Feline Emergency Preparedness · RallyPack
Cats don't
evacuate
on your schedule.
A cat that disappears under a bed when chaos starts can cost you everything. RallyPack helps cat owners build a plan that accounts for feline behavior — before it's too late to think clearly.
No account required for the quiz · Always free
US households own a cat — yet cat-specific emergency planning resources are nearly nonexistent
The time a stressed cat can disappear in your home before an evacuation — making them impossible to find
Of lost cats in shelters are reunited with their owners — vs. 26% of dogs. Microchipping closes that gap.
The feline preparedness essentials
Six things every cat owner needs in place.
Carrier Ready to Go
Cats are notoriously hard to catch under stress. Keep a carrier open and accessible — not folded in the attic.
72-Hour Food, Water & Litter
Pre-bag food, pack a small collapsible litter box, and include a familiar toy or blanket to reduce stress.
Vaccination Proof & Microchip
Shelters and boarding facilities require rabies records. A microchip dramatically improves reunification odds.
Pet-Friendly Lodging Identified
Cats cannot go to public emergency shelters. Book your backup pet-friendly hotel before the storm season.
Hiding Behavior Plan
Cats hide when scared. Confine your cat to one room before you start packing so they don't disappear.
Medications & Health Records
Insulin, thyroid meds, or allergy treatments can't wait. Pack a 7-day supply and keep your vet's number offline.
RallyPack for cat owners
Store your cat's microchip, vaccines, and meds. Access it offline when you need it most.
Your vet records, vaccination history, and medication schedules — organized once, available anywhere.
Answers
Evacuating with animals — questions answered.
- How do I evacuate pets if emergency shelters do not accept animals?
- Identify at least two animal-friendly destinations before an emergency — pet-friendly hotels, boarding kennels, veterinary clinics or a mutual-aid contact.
More detail
Confirm which local shelters accept animals and under what conditions, and keep a backup boarding or stable contact for large animals. Never leave an animal tethered or confined where it cannot escape.
- What should a pet evacuation kit contain?
- A carrier or leash and harness, medication, food and water for at least 72 hours, bowls, identification, and copies of veterinary records.
More detail
Add a recent photo of you with the animal for proof of ownership, a litter tray or waste bags, and a favourite item to reduce stress. Keep the kit with your own go-bag so both leave together.
- How do I plan to evacuate livestock?
- Assign one person to each animal or livestock group and arrange transport, destinations and mutual-aid help in advance.
More detail
Pre-identify two destinations plus a backup, keep halters, leads and records ready, and coordinate with neighbours so a single regional disaster does not consume all available transport at once.
- Should I leave animals behind if I cannot take them?
- No — evacuate people and animals together on the first departure, and never return to a closed zone for an animal.
More detail
Returning for animals makes you an additional rescue problem and delays first responders. If you truly cannot take an animal, leave it loose indoors with food and water and tell responders or animal services it is there.
- How do I make sure my pet can be identified after a disaster?
- Use a microchip plus a collar tag with a phone number, and carry a recent photo of you with the animal.
More detail
Keep microchip registration details current and store copies of vaccination records with your own documents, since shelters and boarding facilities often require them.
Sources
Animal evacuation guidance on this page traces back to the agency that produced it.
- FEMA — Pet and service-animal planning for evacuations and shelters
- American Red Cross — Pet disaster preparedness and evacuation guidance
- ASPCA — Household animal evacuation planning and supply guidance
- AVMA — Veterinary and animal-agency disaster resources
- USDA APHIS — Livestock movement, sheltering and animal-health guidance during disasters
Animal evacuation readiness
Find out how ready you really are.
The free readiness quiz scores your plan in three minutes — no account required. Then see how your neighborhood compares on the RallyPack readiness map.
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