Pets are part of the household, and the UK government's Be Ready checklist includes pet food and bottled water in an emergency kit. Pets are easy to forget until the shops are shut.
Food
- Keep one spare bag of their usual food, and rotate it: open the spare when the current bag runs out, then buy a new spare. You always have a bag in hand at no extra cost.
- Stick to the food they already eat. If you ever switch foods, mix the new one in gradually over about a week; a sudden change can upset a pet's stomach.
- Tins and pouches keep well and also contain water. Keep a tin opener or ring-pull tins.
- Store dry food in a sealed tub to keep it dry and away from pests.
Water
Dogs and cats need about 50-60 ml of water per kg of body weight per day (Purina Institute, a pet food maker's research arm, not a government source), and more in hot weather or if active.
Worked examples, for 3 days:
- a 4 kg cat: about 0.2-0.25 litres a day, so 0.6-0.75 litres for 3 days;
- a 20 kg dog: about 1-1.2 litres a day, so 3-3.6 litres for 3 days.
Add this to the household's water store. Under a boil water notice, the DWI advises giving pets boiled (cooled) water too.
Medicines and records
- Keep a few weeks' supply of any regular medicines, and ask your vet before you run low.
- Keep copies of vaccination records, microchip number and insurance details with your own documents.
- Have a recent photo of each pet on your phone, in case one goes missing.
A pet grab bag
- Lead, harness or carrier for each animal.
- Food and water for 3 days, bowls, and any medicines.
- Poo bags, cat litter and a small tray, and old towels.
- Your vet's phone number written down.
Hygiene
Wash or sanitise your hands after handling pets, their food or bedding (NHS), especially when water is short.
OrCore Prep adds pet food and water to your targets, based on each pet's weight.