Pet Emergency Kit Builder
Build a pet emergency kit customized to your pets, climate, and risk profile. Designed for 72-hour evacuations and 2-week shelter-in-place.
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Get the two-page Pet Emergency Kit Builder Checklist for your go-bag, evacuation supplies, medications, records and identification.
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Why pet emergency kits matter
When you evacuate for a hurricane, wildfire, or major winter storm, the gap between 'made it out safely with everyone' and 'crisis' is usually about 30 minutes of preparation done years in advance. A pet emergency kit is not just food and water — it's a complete go-bag that lets you grab everything in one move, leave inside 10 minutes, and survive 72 hours without resupplying. Most municipal shelters do not accept pets, so this kit is also what makes your pets welcome at pet-friendly hotels or with friends.
Plan for several days of disruption
FEMA and the ASPCA both recommend that pet owners maintain at least 72 hours of supplies that they can grab and go. That's three days of food, water, medications, comfort items, sanitation supplies, and identification. For shelter-in-place scenarios (power outages, water service disruption), extend to 2 weeks. Most U.S. natural disasters resolve within 72 hours; some — wildfires, ice storms — can extend longer.
Food and water math
Adult dogs typically eat 2-3% of body weight per day in dry food, so a 50 lb dog needs about 1.5 lb of dry food per day, or 4.5 lb for 72 hours. Cats need about 0.3 lb of dry food per day. Add 25% buffer for emergencies. Water: about 0.5 gallons per day for a 50 lb dog, 0.25 gallons for a cat. The calculator above multiplies for your pets and your duration.
Documents: the most overlooked component
In an emergency, the documents that matter are: current vaccination records (most boarding facilities and shelters require them), microchip number and registry, current vet contact info, current photo of each pet (for lost-pet flyers if separated), and any medication prescriptions. Keep waterproof copies in the kit and digital copies on your phone.
Medication planning
Always keep at least 7 days of any prescription medications your pet takes. For chronic conditions (insulin, anticonvulsants, NSAIDs), keep 14 days. Most prescriptions can be filled early with a vet's authorization — schedule this before peak emergency seasons (hurricane season starts June 1 in the Atlantic).
Carriers, leashes, and containment
One sturdy carrier per pet. Hard-sided carriers are better than soft-sided for evacuations because they stack and stay intact in chaos. Each carrier should have a contact tag, current photo of the pet inside, and a printed instruction card for caretakers. Two leashes per dog (in case one breaks). For cats, a harness AND carrier — cats in unfamiliar settings will bolt if given the chance.
Climate-specific additions
Hurricane zones: waterproof container for documents, extra towels, large trash bags for soiled supplies. Wildfire zones: N95-filter material for indoor air filtering, eye rinse, extra carriers for fast loading. Winter storm zones: insulated bedding, paw balm for salt and ice protection, battery-powered heating pads, more food (cold weather increases calorie needs).
Identification: the single most important step
Microchip your pet AND keep the registry information current. Most lost pets that are reunited with their owners are reunited because of microchip scans. Also use breakaway ID tags with current phone numbers. Take a current photo (within 6 months) of each pet, including any distinctive markings — this is what you'll use for lost-pet flyers.
Where to store the kit
Keep the kit accessible — near the front door, in a hall closet, or in the garage. Not in the basement (flood risk) or attic (impossible to reach quickly). Rotate food every 6 months (kibble loses freshness) and water every 6 months. Check medications quarterly for expiration.
Designate an out-of-area contact
When local phone lines fail, regional contacts can. Designate one out-of-state contact who knows your evacuation plan, your pets' details, and where you're headed. They can coordinate between separated family members and serve as a reunification point if you lose contact.
How to read calculator results responsibly
Every online pet calculator — including the ones on this site — gives you a planning estimate, not a medical prescription. The math underneath is based on published veterinary nutrition formulas (resting energy requirement, life-stage multipliers, body condition adjustments), but those formulas assume an average pet. Individual pets can differ substantially from calculated estimates. Treat the result as a starting point and use body weight, body condition, appetite, activity and veterinary guidance to decide whether it needs adjustment.
The most useful comparison is often the calculator estimate versus your pet’s current routine. A large difference is a reason to review the inputs and discuss the plan with your veterinarian rather than making a sudden change.
What to track after using this calculator
Once you have a number, the most reliable way to confirm it is right is to track outcomes for two to four weeks. Four metrics tell you almost everything you need to know. Weight — measured every 1-2 weeks at the same time of day, on the same scale. Small fluctuations are normal; sustained trends are real. Body condition — a hands-on check of ribs, waist, and belly. Healthy pets have ribs you can feel under a thin layer, a visible waist from above, and a tucked-up belly from the side. Energy and behavior — pets at the right caloric intake have steady energy, normal sleep patterns, and consistent play interest. Stool quality — firm, formed stools 1-3 times daily indicate a tolerated diet at the right amount.
Track trends rather than reacting to one day. If weight, body condition, appetite, stool quality or energy changes in a concerning way, review the plan with your veterinarian.
When to consult a veterinarian instead
This calculator is appropriate for healthy adult pets with no diagnosed medical conditions, on standard maintenance routines, with normal body condition and appetite. It is not a substitute for veterinary input in any of the following situations: pets with diagnosed kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, Cushing's disease, or any other metabolic condition; pets on prescription diets or weight-management programs supervised by a vet; pregnant or nursing animals; pets recovering from surgery, illness, or trauma; pets younger than 8 weeks or in their last year of life; and any pet whose owner is genuinely worried about a recent change in weight, appetite, drinking, urination, or activity.
For these pets, the right tool is a conversation with your veterinarian and possibly a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. For complex nutrition cases, your veterinarian may recommend a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Calculators are planning tools; clinical decisions belong with your veterinary team.
How this calculator fits with the rest of Pet Owner Toolkit
This calculator works best as one stop in a larger workflow. After you run it, the natural next steps depend on what you discovered. If the result suggests a meaningful change to your daily routine, pair it with the matching buyer guide (food, supplies, or emergency planning) so the change you make is also a change to a category that fits the new plan. If the result confirms your current routine, use it as a reset on your monthly budget — you now know what 'right' looks like for your pet.
You can print or screenshot calculator results and bring them to a veterinary visit as a record of the assumptions you used. The free downloadable planners on this site (medication log, vet visit tracker, budget planner) are designed to capture exactly this kind of follow-up data over time.
Finally, remember that pets change over years. A calculator result that was right two years ago may not be right today. Use this tool again any time your pet experiences a significant life event — life-stage transition, weight change of 5%+, new diagnosis, new medication, change in household activity level, or any sustained appetite change. The math underneath is the same, but the inputs you use to plug into it should always reflect the pet you actually have today.
Five related pages on Pet Owner Toolkit
Related tools and pages
Stay on Pet Owner Toolkit — these are the five most useful follow-ups for this page, plus a direct link to two free calculators, the Recommended Products hub, and the Resource Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I store the emergency kit?
Near an exit point — front door, hall closet, or attached garage. Not basement (flood) or attic (hard to reach).
How often should I rotate supplies?
Review the kit regularly and replace food, water, medications and other dated supplies before they expire. Update records whenever medical or contact information changes.
What if my pet refuses to eat in an emergency?
Stress affects appetite. Pack high-value treats and a small bottle of broth to encourage eating. Most pets resume normal eating within 24-48 hours.
Can I use the kit for routine boarding too?
Yes — most of the same items (vet records, medications, food, comfort items) work for boarding. Keep a duplicate set if you board frequently.
What about cats in emergencies?
Cats are particularly difficult in evacuations because they often hide when stressed. Practice carrier loading regularly, keep a harness in the kit, and consider a calming pheromone spray.
Do shelters accept pets?
Most municipal storm shelters do NOT accept pets. Pet-friendly Red Cross shelters exist but are limited. Pre-research pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation route and keep the list in the kit.
Helpful next steps from the network
Turn this into a complete emergency plan
Use the free tool above, then organize emergency, medical, sitter, daily-care and budget information in the $9 Ultimate Pet Parent Binder.
See the complete 34-page binder