-lit photos showing each pet’s face and distinctive markings. A photo of you with your pet can also help document ownership if you become separated.^[2]

Keep a visible pet alert sticker near the main entrance if animals may be inside. If you evacuate with your pets, follow the sticker’s instructions for marking that they have left, when possible.^[1]

What to keep in the car

A car kit should be smaller and immediately accessible, not buried under luggage. Store non-medication supplies in a leak-resistant container and check that heat or freezing temperatures have not damaged the contents. Do not routinely store medicines in the vehicle unless the product’s veterinary or pharmacy storage instructions specifically allow it.

• At least three days of food and water for each pet, with bowls and a can opener
• Leashes, harnesses, spare collars, and current ID tags
• Carriers or secure travel crates, especially for cats and small animals
• Waste bags, litter supplies, paper towels, and suitable cleaning wipes
• Copies of records and a written emergency contact card
• Small blanket, familiar toy, treats, flashlight, and portable charger
• Paper map or saved alternate routes if roads are closed or phone service is unreliable

Never let a dog or cat travel loose in the vehicle. A frightened animal can bolt when a door opens, and an unsecured pet can be injured during sudden braking.

What belongs in a grab-and-go evacuation bag

Keep this bag beside the carriers or closest practical exit. It should contain the items needed in the first several hours, even if you have only minutes to leave.

1. Food in pre-portioned bags, water, bowls, and treats.
2. Current medications, following storage requirements, and the written dosing schedule.
3. Leashes, harnesses, spare ID tags, and carrier labels.
4. Medical records, microchip information, emergency contacts, and recent photos.
5. Waste bags, litter, a scoop, paper towels, and a small cleaning kit.
6. A familiar blanket or toy to make an unfamiliar location less stressful.
7. Phone charger, flashlight, batteries, and waterproof document sleeves.

For cats, include a secure carrier, litter pan, scoopable litter, and a towel or other handling aid only if your veterinarian has shown you an appropriate, safe method. Do not improvise restraint or handling techniques; ask your veterinarian about approved containment and emergency equipment for your individual pet. For dogs, add an extra leash, chew item, and equipment needed for size or mobility. Do not use a muzzle unless you know how to fit and use it safely.

Prepare the destination, not just the supplies

Some public emergency shelters may not accept pets, so identify pet-friendly options before you need them. Confirm current policies rather than assuming that a shelter, hotel, or boarding facility will accept every species. Keep a written list of boarding facilities, veterinary hospitals, hotels, friends, and relatives outside your immediate area. Ask about species, vaccination requirements, reservation policies, and whether the facility can accommodate more than one pet.^[1]

Choose a backup caregiver who can reach your pets if you are away from home. Give that person access instructions, feeding details, medication information, and permission to seek veterinary care. Practice getting each pet into its carrier or securing it with its harness; transport equipment is easier to use when it is familiar.

For a dog-specific departure plan, see The 24-Hour Dog Evacuation Checklist.

How often to refresh the kit

A five-minute readiness test

Once the kit is assembled, set a timer for five minutes. Can you locate the supplies, secure each pet, collect the records, and reach the car without searching for anything? If not, place the kit closer to an exit, label each bin, and rehearse the process again. A preparedness plan is only useful if it works under pressure.

Keep pets indoors when severe weather or another hazard is approaching, follow local evacuation instructions, and leave early when authorities advise evacuation. If conditions are unsafe for you, they are unsafe for your pets too.^[1]