PrepPet emergency kit checklist
What to have ready for your pets if the power goes out or you have to evacuate. Tell us about your pets, check off what you have, and print the list. Nothing leaves this browser.
Your pets
Saved in this browser for the other tools.
Your pet emergency kit
Carriers, bowls and IDs are per pet, using the pets number above. We use 1 if you've left it at 0.
Check it again every 6 months.
Food and water
Health
Carrying and control
Papers and photos
Sanitation
Comfort
Arrange ahead
From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.
How it works
This list follows Ready.gov's pet kit, reworded and grouped, and it's scaled by the number of pets. Ready.gov gives durations in days, not amounts, so the quantities here are per pet, not by weight.
Two kits: Ready.gov suggests a larger one for sheltering in place and a lightweight one for evacuating. Keep the carrier and the small kit together, so you aren't hunting for them.
Water: no official source gives a volume for pets. Ready.gov says a several-day supply, and the CDC says to store more if you have pets. Ask your vet. Our supplies calculator counts 1 liter per pet per day as a planning estimate, which may not suit your animal.
Not all shelters accept pets, so find pet-friendly places on your evacuation route now, and ask someone outside your area if they could help. Include pets and service animals in your family plan.
Common questions
What should be in a pet emergency kit?
Ready.gov lists food, water and a bowl, medicine, a first aid kit, a collar, ID tag and leash, a carrier, grooming items, sanitation supplies, a photo of you with your pet, and familiar comforts.
How much food should I keep for my pet?
Ready.gov says a several-day supply in an airtight, waterproof container. Check it regularly and rotate it into normal feeding.
How much water does my pet need in an emergency?
No official source gives a volume. Ready.gov says a several-day supply, plus a bowl. Ask your vet what suits your animal.
Will an emergency shelter take my pet?
Not all shelters accept pets, Ready.gov says, so plan alternatives. Research pet-friendly places to stay, and ask friends or family outside your area.
Why does a pet kit need a photo with me in it?
Ready.gov suggests a picture of you with your pet to help show that it's yours if you're separated.
Sources
- Ready.gov: prepare your pets for disasters (updated March 20, 2026)
- Ready.gov: hurricane season toolkit
- Ready.gov: older adults (shelters and pets)
- CDC: creating an emergency water supply
Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.