In This Chapter
- Planning for the worst
- Working with your veterinarian
- Putting together a disaster kit
- Preparing to help others
Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, twisters, fires, and even
volcanoes have brought home to us all in recent years that a disaster can
happen at any time, to any community. In the aftermath of such natural
calamities has come a new awareness of the need for disaster planning for our
pets, both on a community level and in our own homes.
Although animals aren’t allowed in most disaster-relief
shelters, an increasing number of animal shelters and veterinarians are better
prepared now than ever before to take in animals during an emergency.
Some regional veterinary associations work to appoint a
volunteer veterinarian in each community to help coordinate animal-relief
efforts. And veterinarians certainly aren’t alone in the effort to help animals
when a disaster strikes. Probably the most influential group in the field of
animal disaster relief is the Emergency Animal Rescue Service, a group based in
Sacramento, California, that is prepared to do for animals what the Red Cross
does for people. EARS-trained volunteers have worked on behalf of animals all
over the world.
The Cat’s Meow
Terri Crisp, founder of the Emergency Animal Rescue Service, has done more than any other person to change how animals are dealt with in times of disaster. Her story is a compelling read for any animal lover, and she shares it in her book Out of Harm’s Way: The Extraordinary True Story of One Woman’s Lifelong Devotion to Animal Rescue (Pocket Books).
Behind the big changes of recent years is a growing
realization that animals need help, too, and that some people choose to put
their lives in danger rather than abandon their pets.
Just as you can’t leave preparing for your human family
members to chance, you need a plan to ensure the safety of your cats (and other
animals!). Living in California, we’ve seen plenty of disasters — fires,
floods, earthquakes, and more. We’re believers in disaster preparation, and we want
you to be, too.
Have a Plan
Prepare for all possibilities, including that you may be
away from home when disaster strikes. Make sure that everyone in your family —
children included — is prepared in the event of an emergency. Make a plan and
go over it until everyone knows what to do.
People need to rely on each other during emergencies, and
this fact is just as true for your pets. Get to know your neighbors, and put a
plan in place to help each other out. Find out from local shelters and
veterinary organizations what their emergency response plans are and how you
fit into those plans in case of a disaster.
Ask your veterinarian whether he has a disaster plan and how
he plans to work with other veterinarians in an emergency. If he’s never
thought about the situation, pushing him a little on the subject doesn’t hurt.
Corral Your Cat
Obviously, you’re not going to get advance warning of some
disasters, such as earthquakes. But if you know that a worrisome tropical storm
is just off the coast or that the rivers are starting to rise, find your cat,
now!
Caution
Even if your cat is a “combo kitty” — coming and going as she pleases — make her an indoor one while trouble is in the air. If you leave your cat outside to fend for herself during a disaster, she’s going to run and hide as best she can; in the aftermath, she may not be able to find her way home through the mess — and you may not be there even if she can find her way home.
You can’t evacuate a cat you can’t find, so know where yours
is so that you can put her in a carrier whenever you think you may need to
leave in a hurry.
Maintain Your Cat’s ID
Most animals survive a disaster, but too many never see
their families again. That’s because many pets aren’t equipped with a way to
determine which pet belongs to which family. Pets should always wear a collar
and identification tags. Better still is a permanent identification that can’t
slip off, such as an imbedded microchip.
Keep temporary ID tags at hand, too, to put on your pet if
you’re forced to evacuate. (Your pet’s permanent ID isn’t much use if you
aren’t home to answer the phone, if you even still have a phone or a home.) One
of the best tips we can offer on temporary ID is to keep cheap key tags around
the house. You can jot your temporary number on the tag, slip it into a plastic
housing, and then attach it to your pet’s collar.
A lot of people refuse to put a collar on their cats,
worried that the kitty may get caught on some branch while jumping and then
strangle. Others find that their cats give so many collars the slip that these
owners give up trying to keep collars on their pets.
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| Figure 20-1: You have a much better chance of being reunited with your cat if he’s wearing a collar with ID tags. |
Remember
A collar can save your pet’s life. Remember these words from an animal- control officer: “Every day, I put to death a dozen lost kitties who obviously belong to someone — animals we can’t match up with the families who’re missing them. I wish they had collars and tags, so I could locate their owners. I’ve put to death more lost pets than I can count, but I’ve never, ever been called out to remove the body of a cat hanging by his collar in a tree.”
Cat Tracks
Equipping your cat with a collar, tags, and a microchip are among the most important safety measures you can take on your cat’s behalf. Find out more about these items in Chapter All the Right Stuff.
Keep Preventive Care Measures and Health Records Current
Infectious diseases can spread from cat to cat in the
high-stress environment of an emergency shelter, which is why keeping pets’
immunity against disease up-to-date with vaccinations as your veterinarian
recommends is essential.
Prepare a file with up-to-date medical and vaccination
records, your pets’ microchip numbers, your veterinarian’s phone number and
address, feeding and medication instructions, and recent pictures of your
animals. Trade copies of emergency files with another pet-loving friend; having
someone else who knows about your pet is a good idea should anything happen to you.
Cat Tracks
The routine vaccination of cats against all potential diseases is a matter of much discussion in the veterinary and cat-owning community today. Find out what you need to know about vaccines, the diseases they prevent, and those they may cause in Chapter Preventive Health Care for Your Cat.
Have Restraints Ready
Even normally laid-back cats can freak if they’re stressed.
If you don’t want to get bitten or clawed, be prepared to restrain your pet —
for your pet’s safety as well as your own.
Keep carriers and other forms of restraint ready for
emergencies. Ready means at hand — the means to transport your pet shouldn’t be
something you need to find in an out-of-the-way storage area.
Cat carriers are probably the least-thought-of pieces of
emergency equipment for pet owners — but are among the most important. Sturdy carriers
keep pets safe and give rescuers more options in housing pets. They give you
more options, too, in the homes of friends or relatives or in shelters outside
of the area. Depending on weather conditions, you may also safely leave pets in
their carriers overnight in vehicles in an emergency.
Cat Tracks
Sturdy, cat-sized carriers belong on the list of “must-haves,” and even a top-quality one made of high-impact plastic — which we recommend over cardboard — doesn’t even cost you as much as a fancy meal out: around $25, tops. And the carrier lasts forever. If you are hesitant to use a carrier because it’s always a fight to get your cat in it, don’t be. Cats who resist getting in the carrier at home often find it the most comforting retreat during times of stress or when away from home. To them it represents the “way home.” For more on choosing the right carrier for your cat, see Chapter All the Right Stuff.
A terrified cat is a danger to anyone who tries to handle
her — a whirling men-ace of flying claws and slashing teeth. Make sure that
restraints and a muzzle are part of your emergency-care kit. Cat muzzles are
made to fit comfortably over the entire face, including the eyes. A soft
restraint designed for cats is a comfortable way to secure an unhappy cat:
These cloth accessories enclose the body but provide select access through a handful
of well-positioned openings in case your cat needs emergency treatment (or even
just a nail trim). Many a pillow case has served as an emergency cat carrier,
as well. If nothing else, throw a large old bath towel in with your emergency
supplies. In a pinch, you can wrap up a panicky cat in that with no harm to
either one of you.
Technical Stuff
If you need to hold onto a cat in an emergency, grasp him firmly behind the neck in a hold that veterinarians call scruffing. You can find out more about proper handling techniques for your cat in Chapter Getting the Relationship Started Right.
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| Figure 20-2: In an emergency, you can restrain your cat by “scruffing” him. A muzzle is another item that’s a must-have for your emergency kit. |
Rotate the Supplies Your Cat Needs
Keep several days’ worth of food and safe drinking water as
well as any necessary medicines packed and ready to go in the event of a
disaster. Rotate your supplies so they don’t get stale. If your pet eats canned
food, keep an extra can opener and spoon tucked in among the emergency supplies
— or use cans with flip-top lids.
Your emergency kit should also include disposable litter
boxes and at least a week’s supply of litter, as well as a litter scoop and
sealable plastic bags for disposing of the waste.
Keep First-Aid Supplies on Hand — with Directions
Pet-supply stores sell ready-made first-aid kits, or you can
put your own together fairly easily. Remember to keep the kit stocked and keep
it handy.
Keep a first-aid book with your supplies, but give the book
a quick read before you store it so you have a passing familiarity with what to
do in case of a feline health emergency. Most of these books include a list of
the supplies you need to have on hand.
The Cat’s Meow
PET-PAK, Inc., manufactures animal first-aid kits in five sizes, all neatly packed in a plastic container. (The four largest have handles.) The kit contains the basics for emergency care, along with a pamphlet on using the supplies. For more information, see the Additional Resources appendix.
Know the Locations of Nearby Veterinary Hospitals and Other Animal Services
Your veterinary hospital may become damaged in the disaster,
which is why having some backup plans for boarding and care is a good idea.
Know where to find other veterinary hospitals in your area, as well as animal shelters
and animal-control facilities. Boarding facilities should also be noted, as
well as groomers — all these places may be able to help out in a pinch.
Photocopy the appropriate pages from your local yellow pages, or compile and
print a list on your home computer. Then tuck the list in with your emergency
supplies.
If you lose your pet, you can also check with these
facilities in hope that she turns up at one of them.
Keep a “Lost Kitty” Kit Ready
In case of a disaster, you may not be able to get flyers
made, so prepare some generic ones and keep them with your emergency supplies.
In the biggest type size you can, center the words “LOST CAT,” along with a good-quality
picture of your pet. Below the picture include a description of your pet, along
with any identifying marks, and leave a space to add the phone number where you
can be reached, as well as any backup contacts, friends, relatives, neighbors,
or your veterinarian. Print up 100 copies and keep them in a safe, dry, and
accessible place.
A staple gun allows you to post your notices; keep one
loaded and with your supplies, along with thumbtacks and electrical tape.
If your cat becomes lost, post flyers in your neighborhood
and beyond, and distribute them at veterinary hospitals and shelters. Although
relying on the kindness of strangers is nice, offering a reward makes many
strangers just a little bit kinder.
Be Prepared to Help Others
You may be lucky to survive a disaster nearly untouched, but
others in your community may not be so fortunate. Contact your local humane
society and veterinary organization now to train as a volunteer so that you can
help out in a pinch. Disaster-relief workers do everything from distributing
food to stranded animals to helping reunite pets with their families — and
finding new homes for those who need them.
The Cat’s Meow
Volunteering in a pinch is not only a good thing to do — it feels good, and it’s the right thing for anyone who cares about animals and people.
by Gina Spadafori and Paul D. Pion
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