Hurricane Pet Preparedness: How to Prep for a Hurricane with Cats

How to Prepare for a Hurricane with Cats

For Floridians, summer means one thing: hurricane season. As a Florida native, I’ve been dealing with hurricanes my whole life, so I know how important it is to be prepared for a storm. In planning for a hurricane, don’t forget to consider your pets! Here, I’ll be sharing how to prepare for a hurricane with cats, including what to keep in your pet emergency kit, safety considerations to keep in mind, and general hurricane pet preparedness tips. Don’t forget to grab my free hurricane prep checklist for pets at the bottom of this page!

Hurricane Pet Preparedness

Understanding the Risks Around Hurricanes

Hurricanes bring a variety of risks, including the obvious risks of flooding, dangerous winds, rip currents, and a whole lot of property damage. Beyond these effects, hurricanes can affect access to power lines, water, and roads. As such, it is important to consider whether you have everything you need for a storm both if you stay in your home or if you evacuate.

When it comes to how to prepare for a hurricane with cats (or dogs), pet owners will need to consider their pets’ basic needs, much like their own. Make pet-specific plans so you are not caught off guard if a storm turns out to be worse than was anticipated.

Creating a Pet Emergency Kit

When preparing for a hurricane with your cat, make a list of your pet’s essential items. This list should include essentials to last at least a week, including pet supplies, travel gear, and comfort items. These are items that you should keep together ahead of a storm, in case an evacuation order comes in for your area.

Pet Essentials, Pet Travel Gear, and Comfort Items

Essential pet supplies include:

Pet food (kibble and wet food),
Water bottles,
Litter, and
Pet medications.

With these supplies, you’ll want to have a set of bowls, utensils for opening and feeding your cat wet food, a small pan for litter, and any medical accessories your pet may have.

Pet travel gear includes (photo examples below):

A durable carrier (I recommend this Sherpa carrier– read my full review of it here for details),
A harness and leash set (I trust this harness with my cats – read my full review of it here for details),
Pet GPS tag (we use Apple AirTags with these cases),
Pet ID tags,
First aid kit for pets,
Important medical records (physical and digital copies), and
Anything else you know your pet would need in the event of evacuation.

If your pet is not already microchipped, it is a good idea to ask your vet to microchip them ahead of hurricane season. If you’re not sure if your pet was microchipped, ask your vet to check! While microchips cannot track a pet, should your pet get out and lost during a storm, they help animal rescues, shelters, and vets identify lost pets and reunite them with their owners. Learn more about how microchipping can save your pets life here.

Pet comfort items can include:

Familiar items known to reduce stress in your pet, such as favorite toys or blankets,
Catnip (my cats love this spray and these toys!),
Feliway calming spray, and
Treats.

The Best Cat Harness Travel Essentials for Cats 8

Pet ID tag example on harness suitable for cats

Shop Hurricane Pet Preparedness Essentials for Your Pet Emergency Kit

Tips for Preparing Your Cat for a Hurricane

As the storm gets closer, gather your pet’s emergency kit and hurricane supplies in one central spot. I like this Sherpa carrier because it has a pocket in the back, which is perfect for smaller items like medications, medical records, or smaller supplies.

Keep larger supplies (food and water stores, bowls, comfort items, small litter pan, and so on) in a bag or easy-to-carry box near the carrier. Place your cat’s harness (with GPS and ID tag) and leash in the carrier, so you know exactly where it is if and when you need it.

Lastly, trim your cat’s nails so you don’t have to worry about scratches in times of stress!

Prepare to Evacuate with Your Pet

Know Where to Go

As a pet owner, it is important to have a plan in place for evacuation with your pet. If you leave before the storm, it is easier to plan and find a pet-friendly location (whether that is with friends and family, or a hotel) because you won’t be as stressed. If you have to evacuate last minute, you’ll need to know where you can go with your pet.

Do not assume that there are pet-friendly shelters in your area. In my city of Tampa, for example, there are NO public shelters that accept pets. There are a number of resources online for finding pet-friendly hotels, such as Pets Welcome and Pet Friendly Travel.

Lastly, NEVER leave your pets alone if you have to evacuate. You don’t know how long you’ll be gone, or what damage the home may sustain in your absence. Take them with you. They’re family.

Preparing Your Pet to Evacuate for a Hurricane

Maintaining a consistent routine with your pet can help reduce stress if you have to evacuate for a hurricane. Use catnip and Feliway to help sooth your pet as you might during regular travel. Ensure your cat is wearing their harness and that it is securely attached, along with their ID tag and GPS tag. Keep your cat in their carrier at all times, even with the harness on; you never know what might spook them, especially if you have to leave as the storm is starting up.

Post-Storm Pet Care

Even after the storm has passed, pet owners need to be cognizant of risks to their pets.

If you have evacuated and are returning home after a storm, be sure to check the area for hazards such as broken glass, water damage, and so on before allowing your pet free-reign of the house again.

If you remained home during the storm, it is still a good idea to check doors and windows for damage, or any screened porches for rips that you might not have noticed during the storm itself.

Then, once you have determined that it is safe, help your pet (and yourself!) return to normalcy by practicing your regular routine. Keep comfort items out and available for your pet, and consider leaving the carrier open and available in a common space or bedroom, so your cat has a safe place to go.

Concluding Thoughts on Preparing Your Pet for a Hurricane

While this hurricane pet preparedness guide was geared mostly towards cats, the information is suitable for dogs and other pets, as well.

Ensure your pet’s emergency kit is up to date and full of enough food and water for at least a week’s time. Keep a note (both physical and digital, in case the power goes out and your phone/computer dies) of microchip numbers, vet records, and emergency contact info for your pet, just so you have it if you need it.

Preparing ahead means you can ride out a storm with less panic and even if you never need your pet’s hurricane prep kit (and hopefully you never do!), you’ll be glad you have it!

Additional Resources for Hurricane Pet Preparedness

For more information about hurricanes and pet preparedness, please visit the following resources:

Shop Hurricane Pet Preparedness Essentials

Don’t Forget Your Free Printable Hurricane Prep Checklist!

Whether you’re adopting your first cat or adding to your clowder,
my Cat Care Guide covers everything you need to know about giving your cat their best life!
Check out my full Cat Care Guide here!

*This post was originally published as part of my Cat Mom Life series in 2024. It was most recently updated on June 19, 2025.

Hurricane Pet Preparedness: How to Prepare for a Hurricane with Cats

How to Prepare for a Hurricane with Cats

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Hurricane Pet Preparedness