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National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

This Saturday is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. Today we’re sharing an updated version of the information we previously published about disaster preparedness.
Are you prepared? Do you have a disaster plan for your pets? With hurricane season just around the corner in our part of the country, National Pet Disaster Preparedness Day is a good time to check and see if you’re prepared in case of emergency.

Newton looks seriousDo you have ID? Collar with tag and registered microchip both give the maximum ability to get pets back who go astray during a disaster. If you have changed telephone numbers recently, verify that you have updated the number on tags and with the chip registry.

Do you have a disaster kit handy? Disaster kits are good to have on hand if you need to evacuate, and they are also filled with handy things in case disaster strikes and you are at home with local stores or delivery services not operating. A disaster kit should be in some kind of a durable bin or bag and contain:

  • Food for at least five days. If you use dry food, package it in something airtight and rotate it every six months so it doesn’t go bad. Don’t forget to include bowls. Paper bowls are a good idea since they are lightweight and you don’t have to worry about cleaning them.
  • Water for at least five days. You probably have this for yourself, but don’t forget your pets!
  • Litterbox with litter, scoop, and trash bags to dispose of used litter. There are disposable litterboxes on the market. Disposable foil pans like you would use for making a turkey can work for this, too. If you plan ahead, you can sometimes find those on sale after the holidays when everyone is done turkey for the year.
  • Medications and written instructions on how you give them, especially if your routine varies at all from what is on the prescription label. (If you cut pills in half and dose twice a day, for example)
  • A copy of medical records, especially proof of recent vaccines. If you have to board your pet during an evacuation, you’ll need that documentation.
  • Written information about feeding schedules and medical conditions that could be left with a boarding facility if necessary. You may have compiled this already for a pet sitter. If so, you can use a copy of the same information here.
  • Current photos and descriptions of pets to use in case you are separated from them during a disaster. It’s a good idea to also have a photo of yourself with your pets for a quick proof of ownership. Tip: You can put all of the photos and other documentation on a thumb drive to make it compact rather than carrying it all on paper.

Disaster peparedness kit

Do you have cat carriers for everyone? You may only take one or two cats to the vet at a time, but if you have more cats than that, make sure you have enough carriers to go around in case of evacuation. If you aren’t going to use the additional carriers for anything other than emergencies, less-expensive plastic carriers have the advantage of being stackable if you’re in tight quarters, and most of them break down for compact, nested storage.

Newton looks at carriersDo you know where to go in case of evacuation? Not everyone is pet friendly, so it’s a good idea to ask around before you need to find a place to go in an emergency. Places you might go include:

  • Local evacuation centers. Do the ones in your area make provisions for pets? More of them are including this in their contingency planning, but you should check before assuming that they do. Contact your local emergency management agency well ahead of a disaster — not after — to ask how to research this for your locality.
  • A family member or friend in a nearby region or state who might accommodate you. It’s always better to ask now rather than showing up in their driveway in an emergency!
  • Pet friendly hotels. Do you know where to find pet-friendly hotels? Several internet sites include listings, such as:
    • Go Pet Friendly
    • Bring Fido
    • Dog Friendly
    • Marriott Dog-Friendly Hotels
    • Pets Welcome

Keep in mind that when there is a disaster that causes an evacuation, lodging fills up fast.

What if you are away from home when disaster strikes? Talk to a trusted friend or neighbor in advance about helping evacuate and meet you with your pets in a safe location away from the disaster.

We all hope that disaster won’t strike us, but it’s best to be prepared and not need the plan than need a plan and have no idea what to do!

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May 7, 2015 Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: Newton 23 Comments

Does Your Cat Carry ID?

This Saturday is Every Day is Tag Day, celebrated the first Saturday of April. It’s a day when the American Humane Association encourages everyone to be sure that cats are carrying ID at all times. Since a cat can’t carry a wallet, ID for cats takes the form of a microchip and tag. This is an important way to help kitties make their way home if they are lost, but only two percent of cats who end up in shelters have some form of ID.

Even indoor cats need ID. An indoor cat who escapes the house or gets out another way can end up lost or in a shelter, and their ID is a big part of helping them find their way home.

Ashton wears a collarWhat can you do to make sure your cat is carrying ID at all times?

  • If your cat will wear a collar, use a breakaway collar with daytime and evening contact information so that a found cat can be returned to you day or night. If your cat has any medical condition that a rescuer should know about, like diabetes, be sure to include that information on the tag, too, so that if your kitty is lost, he can get the appropriate care until you are reunited. If the noise of metal tags bothers you, there are lots of options available, including silent silicon tags and metal tags that slide onto the collar. We wear metal slide-on tags on our collars so that they don’t get in the way or bang into bowls.
  • Get your cat microchipped. Chips are implanted in a simple procedure, and they can’t be lost as easily as a collar and tags. Reduced-cost and sometimes even free microchips are available at events in your community at various times around the year. Be sure to register your chip so that if someone finds your kitty, they can get your contact information. Your chip isn’t registered automatically!
  • If you move to a new home:
    • Make sure your cat’s tag includes a cell phone number or the number of someone who knows how to reach you.
    • Update your contact information with the microchip registry so that if someone finds your cat, they will be able to contact you.
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April 2, 2015 Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: Ashton 27 Comments

Lilies are Toxic to Cats

This time of year, many people have lilies in their homes as they celebrate the Easter season. It’s not well-known that lilies are toxic to cats. As little as two leaves from a single flower have resulted in death. If your cat does eat or chew any part of a lily, don’t wait to see if symptoms develop. The only way to help cats who have ingested the toxins in the plant is early medical attention, so see your vet immediately.

To be safe, avoid having lilies anywhere a cat can access… and don’t forget that cats are great athletes and can jump as much as five times their height. A high shelf may not be as safe as you think! It’s safer not to allow lilies in your home with cats.

Lily Infographic

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March 31, 2015 Filed Under: Safety 16 Comments

Winter Cat Safety

We’re lucky to be southern cats. We have ridiculously hot summers in exchange for not having snow like so many of our friends up north. But we learned that there are a lot of hazards lurking in the winter for kitties in cold climates, and we’re sharing a few tips we found that humans can use to make winter a little easier on their outdoor kitty friends like community cats who stay out in the cold.

winter_cat_safety

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December 18, 2014 Filed Under: Safety 23 Comments

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