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Emergency kit for pets

Last reviewed 2026-10-30

Plan food, water, transport, records, and familiar care for pets. The right plan is the one your household can understand, access, and maintain. Start with the items and contacts that matter most in your situation, then improve it a little at a time.

Plan for each animal separately. Write down its usual food, daily water needs, medication, feeding routine, microchip details, and veterinary contact. Ask your vet how much water and food to store for your pet, since needs vary by species, size, health, age, and weather.

Keep several days of familiar food in the kit and rotate it before its date. Store food in its original packaging or a clearly labelled container. Pack bowls, a lead, a secure carrier, waste bags, and cleaning supplies. Include a blanket or familiar toy if it helps your pet settle.

Put copies of vaccination and treatment records in a waterproof pouch. Add a recent photograph and a note describing your pet. If you may need to travel, identify who can help and check whether the destination accepts animals. Practise putting your pet into the carrier without rushing.

During severe weather or an evacuation, follow instructions from local authorities. Keep dogs on a lead near debris and unfamiliar conditions. Do not let cats roam if routes are unsafe. Keep animals away from flood water, damaged buildings, and unknown food or chemicals.

If an animal needs regular treatment, ask your vet what to do if a dose is missed or access to the practice is disrupted. Do not change a treatment plan based on general online information.

A practical household plan

Decide how you will move an animal before travel is urgent. Check that carriers close securely and that leads, harnesses, and identification are in good condition. Keep a copy of microchip numbers and the vet’s phone number with the kit, and store another copy with a trusted person if appropriate. If an animal is anxious around transport, ask your vet for advice well ahead of time. Never give a sedative or change a prescription without veterinary guidance. Make a note of how your pet behaves when stressed and what helps it settle. For animals that live outdoors, plan how you will bring them to safety and where they can be housed temporarily. Keep food and medicines separate from household supplies, labelled clearly, and out of reach of children. Review quantities as your pet grows, changes diet, or develops a health condition. A household kit should fit the animal you have now, not an old estimate.

Plan for your household

Put a label on the carrier with your name and a second contact number. Keep a spare lead and harness near the exit, but store them so an animal cannot chew or become tangled in them. If you leave home, take the animal’s food and water separately from cleaning products. Ask your vet whether any medicines need a cool place or a special schedule. Agree in advance who can collect your pet if you are away, and make sure that person can access the carrier and written instructions.

Review the plan with your household

Choose a regular moment to look over the list together. A six-month review is easy to remember and matches the household checklist, but update the plan sooner when someone moves in, a baby changes feeding routine, a pet starts a new diet, or a health need changes. Check that everyone knows where the torch, radio, first aid kit, and written contacts are kept. Replace items that have been used, expired, or damaged. Confirm phone numbers and equipment instructions against current information. A plan can be short and still be useful when each person knows their part. If someone else may help, ask them to read the instructions before an incident and check that they can reach the supplies. Record only the information helpers need, store it safely, and update it when those needs change. A familiar routine can make a difficult day easier to manage.

Use the household kit builder to turn your household numbers into a checklist. It is a planning aid, not a substitute for local warnings, an individual care plan, or professional advice. Store essential information where the people who may need it can find it.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first?

Start with the relevant official information for your area and the needs of the people or animals at home. Make a short written plan, gather what you already have, and fill gaps in stages.

How often should I review the plan?

Review it every six months and after a major change at home. Check dates, contact numbers, medicines, batteries, feeding needs, and any equipment instructions.

Where can I get urgent medical help?

Use NHS 111 or ask a pharmacist for non-life-threatening urgent advice. Call 999 for an emergency.