Emergencies such as bushfires, storms, floods and heatwaves can happen with little warning. Learn how to prepare your pets, create an emergency kit and make a plan to help keep them safe when it matters most.
Include your pets in your emergency plan
When creating your household emergency plan, think about:
- Where your pets will stay if you need to evacuate
- How you'll transport them safely
- Who can help care for them if you're unable to return home
- Whether their microchip and registration details are up to date
Practising your plan can help reduce stress for both you and your pets during an emergency.
Prepare a pet emergency kit
Having a pet emergency kit ready to go can save valuable time.
Your kit should include:
- Registration certificates
- Vaccination records
- Carriers, cages, crates or floats
- Food and water bowls
- At least one week's supply of non-refrigerated food
- Medications and treatment instructions
- Blankets, bedding or nesting materials
- Collars, leads, harnesses and identification tags
- Dog waste bags
- Cat litter and a litter tray
- Favourite toys or enrichment items
- Recent photographs of your pets
- Contact details for your veterinarian, local animal shelter, local council and emergency accommodation providers
Protecting your dog during an emergency
Dogs can become stressed or frightened during emergencies. Being prepared can help you move quickly and safely.
You can prepare by:
- Creating a pet emergency kit
- Knowing where you can take your dog if you need to evacuate
- Practising loading your dog into the car
- Keeping microchip and registration details up to date
- Having leads, harnesses and identification tags ready to use
A little preparation now can make a big difference when time matters most.
Protecting your cat during an emergency
Cats often seek hiding places when they feel frightened. Planning ahead can help you avoid delays if you need to leave quickly.
You can prepare by:
- Keeping a secure cat carrier ready to use
- Including food, water, bedding and litter in your emergency kit
- Keeping microchip and registration details up to date
- Practising calmly placing your cat into its carrier
- Identifying a safe place where your cat can stay if you need to evacuate
Planning ahead means you can respond quickly and keep your cat safe.
Protecting pocket pets and small animals
Pocket pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, mice and rats need special care during emergencies.
You can prepare by:
- Keeping a secure, portable cage or carrier ready
- Packing a supply of food, bedding and water
- Moving pets to a cool, quiet location during heat, smoke or storms
- Identifying safe accommodation options if evacuation is required
Small animals can be particularly vulnerable during emergencies, so early action is important.
Protecting birds during an emergency
Birds can be sensitive to smoke, heat and sudden changes in their environment.
You can prepare by:
- Keeping a secure cage or travel carrier ready
- Packing food, water and a cage cover
- Moving birds to a safe location early if smoke or extreme heat is approaching
- Keeping birds indoors in a well-ventilated area during poor air quality
Acting early can help keep your birds calm and safe.
Protecting livestock during an emergency
If you own livestock, it's important to have a property and animal management plan for bushfires, floods and extreme weather.
You can prepare by:
- Identifying safe, cleared shelter areas
- Maintaining access to water supplies
- Storing two to three days' worth of feed
- Planning evacuation routes for vehicles, trailers and floats
- Keeping identification records up to date
- Regularly checking trailer brakes and tyre pressure
If you plan to evacuate livestock:
- Practise leading and loading animals into trailers or floats
- Keep halters, lead ropes and other equipment readily available
- Practise hitching and positioning trailers for quick departure
- If possible, park your vehicle facing the exit and ready to tow
Early preparation helps protect your animals and supports a faster recovery after an emergency.
Learn more
For additional advice on emergency planning for pets, visit the RSPCA Pets in Emergencies resource.