A week ago there was a fire in my high-rise building. We grabbed our cat, put her in her carrier, and went to the stairway. It was filled with people and just about every single person was also holding a pet carrier. It just hit home how important our pets are that they're the one thing you think of when an emergency strikes.
Excellent point, AnyDay. We had an ice storm hit our city and lost power. It very quickly became too cold in our house, and I phoned my daughter (No internet!!) who told us the local Days Inn still had power and accepted pets. We were there for several days with 2 bewildered cats until power was restored. That's an important thing to know. We couldn't go to our daughter's home because her husband is highly allergic to cats.
When my smoke alarm goes off in my house, my cat actually comes running to me crying. He sticks to me like glue, so getting him in his carrier is pretty easy.
As for me, I had to drive under bed to reach her when alarm goes off. Which is why I chose lx twin with high enough for me to drive under smoothly and move freely.
When we lived in an apartment, I had to grab my boy and get out twice. Once, the fire alarm went off while I was home alone (it ended up being a false alarm, but at the time I didn't know it). The moment is a blur now due to the adrenaline, but somehow I grabbed my poor terrified boy and shoved him into his carrier, which he hated at the time. All of our important documents and everything are in a fireproof lockbox, so I knew that all I needed was him. After that incident, I harness trained him, which came in handy when we had to shelter from a tornado in the basement of our building. Thankfully, nothing happened, but he was miserable nonetheless. When we moved to our house, we used your technique to get him adjusted to his carrier. I anticipate that will make getting him out in the event of an emergency much easier, but I keep thinking about the "unders", like you mentioned: anytime he's scared, he ALWAYS hides under our bed--which, in a way, is kind of good, because it's a very large space that's easily accessible to a human (it's super easy to crawl under there), and we ALWAYS know where he's going to go during an emergency. We store a lot of bedding and whatnot under there right now, and I just think about those crucial seconds that might be lost trying to wrangle him through all of that stuff. I think maybe it's time to clean it out, for safety's sake...
How about you train him to go inside an accesible carrier thats under the bed? and block all other entrances to that space with wire or something. That way you'll always know where your cat went and its just a matter of locking the back and leaving asap.
Jackson I absolutely appreciate this video and as a reminder on how we can keep our pets safe. Two years ago, we had a helicopter fly over our house telling us to evacuate immediately due to a wildfire in my area. At the time my cats were outdoor, and by some grace of God I was able to catch them all and we were able to get out of there safely. One of my boys was actually very difficult to catch, but thankfully he ran into the garage and I was able to corner him and get him.Thankfully our home was safe, but some of our neighbors lost their homes as well as 900 other people. I heard heartbreaking stories about how people could not catch their outdoor cats and they most likely perished. Needless to say all of my cats are now indoor and I am extremely aware of their safety. It would’ve absolutely killed me if I was not able to catch one of them or had to leave them behind due to an emergency
I am sure that was an extremely scary time . I am glad all worked out. I have a tile on my indoor only cat’s collar as she loves to hide in the house . I would highly recommend the $25 dollar investment…..apple air tags is probably a better option ( it was not out when I bought it )
"Don't let your cat of its carrier in the car." AMEN I like you learned that the hard way🙃. Thanks for these emergency tips. Also you can get a sticker to put on your door to alert emergency responders to rescue your cat. Just in case you aren't available at the time of an emergency. ( or any pet)
I did not know that. Where do you find these stickers? Are they official, like the ones used for children's rooms (meaning something firefighters would immediately recognize)? Or more generic available through different retailers?
@@bossyboots5000 I'm not sure. I got them at my apartment where they were available to anyone who needed them. But I do know that they are honored by first responders police etc.
Most of those things I've been doing for years already. In 2020, we had two strong earthquakes (6+), first one in March during lockdowns, it was 6.15 AM, and I found my 4 cats glued to the floor in the middle of my home office where they usually sleep. They were absolutely terrified. So, when the time came to put theory into practice and evacuate from 17th floor where I live, I realized that carrying 4 carriers and a backpack is mission impossible. I put two of them in one big travel carrier (designed for flight travels) and other two in my ventilated sport bag and rushed out of the building to the park. Inspite of all of my preparedness, I had to figure out how to carry them all four to safety alone and had to stress them additionally by literary pushing them into the bag and carrier together which they opposed and fought but were terrified enough so that I still managed to push them in. Jackson, if you read this, but also others, I would like to hear your thoughts on how to deal with multiple pets in such situatiation.
I have two cats so I have one soft carrier that goes on my shoulder/side and a smaller cat backpack. That way I have one hand free. You can try cat 1+2 on one shoulder with a larger soft carrier, then cat 3 in backpack on your stomach/front, and cat 4 on a soft carrier on your other shoulder. Then emergency backpack on your back. It will be very heavy but for a quick exit manageable enough.
Wow! Can't imagine 4 cats on the 17th floor. For years I've had a large family of cats & have gone over in my mind how to evacuate my & their absolute essentials. I live in a home & going out the door might be an issue depending on the emergency. Currently I have 12 cats. 4 are ok with me but are still enough feral I fear how it will be getting them into carriers. One holds 3 cats slightly squashed, one holds 2 medium sized, the other two would challenge putting more than one kitty. Still need 3 more carriers. I've almost got all microchipped & have a folder of their vet info. Sometimes when the news announces a fire I run over all the things I need to do in my mind. I still may have some trouble but I sure hope I can work it right IF an emergency ever comes our way. Thanks for sharing your story
@Vienna1902 Late to the party here and not sure if any of this will be useful in your particular situation, but this is what my process and plan looks like as I'm working out an evacuation strategy for my youngsters. They have hard-sided crates that are stacked as a unit in the front entrance and they spend a lot of happy time in them because it's where they get their meals. Once they're all solid on going to their crates on command between feedings too, I'll start teaching them that the smoke alarm also means 'kennel'. The next step on the list for the crates themselves is to find an aluminum-frame hiking pack to reconfigure as a transportation pack. With a quick-release system the crates will still be easy to use as individual units, but they'll be attached to the frame along with the go-bags for day-to-day storage/use. If we ever have to move fast, we'll have an easily-adjustable hands-free carrier at the door with everyone's familiar individual crates and emergency supplies ready to go. My guys will also know how to self-load on command and hopefully at the sound of the alarm too. Even if they're too freaked out to manage either of those in an actual crisis, things like practicing for an evacuation and making sure they have strong positive associations with their crates will still make a difference.
I had a fire in my apt building (didn't get into my apt thank goodness) but my cat's carriers were downstairs in storage. Instinctively my friend and I just scooped them and we ran into my car! They were FREAKED out (my one cat Ben did fine and thought we were having a car party) but when I brought them back inside they were definitely shaken up. So now they are in the living room!!!!! And my boys are micro chipped :) I also have a card in my wallet that has my address, my cat's names and my friends who can care for them in case I'm unable to make it home for whatever reason. And their microchip info is UTD!!
You can get little wallet cards that say I have a cat/dog/etc home alone so if ever (heaven forbid) you're in an accident or taken ill and the emergency services check for ID, they will see it
I have been watching you since the very beginning… I am handicapped and every cat I have ever had came to me After the first owners let them go or threw them out. Every single one was unique and special!
I am disabled too, and I worry about these situations because physically it would be hard for me. I would love to harness train both of my cats especially because they were born to feral colonies, but if they bolt I cannot run with them :( makes me feel helpless!
@@Aquarius444K I understand how you feel. I too am physically disabled and on a walker. I can get down a few steps with my husband’s help. Poor guy that he has to deal with almost everything in our lives, and help my mom too, who lives with us. The least I can do is get the cats prepared. Big thanks to Jackson!
VERY good episode. When my apartment caught fire last year, luckily I was prepared with carriers easily accessible. (Also this is the very reason I only have 2 cats- because I only have 2 arms.) Bye the time my neighbor screamed fire and I had grabbed my cats, the hallway was already pitch black filled with smoke. We got out just in time before my 2 neighbor units were completely burnt to a crisp. Another neighbor could not get her cat because she hid under the couch... but luckily all apartment kitties made it out unharmed. I always implore my pet parent friends to think about their pets in emergency situations. This is such a huge fear of mine. I WAS SO GLAD I WAS WORKING FROM HOME AT THE TIME.
Thank you Jackson! I put the scented items inside a zip-top bag to preserve the scent over time. Those takeout food plastic utensil packets are perfect to put in your Go Bag to serve up food. If your animal likes food that comes in those foil packets, you can pack more in the Go Bag and reduce the weight. Also include a picture of yourself with your animal to assist with reunification; you may lose your ID or cellphone in a disaster. I also put plastic food storage containers in to serve food & water. I keep a bag of cat litter in my trunk. It's always there, and can come in handy if I get stuck in some mud. The flats that sodas come in make great temporary litter boxes. Save those plastic shopping bags to line them, and also to collect trash. I also have some latex or nitrile gloves, for myself, for 1st Aid and in case I have to clean up an icky mess. A roll (or partial) of paper towels is handy. A signed pre-authorization for veterinary care should be with your vet records. And finally, if I have to leave my pets with a friend, I have some xtra cash in the Go Bag for them to buy anything they need.
My cat is harness trained but growing up in the 70s, our cats were harness trained cuz we took them traveling with us, camping. So my cat has a go bag that I bring every time we travel, either visit friends, go to hotel, go camping. My cat stays in her carrier and is harnessed in it that has her blankets in there snd her quilt over it. It calms her. When we get yo where we are going she either stays in her carrier or once I put her quilt somewhere, she dives under it. It soothes her. Eventually she comes out and plays, eats, and cuddles. Her jackpot treat are her Churu ‘lickies’. So I feel confident in an emergency she would feel safe in her carrier. She sleeps in it snd on it even when we don’t travel cuz she knows she gets treats inside her carrier. It’s our routine every night. Thanks for the reminders on this subject.
We had a tornado warning go off a few weeks ago, and I scrambled around the house to get Jett so I could put him in his crate. Once he was in there, we sheltered in the basement for about an hour until it was all clear. I let him out and he was still his happy confident self. That was a good exercise for how quickly I could get him packed up.
Luckily since I always do a run of what to do regularly for my practice given physical disability so I try to factor in the family pets to the plan. Nobody needs a fire and very confused and scared animals.
PLEASE READ THIS- BLOCK UNDERS BLOCK UNDERS BLOCK UNDERS!!!!!! Its traumatic for me to think about, but we lost our house in a tornado 11 years ago. I had no concept of self preservation but I ran after my cat trying to get her and she ran under a bed. I remember desperately even pulling her tail trying to get her out as the house was shaking and you could've seen shit flying outside. I couldn't get her and my dad had to drag me to the closet. Soon as the tornado passed I ran to the room she was in that now had only one wall standing. She was somehow still under the bed, the mattress was gone but the box spring was there. I refused to let her go for the rest of the day/night, it was hours and I remember petting her poor soaked body the entire time, pulling insulation from the walls and other debris out of her fur. she's still around but now she's around 18 years old and I know she'll be gone soon, and its heartbreaking to think about. But she could've only made it to 7 if we hadn't gotten so lucky. Never think something bad cant happen to you, tragedies and disasters don't give a fuck about you.
So something I have in addition to my cats carrier is a bigger pop-up crate that is foldable and easy to carry. The reason for this is because you could end up in a shelter temporarily and even if it's pet friendly you will have to keep your cat contained. By having a bigger area to contain them in you can put in a litter box as they will need to go to the bathroom, their food and water, and yet they will still have some room to move around. Amazon sells these and some even have scratch proof mesh on the sides. Along with that thought I would recommend getting a foldable litter box and keeping a bag of the litter you use at home in their 'go bag' so they will have the comfort of using a litter they are used to. Also a thought for being able to get your cat quickly in an emergency, while I don't normally recommend laser pointers if your cat really likes them they can come in such a situation. My cat will hide or shy away from everything when stressful events occur and trying to catch him will only stress him out more and is sometimes futile. But we have discovered if we lure him out with a laser pointer we can easily grab him and place him in his carrier. If your cat has another favorite toy such as a wand toy that will work as well.
There was a fire in the building next door to mine. The electricity pannel of our building took fire as well. Soon, the whole building was filled with smoke, it was horrible. I was with my neighbour's cat, catsitting then. She went hiding IMMEDIATELY when the loud sounds were heard and I couldn't find her. I had no choice but give up to save my own cat upstairs, as my flat got all the smoke that raised. I could open the windows, and put my cat in its carrier instantly to leave when I could see enough. I tried to go back and fetch the neighbour's cat but a firefighter had me leave the building, which was more than understandable. Luckily, my neighbour's cat found a spot to hide where the smoke didn't go and was unharmed somehow, but my own cat suffered from respiratory issues and had to go to the emergency vet right after the incident. He's also traumatised and sometimes pees himself when a firefighter truck passes by our building (the sirens). I will clean up and comfort him as many times as it takes, even if he never manages to overcome his trauma. I'm just so glad our cats were safe. If anyones has tips on how to help however, I'll take tem. I've tried to initiate playtime with him when the sirens were heard, but it doesn't seem to work sadly. It was by far the scariest experience of my life, but I'm happy I took the time to teach my cat to love his carrier, vastly thanks to your videos.
Thank you for this VERY important show! After the quakes (Christchurch, NZ here), everyone in our family have go bags for our cats and ourselves. A dish and a bottle of water in each go bag is good to add. We had no water after the big quakes hit. Just remember to refresh it regularly. Their emergency harnesses are in their go bags. We keep all of our emergency stuff in one easily accessible place including carriers. All cats have been micro chipped and on the national register.
When I was younger our water heater in our apartment started an electrical fire in the middle of the night. My cat bolted before I could grab him and went under the bed. I realized then how unprepared for this I actually was. Everyone ended up safe, fur baby included, but lesson learned after that. Always have a plan because you don’t think it happens to you until it does.
Lifetime Floridian here! Hurricanes are the big thing here and one thing I've learned is also get your cats microchip scanned once a year by your vet. Microchips can fail with age. It's rare, but it has happened. Also, make sure you know where your local PET SAFE shelter is. Keep a list of pet safe hotels as well. We've always had really good luck during evacuations with hotels lifting their pet bans during emergencies but it's not guaranteed.
I recently found myself trapped away from home. So my emergency was my cat was home and I couldn’t get back! I am also getting prepped for forest fire season: I have a large carrier with a small litter box that is available for her at all times, so if we need to up and drive hours (or just be in the car for hours) she is familiar with it.
We recently made sure 4 of our closest friends and family have keys to our place and instructions on feeding and play routines in case something happens to us the cats will still be fed.
Our cat sleeps in his carrier every night, and it's right next to our bed. That way if something happens in the middle of the night, I can just grab it and go. Fortunately, the worst thing that happens here (generally) is the possibility of a tornado, and we usually have a bit of notice. So, I take the time to put him in there with his food dish, and take him downstairs. He's fine just falling asleep in there while we wait to determine if we need to take shelter or not. The hard plastic will also help protect him from flying debris. MUCH better than trying to shelter while holding onto a Tasmanian Devil scared cat during the height of the house being torn apart.
I volunteered with Ukrainian refugees in Poland and yes cats can easily bolt. It was so sad when we couldn't find or catch them. Thank you for this very important video.
I'm in Japan -- I think seasonally is the best time to review people prep/cat prep. Update info, buy new food & water and rotate the emergency goods into the regular pantry. (And, thanks to this video, re-scent the t-shirts, and change-out the beloved toys.) Here, there were huge earthquakes on Sept. 1 and March 11, so all the DIY stores set out emergency goods during these equinox months, so it's easier to be on a twice-a-year schedule. I have 14 cats, and I think my emergencies would be limited to house fire, house collapse from earthquake, and power outage. You got me thinking that I could set up an evacuation hut in the garage, and even take the cats out there to get familiar with the space. Hope I'll never need it, but it's good to be prepared.
Defenetivly have to do more preparation. I have all the things littered throughout my apartment. No chance to grab them in an emergency. Thanks for the reminder, I have to get a bag to assemble it all....
Thank you, Jackson, for this video! I wish it had been released earlier, before the 24th of February when all Ukrainians 🇺🇦 woke up at 4 a.m. from the Russian missiles striking our homes. Unfortunately, we weren't prepared for that and that was our mistake cuz you can't predict any horrible things like that. Many people have lost their pets. Thanks again for recording this video as a reminder that absolutely anything can happen absolutely anywhere. So take care of yourselves, people, and of your beloved pets. Stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦
I'm sorry to hear that you were victim to the Ukraine invasion. I can't imagine how difficult this time must be for you. Please know that many, many people in the US do indeed stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians and we do not buy the load of BS Russian media and Putin are dishing out. I remember that during the botched Afghanistan withdrawal there were a number of pet charities trying to fly peoples' pets out of the country, or at least remove and rehome them. I gave my last $20 to one of them. Heartbreaking to think of experiencing those kinds of trauma and turmoil, worse to think about losing one's companion animal during such times. Wishing you safety and peace
When I was driving home from the shelter with Simone 8 years ago, she was attacking the carrying they put cats in, and managed to get out before we got home. I was thinking I might have to pull over, because I've been in a car with a cat on the loose and it was chaos. However, to my surprise, she was just chilling on the back seat like that's where she was supposed to be. Not that I would ever choose that scenario, but I was glad she seemed to do well that time, since that was such a surprise.
Great video! I keep a litter box with litter in my trunk. I also change out the food in the trunk as well. So it’s fresh. I keep the carrier on wheels in the dining room by the door. They nap in it. I’ve thought about an emergency exit since I’ve had them. I can grab them and go. Tornado warnings they go in the carrier and they are by my side just in case.
I've got a couple extra leads and tethers in my critter go bag because Bramble in particular hates being stuck in her carrier longer than a hour. I've also got a small stock of supplies for the pets of the rest of my family because I'm the only one who found this level of preparedness necessary.
Lol I hear ya! My husband just looked at my list and laughed. He goes..we will have no problems getting out of here with the kitties in an emergency. Well, we are 1 carrier short. Lol
😂😂😂 Your comment about travelling with the cat in the car, I can relate. I was moving once, my little corolla hatch back so full you could barely see out the back window. It was really hot and stuffy in the car and as my cat (Kitty) was leash trained, I pulled over to give Kitty a drink and stretch his legs, and have a nice picnic lunch outside Cunungra. I planned to stop twice, once after about, 45 mins from home to make sure Kitty was doing ok in his carrier on his first car ride, and the second time at the QLD/NSW border because that section is really windy and I was worried about him getting car sick. Umm I live in Australia, so of course a snake happened. A brown to be precise, aggressive and poisonous, coming right at my city cat who was intrigued rather then terrified. I'd just started packing up, after lunch, so Kitty was just chilling at the picnic table on a really long leash and I was putting stuff in the car when the snake popped up between us. I'm torn between screaming at the cat to get away from the snake, not wanting to scare the snake towards the cat and not wanting the snake to come near me because I was only wearing sandals. So I run in a wide arc around the snake, grab the cat and just throw him in the car, run around the car to grab my keys on the picnic table, and I was dead set going to leave everything else behind but the snake was out of sight so I swept up the last couple of toys and water bowl and literally jumped in the car in case the snake was hiding under there. I tear out of that park like I'm a stunt driver in Mad Max, I'm crying and hyperventilating, terrified that the snake has gotten up into the undercarriage - and my cat was having a great time popping in and out of all my pilled up belongings. Driving 100km/h, crying, panicked and jumped up on adrenaline while your cat plays peekaboo is not something I'd recommend. 1/2 hr later, when we got the nearest town (Beaudesert), he had settled down as was purring in the passenger seat, pulled over, popped him back in his carrier and shared some McNuggets together. I might have left him there but we were about to cross the great diving range on the Mt Lindsay Hwy and in those days it was single lane, hair pin turns and trucks that weren't to careful about staying on their side of the road, so no distractions. I'm happy to report that in spite of the twists and turns, and the fact we didn't stop at the border, Kitty didn't throw up, which was nice. Certainly, a memorable drive anyway. Edit: I'm not normally too bothered by snakes but this one was in a foul mood, hissing, rearing up and threatening my cat. It's not supposed to be about the snake, it's supposed to be about me being traumatised in the front seat and the cat playing peekaboo in the back.
I've kicked a snake (accidently- It went flying through the air for a good 8 metres before landing and slithering off) and stood on a snake (accidently wearing a pair of thongs walking to the laundry under the house). Always carry a torch if walking outside at night if you live near a lot of trees / shrubs. Ps Those rest areas just off the Pacific highway just after you cross into NSW even have warning signs for snakes as its a narrow path to the toilet facilities and lots of scrubs and trees plus leaves about.
@@roadmonitoroz I have spent the last hour or so trying to figure where the toilets you are talking about are... lol Mt Lindsay Hwy NOT Pacific Hwy, nope wait still confused the Pacific Hwy crosses the border at Tweed/Coolangatta, there are snakes at the twin towns resort!!! At the QLD/NSW border on the Mount Lindsay Hwy there is nothing but a tick station and siding for you to pull over. I would not pull over at those rest stops on the P.C. Hwy because I am 5'1" female and those places are seedy A.F. I picked the place I did outside of Cunungra because it was right on the Hwy, the trees were sparse, it was a large area with no grass or bushes, and you could drive right through so if a creep came along I could just drive straight back onto the road, I didn't have to reverse. It was a weird place for snakes but when picking it I was primarily worried about dogs and axe murders.
My family is currently updating our 72 hour kits. We just got a new human baby, in addition to our two furry babies, so this video came along at just the right time! Making sure everyone has what they might need in a quick grab bag.
During an emergency, try as hard as you can to push down your panic and fear and try to remain calm. I had a transformer for our power lines physically blow up next to our house and we had to evacuate immediately due to fire. We were able to grab two of our cats, but one of them, a shy, skittish little girl, was completely freaked out and I couldn’t grab her. Followed her all over the house and into our basement. It was only when I forced myself to be calm and not be scared, then I was able to approach her and grab her. Cats pick up on your energy! If you are scared, they will be too!
I'm facing Shanghai lockdown, with high risk of seeing my pets taken away in case I'll test Covid positive😓 Ive a suitcase for my 2 cats ready in case of emergency, ill add vet records 👍 one thing i've also put in are foldable litter box (waterproof), a scoop and foldable silicone bowls. Though might be usefull 😊 Thanks Jackson Galaxy for all your great tips!!!
My cats 4 cats I have had over the period of 25 years have always loved sleeping in the carrier over cat beds . So I always put some extra old towels in old pillow case so it’s nice and cozy . I also have a blanket it so then can be covered as the love to sleep in it being covered I also bought a tile ( pet version) so I can locate her when I am looking for her as she loves to hide (she is chipped)
This video is very important, I have never lived in an area prone to natural disasters, but this year was especially delicate. Due to climate change, the climate of our region is becoming desertic. this summer we had the biggest heat wave in the last 50 years of record, and we had many fires that destroyed thousands of vegetation areas in the hills that surround the city, in the valleys and fields of crops. we stayed for weeks with the windows closed because the air and the ashes were harmful to health, and even so the smell of burning inside the house was horrible, and it stung our eyes. Several exits from the city were cut off to traffic by fires and 2 open only for firefighters, forest guards and ambulances. Tractors were asked to make firebreaks in all the fields, and inside the city they cleared all the plant matter near the sidewalks and areas connecting green areas and natural parks. I was very happy to have a stock of high quality wet food to help hydrate my cats and also the gel beds that lower their body temperature. the heat was horrible and they lay on it or on the tile in the hours of maximum heat. When they started to announce that a mass of hot air was coming from Africa to Europe and the temperatures were going to be historic, I already bought extra feed, sand, the little mice and balls that they like to play with when there is heavy snow and rain and we can't go out to the garden, and it was a very good decision, because the transporters would not be able to enter the city because of the fires. Forecasting and provisioning made this fire weather a lot less stressful, and I knew my cats would be hydrated and not short of food or litter.
I had this experience 2 weeks ago. I was on the border of an evacuation area and started packing my car just in case. My two cats picked up on my energy and started following me all over the house yowling at me. I packed some odd unnecessary things and it made me realize I need a list on hand if it ever happens again. Thankfully the FD got the fire under control but it was a huge learning experience for me. Thanks for the video - I will add your suggestions to my list.
I have a list on the door in case of emergency and the first thing in "Crate the cats." Then we gather everything else and leave. The cats are crated before they catch our panic too much. Also, vaccine records are in our lock box with our important paperwork in case we go somewhere that needs proof they have their shots. Also, practice taking the cats, crates, go backpack, out your exit. It was harder than expected to carry it all down 5 flights of stairs but at least I know.
Proof of spay/neuter is also really important as a lot of pet charities require that, and if you have to bug out somewhere else you may need such services. Vaccine records are also important, especially if you need to have your cat stay in a safe shelter. 👍
I mainly live in a camper. If a fire breaks out, my German shepherds will grab Billy and I'll get his house, medical pills, and food. I have a picture of him. Thanks for the knowledge
When I had four of my cats fixed, the clinic's people were a little concerned about me having problems getting them into the carriers. I told them that it's not the kind of thing that my cats would fear because the older four had never been in a car or carriers other than my backpack and a small rolling bag. The night before, I stacked four carriers two high, doors open, in the living room. Two of the cats walked in and laid down, while the other two and the four kittens jumped in and around them; they had a blast. ❤️✌️
The picture is a great idea, but also have a photograph of you with your cat. If your cat becomes separated from you, it may be the only proof you have that your cat is your cat.
Excited for this video. Right now we have two cat carriers in the back of the SUV at all times and a collapsing bag carrier with the harnesses stored in it in the house. Plan right now is grab cats, throw them in bag, run out to car, put them in their proper carriers, and go. We have a bug out bag in the car. We probably need to get a second collapsible bag carrier tho just for ease of cat transfer to plastic carrier, cause one might flip out and run while we’re placing the other in the plastic one. And I have no idea how to evacuate my frogs/bugs safely…
@@carolineowen7846 Plastic is too hard to carry quickly as well as store in our tiny apartment all the way out to our designated parking area (it’s not right outside our apartment). One of our cats is a huge male Maine Coon that requires a dog size carrier, so it’d be easier to put the poor guy in something a little more navigable. Especially when we’re bringing the first aid kit and the water keg out of the house at the same time. The goal is to do it all in one trip. Small cat and the first aid kit for my partner and large cat and water keg for me.
@@utopiacore3978 Em, I see, that is a complex situation. Could you harness train your Maine Coon? Then you won't have to carry him. Good luck, & I truely hope you never have to evacuate. I guess it all comes down to the reason why & how much time / warning there is.
@@carolineowen7846 Thank you! He is harness trained. I’ve just found that it’s much easier to grab and put in a bag when we gotta run. (We’ve had to evacuate to the bottom stairwell during a tornado before.) But after watching this video, I think I’m gonna do what he said in it and make the Maine coon’s pop up and smaller cat’s plastic carriers their indoor “home base” and just keep the bigger plastic one in the car as extra. Same to you. We live in desperate times, but we have those close to us to help us through.
What an amazing dad. I did fire drills & earthquake drills & even a mall drill after I lost my daughter (my fault) she went to drop something in the trash & I walked away to make a call at the phone booth, she kept walking all the way to the last store in thd mall. I blanked out, I did go to security guard within 3 minutes, they were quick on their walkie talkies & she was found within minutes, my heart stopped because I had seen all those videos in how long it takes to abduct a child. So i had a mall drill. If lost stay there, where we were last together, I will instantly come back. Getting in n out of the car drill, my son had a bad habit of walking away as soon as out of the car, took me time to get all out & lock it, so I said when you're out of the car grab my skirt & don't let go till I hold your hand. So I had all these mini drills including the fire drill. Now to the cats, I periodically get these dreams where we are in danger crossing a bridge and the sea water is rising quickly and we all get swept into the sea, including the 2 birds in a cage and cats in a cage that I've had like 30 years ago or longer 😱
A can of pumpkin and something to store it in after can is opened. After evacuating during a fire, though in a safe room with a window to look out of, my cat was freaked out by always hearing my sister's crazy untrained dogs upstairs. She would eat but wasn't pooping for 3-4 days! I wish I'd had some pumpkin to feed her to move things along...and a feeding syringe because she probably wasn't going to eat it voluntarily. Luckily she finally poo'd any way. OK, just Googled about apple pectin powder (as it worked GREAT for my ancient mom in her last year of life!). Easier to store, pack around, and doesn't need refrigeration. Several, clicks said it is safe for any pet. It's a mucilagineous fiber (goopy and slick) when mixed with water, or wet pet food, to make an easy moving poo. Mom only needed 1/4 teaspoon so I imagine a small animal would need barely a pinch...mixed in water then put in syringe or in wet pet food - you DON'T want fiber to stop them up MORE if their little bodies are dehydrated.
So good to have food and water dishes in your go bag. The smell of a bowl that hes used, plus, if you have that that in the go bag you can GO if the time comes.
Thank you. I am still a new kitten mom and the emergency bag is amazing. Never thought that far ahead. My cat carrier will be here Thursday and I will have it and the bag filled and set
we got some kitten warmers that the Kitten Lady recommended in one of her videos in our kit. even though they were designed to be heated in a microwave, they do absorb body heat and reflect it back. if you live somewhere it gets cold, i would definitely consider these. thank you for the life jacket recommendation! crowdsourcing the prep work takes some of the anxiety out of it. i started harness training my cats by teaching them to do tricks for treats while wearing them. one of my girls still isn’t into it very much, but the other one will walk on a leash without treats now. every time we vacuum and every fourth of july we do some harness training. maybe we’ll turn that into our fire drill
Just had a city-sized fire scare. Realized I forgot to update which hotels take pets.... Otherwise, we did pretty okay. We know what we need to work on now, and this will definitely help :) thanks!
Thank you for this video, Jackson. Our family had to evacuate a few years ago due to fires in the region (North Bay in CA, fires almost every year here) and the one thing we forgot was an actual litter box. Luckily the relatives we were staying with had something we could use. Since then I have purchased a storage bin with lid, so that I can have it available for both the car ride and destination. We don’t really travel with our kitties so we haven’t had the opportunity to experience a pit stop to figure out the logistics (I’m terrified of them escaping during the trip!). I wish had done a pit stop during our prior evacuation as one of our kitties wasn’t able to hold it during the 2 hour drive to the South Bay. Guess I’ll need to do some more research!
I have travelled with my cat and I always left an emergency cardboard litter box on the backseat floor. Depending on how much room you have in your car it's doable. You could also put a harness and leash if you want them to potty outside.
For long road trips, I bought the largest dog crate that I could set up in the backseat of my car, then added a travel litter box, a travel water and food dish that screwed onto the side of the crate, scent-soaked towels and blankets on the second level so they had a place to sprawl out and sleep, and I used clothespins to clip towels on three sides of the crate to help them feel safer. To transport them in and out of the crate, I simply placed their carrier with them in it into the crate (unzipping it before closing the crate door so they were free to move about) because it was the safest way to put them in and get them out of the crate. They did great.
Thank you Jackson! I have a to go bag with copies of their paper works and all info and every few months i update. With pictures as well,Toys, case of food wet/dry, bowls, pop bags, grooming tools, blanket , instructions on feed schedule and vet info , chip info insurance etc . I will buy a pet emergency kit, and will crate train. Thanks for the tip of hiding spots don’t have many for them to hide but good idea. One of my kitties is very scared of thunderstorms and heavy rain. . Thanks will share this video as well. Thanks You.
A new, unopened bottle of still water and a collapsible bowl/s might be another good addition for a pet go-bag. You never know what services will be effected or if you will have access to clean drinking water for your pets where you end up. Oh and if you have dogs, perhaps a muzzle, just in case. You know what your dog his like and under stress, surrounded by strangers and other dogs, a muzzle might be a good idea.
Thank you for this video. I live in an area where evacuations on short notice are always possible and I plan to start getting my cat emergency kits together immediately. I thought I was ready, but there is more I can do. Thanks again.
Much complicated if like me you have a insulin dependent cat.. Alway a month of supply but must be refrigerated soooo... Made an icepack pouch for transport.. Doing my best😻
I would say wet wipes are also very handy... my cats can puke in their carriers due to being car sick or stress so it's good to have something to easily clean them up with. Also the poultry wire for under the bed?? THANK YOU. I tried attaching a stiff fabric around the outside of my bed but if they're determined they can still jam themselves underneath it siiigh.
Back in December, during a transfer from apartment to car to go see family, my cat got out of the car and tore out into the middle of a college campus/downtown area wearing his harness and leash. He was missing for 14 hours. I finally found him 4 blocks away, his leash stuck under a car tire, him huddled up under the car in a parking lot. He hadn't been chipped yet so you better believe the next time he went to the vet he got a microchip. But I was so convinced his harness would hurt him and it was actually what kept him from running further and getting truly lost. Now it's time to prepare the bug-out go-bag so we're best prepared
I just did it all, updated the cat's microchip (and created a profile for her), got my go bag. I've been giving her treats in her carrier. Sometimes she hangs out in there.
We adopted our cat in Aug21. His was already leashed trained and now we are training him for his carrier safe place. I found a pinch of catnip is helping.
And my family thought I was crazy getting go bags for the cats and dogs 😸. I haven’t thought about packing litter though, will have to figure that one out. And good reminder from multiple people in the comments to remember to go in and refresh everything periodically.
As some one who works for a home fire prevention campaign - I love how relatively non-flammable concrete housing is! Home fires are the most common disaster in the USA, and every year an average of 2,500 people die in home fires. Having smoke alarms and fire extinguishers certainly help, but making the majority of the house out of non-flammable materials could save lives. I do wonder how much CO2 they produce during construction - mixing concrete unfortunately releases a lot of CO2.
I just want to say how thankful I am I seen your video. My apartment building just had a fire. And I was able to get my boys and records out. By time made out door hallway was all filled with smoke. But I owe it to you. I think since I had carriers ready and places I can’t reach them we got out in time. They did immediately run under couch but easy to get from there. Thank you for all your advice and helping me keep my babies safe
I would add wrap bandages to any emergency first aid kit, human or animal, along with clean gauze and knowledge how to use it properly. Cause what if your animal is bleeding and you can’t get to a vet and it’s not a light enough wound to be safe to just leave it? Knowledge to use those could save your cat or dog or whatever animal until you get to a vet.
I have been a prepper for a long time. It wasn't until the last 6 years that I had pets. I went all out. We ended up with 6 cats and 2 dogs. They are included in my prepping. i have sealed foods for them I also have many recipes and human food that can be prepared for cats and dogs when there is a long term breakdown. I bought a large dog kennel. It stays assembled in my shop. I can throw it in my truck, and toss all 6 cats in it. The dogs will jump in back seat. That's for a rapid exit. I only have one cat that will be difficult. She's scared of her own shadow. We can't even medicate her. I plan on taking her to the vet soon to put her on some meds like xanax. But you did make one good point that i did not prepare for. "basecamp". I need to figure out how to manage the cats once we are out of the house. My only plan is a extra large screened in tent that i intended to house them in. I'll have to put more thought/research into this.
We had good success with easing our scaredy cat's stress with Rescue Remedy (pet formulation has no alcohol) and then Jackson Galaxy's Trauma Free tincture. Our pet sitter also discovered our shy kitty loves the sound of Bob Ross's voice, so she'd leave the TV on UA-cam videos of Bob Ross painting. 😆 Our other cat loves classical music so I have our smart speaker automatically start playing classical music (in a room across the house so it doesn't wake me) 30 minutes before we get up. It keeps him from going bonkers and being loud. I'm going to type up our routines and upload them to the cloud so we can email them to vet/cat sitters, etc. If we need. The other thing I'd add to the go bag is grooming items: claw clippers, a favorite brush, toothbrush/dental toys and treats, etc. Grooming is so important to cats and noone wants to get sliced by sharp claws when kitties are reacting to fearful situations!
I'm so greatful this video popped up on my home page. I've been doing research on what to pack for a cat emergency bag. I have started putting everything together and just as I thought I was done this video came up. I didn't know that I should have the crates out for them to get used to. I know it's common sense probably, but I just tuck them away and get them out as needed. So now they are out and my cats love it. They used to run away and not want me to put them in it. Now they get so excited and see it as a safe place. I also did have two blankets in my bag for them, but they are clean. So I got them out and put it in there crates so they could lay down on them. Put them back in my bag about a week latter and replace them with new ones for the crates. So greatful for the information and I definitely subscribed!
Thank you Jackson! I adopted a 5 yr old rescue 1.5 yrs ago. Last summer was her first summer with us, it was hot, and i live in a forested area, and our Province (British Columbia ) has forest fires every year. Horrible ones taking down a whole town as had happened not too long ago. So, I decided over the winter that i would do harness training with her. Thats done! I wanted to make sure she would be comfortable in it for those times when i would need to tether her to me. I also have a cozy carrier, which is by my bed, which she loves. Shes sleeps in there quite often. I will now prepare a grab bag for her. (Ive also covered the unders. She has a slight under but its with grabbing range.
What a great video, thank you! My cat is a feral kitty and her safe space is on my bed under my duvet, sadly her carrier isn’t her safe space but I think that under the duvet would be fairly easy to grab her inside the duvet and shove (kindly 😅) into the carrier as when she’s scared she won’t let me handle her! 🙈
Besides being a cat mom I am also a horse/burro mommy. Living in a fire zone I keep my horse trailer stocked with cat/large animal stuff. Appreciate learning more to do in regards to keeping my animals safe.
My 2 cats and I were just in the (Marrakech) Morocco earthquake. Thankfully my (newer) building was able to withstand the event but it was a serious wake up call to be more prepared! Just after the quake started the electricity went out. I quickly got my flashlight and found one cat to get him into the carrier. Unfortunately I only have 1 carrier so when I tried to get the other cat in, the first escaped and yep you guessed it, he hid under the bed. I kept going back and forth from side to side in the dark with just a flashlight to get him out and unfortunately had to resort pulling him out by his tail. Then I got his harness on, which he promptly slipped out of as soon as I got the lease attached and yep, right back under the bed. Had my building gone down I highly doubt we would have survived as so much precious time was spent just trying to get my cats gathered. So here’s my questions Jackson, please talk about cat backpacks.. or the baby slings.. something wearable, as a small female there’s no way I can run down 5 flights of stairs with 2 large adult cats in hand-held carriers. Also, please talk about harnesses, my cat slipped right out almost immediately. I already know I need better but I haven’t been able to find the type generally used for sm dogs that have more support/coverage here in Morocco. I will look again in Spain next week. Thanks for all you do!!
Thank you for your videos and care 🫶🥹 I would like to add: 💥Tight harness on a leash attached to the cat carrier, then easy access to pet your cat from time to time check on him/ her. Testing the way to prevent tangled leash around body of the cat while in carrier. 💥veterinary antibacterial powder for treating skin damage. And as mentioned in the video costant training so animals are not freaking out by human lifestyle any situation desensitisation 🫶
When we move to a safe home where we have controll over our lives we need to learn this, we have 13 half rescues half kids of those rescues one male left to snip but he has had alergy problems for a while and we are still fighting that damned cold off and on that he has had sinse he was just old enough to scamper a house or two away from his mom so getting him there for the surgery only for them to say sorry he is not breathing well enough today has become a stumbling block. We have three or four that are natural car kitties just load them in and let them go anywhere EXCEPT near the drivers feet lol no kitties near petrels. And two that are rescues that are still terrified of the outside, you can't open a door or window with them close by without them running to hide they grew up there and they are bound and determined to never go back. We are long term Jackson Galaxy students but we need to learn more. Each of our fir babies has a unique personality but we don't get enough play and there's a lot more we could do once in a safe home that goes beyond just the normal base camp and play, there is a bit of tension here and there in the pride that is due to where we live and I want to learn what I need to to heal all the rough spots and to make everyone feel equally as loved.
i lost my cat from smoke inhalation after a wildfire. I wasn't at home when the evacuation order occurred so it took some time to grieve her loss We then rescued a bonded kitten pair. We bring out the carrier and also explore the car when it's not an emergency. We were evacuated for two weeks to a hotel during Covid lockdown (pre-vaccines) and they were perfect! My chicken flock is a story for another time...
If you're in an apartment building make sure to register your pet with your building management so emergency services know to look for them too, not just the humans. Since I live alone, I keep a "pet ID" with my kitty's details and contacts to my designated pet-sitters in my wallet next to my ID, in case something happens to me while away from home. Also make sure your cat knows them and is comfortable with them.
Thanks for making me think about a few other things I need to add to my babies bug out bag which now will be bags on a 2 ropes in my 2nd floor apartment would there be on fire. I did add extra reflective tape onto it too make sure they would be seen. I'm on the back side of the building and it's very dark. People here think I'm crazy because I thought about my cat and dog before myself of getting out. I got their kennel before I moved in here with what I thought was enough, but you have just taught me I should have litter never thought about it. Your the best! Blessings! Sherry
This made me think 🤔. There are so many people that left their pets alone at home and they are not thinking that something might happen one day. This is very dangerous and serious! Last week, the park next to my apartment was on fire. I was home and I called the fireman. I don't have any kids nowadays, but I didn't know what should I do. I just observed the fire taking everything from the park and to start getting out of control. I watched the people from the school that was close to the park evacuating the building. But the firemen arrived and took care of the fire. But, if you have some animals in your home, alone, and something like that happen, the chances of getting very ugly is very high!! 😱 I always thought that pets should never ever be alone, and now more than ever!
I tried to take my cat to the vet the other day. I got some deli leg ham out of the fridge (his favourite treat that drives him crazy) , threw it in the cat carrier and he went "NOPE !". I tried leading him in with ham.. NOPE ! I tried putting him in there (legs go out against the side / climbs carrier) I unscrewed all those little joiner nuts and took the lid off, put him in the bottom and tried to put the lid down. NOPE ! Escaped I went and got the large clothes tidy and tried to lower him in.. Again the legs went out sideways . I finally got him in there and chucked a huge beach towel across the top. He found his way up and was trying to stick his head through the towel. NOTE: Lots of holes in the side of the thing he can get a paw through but not his body. I held down the sides of the towel and carried him to the car. I arrived at the vet 7 minutes late for the appointment. On the way back I repeated the process. He managed to get out of the tall clothes basket and climbed up on the back parcel shelf of the car. When I got home I had to quickly get out of the car, wait until he was on the other side, open the door and reach in and carry him into the house with his front paws on my shoulder.
Its coming on summer & bad fire season for California. This summer is supposed to be the hottest in history. Hard to imagine as we sit thru the cool month of May. So, thanks for all the great ideas. I will get started directly to have everything we, me, mom & 12 kitties, will need. Gonna be a bit of a challenge but your video is a major help. Thanks Jackson 😊
A week ago there was a fire in my high-rise building. We grabbed our cat, put her in her carrier, and went to the stairway. It was filled with people and just about every single person was also holding a pet carrier. It just hit home how important our pets are that they're the one thing you think of when an emergency strikes.
Of course they are! You can not replace a living being, but you can replace clothes or other stuff.
CATS are part of out FAMILY !!
I get sooo scared of this happening while I’m at work since I also live in an apartment building. 😭
Who would leave a pet behind if they had the choice?
Thank you
Make a list of hotels that accept pets in your area so you know ahead of time in case of emergency
Great idea!
Great idea!
Or have the number and address of a friend or family member you can stay with
Excellent point, AnyDay. We had an ice storm hit our city and lost power. It very quickly became too cold in our house, and I phoned my daughter (No internet!!) who told us the local Days Inn still had power and accepted pets. We were there for several days with 2 bewildered cats until power was restored. That's an important thing to know. We couldn't go to our daughter's home because her husband is highly allergic to cats.
Ok I will do that thanks
When my smoke alarm goes off in my house, my cat actually comes running to me crying. He sticks to me like glue, so getting him in his carrier is pretty easy.
The trust he has in you, that's absolutely beautiful!
As for me, I had to drive under bed to reach her when alarm goes off. Which is why I chose lx twin with high enough for me to drive under smoothly and move freely.
You are so lucky and fortunate that your cat does that
I have all my forms together, dog muzzles ready, food in storage, meds compiled, crate on hand. I'm more prepped for my dogs than for myself tbh.
When we lived in an apartment, I had to grab my boy and get out twice. Once, the fire alarm went off while I was home alone (it ended up being a false alarm, but at the time I didn't know it). The moment is a blur now due to the adrenaline, but somehow I grabbed my poor terrified boy and shoved him into his carrier, which he hated at the time. All of our important documents and everything are in a fireproof lockbox, so I knew that all I needed was him. After that incident, I harness trained him, which came in handy when we had to shelter from a tornado in the basement of our building. Thankfully, nothing happened, but he was miserable nonetheless.
When we moved to our house, we used your technique to get him adjusted to his carrier. I anticipate that will make getting him out in the event of an emergency much easier, but I keep thinking about the "unders", like you mentioned: anytime he's scared, he ALWAYS hides under our bed--which, in a way, is kind of good, because it's a very large space that's easily accessible to a human (it's super easy to crawl under there), and we ALWAYS know where he's going to go during an emergency. We store a lot of bedding and whatnot under there right now, and I just think about those crucial seconds that might be lost trying to wrangle him through all of that stuff. I think maybe it's time to clean it out, for safety's sake...
How about you train him to go inside an accesible carrier thats under the bed? and block all other entrances to that space with wire or something. That way you'll always know where your cat went and its just a matter of locking the back and leaving asap.
Jackson I absolutely appreciate this video and as a reminder on how we can keep our pets safe.
Two years ago, we had a helicopter fly over our house telling us to evacuate immediately due to a wildfire in my area. At the time my cats were outdoor, and by some grace of God I was able to catch them all and we were able to get out of there safely. One of my boys was actually very difficult to catch, but thankfully he ran into the garage and I was able to corner him and get him.Thankfully our home was safe, but some of our neighbors lost their homes as well as 900 other people. I heard heartbreaking stories about how people could not catch their outdoor cats and they most likely perished. Needless to say all of my cats are now indoor and I am extremely aware of their safety. It would’ve absolutely killed me if I was not able to catch one of them or had to leave them behind due to an emergency
I am sure that was an extremely scary time . I am glad all worked out. I have a tile on my indoor only cat’s collar as she loves to hide in the house . I would highly recommend the $25 dollar investment…..apple air tags is probably a better option ( it was not out when I bought it )
"Don't let your cat of its carrier in the car." AMEN I like you learned that the hard way🙃. Thanks for these emergency tips. Also you can get a sticker to put on your door to alert emergency responders to rescue your cat. Just in case you aren't available at the time of an emergency. ( or any pet)
I did not know that. Where do you find these stickers? Are they official, like the ones used for children's rooms (meaning something firefighters would immediately recognize)? Or more generic available through different retailers?
@@bossyboots5000 I'm not sure. I got them at my apartment where they were available to anyone who needed them. But I do know that they are honored by first responders
police etc.
Most of those things I've been doing for years already. In 2020, we had two strong earthquakes (6+), first one in March during lockdowns, it was 6.15 AM, and I found my 4 cats glued to the floor in the middle of my home office where they usually sleep. They were absolutely terrified. So, when the time came to put theory into practice and evacuate from 17th floor where I live, I realized that carrying 4 carriers and a backpack is mission impossible. I put two of them in one big travel carrier (designed for flight travels) and other two in my ventilated sport bag and rushed out of the building to the park. Inspite of all of my preparedness, I had to figure out how to carry them all four to safety alone and had to stress them additionally by literary pushing them into the bag and carrier together which they opposed and fought but were terrified enough so that I still managed to push them in. Jackson, if you read this, but also others, I would like to hear your thoughts on how to deal with multiple pets in such situatiation.
Luggage carrier with wheels you can strap at least some of the carries on to?
Have you looked into a double compartment pet carrier backpack for two cats? You can then carry the other two in soft carriers.
I have two cats so I have one soft carrier that goes on my shoulder/side and a smaller cat backpack. That way I have one hand free. You can try cat 1+2 on one shoulder with a larger soft carrier, then cat 3 in backpack on your stomach/front, and cat 4 on a soft carrier on your other shoulder. Then emergency backpack on your back. It will be very heavy but for a quick exit manageable enough.
Wow! Can't imagine 4 cats on the 17th floor. For years I've had a large family of cats & have gone over in my mind how to evacuate my & their absolute essentials. I live in a home & going out the door might be an issue depending on the emergency. Currently I have 12 cats. 4 are ok with me but are still enough feral I fear how it will be getting them into carriers. One holds 3 cats slightly squashed, one holds 2 medium sized, the other two would challenge putting more than one kitty. Still need 3 more carriers. I've almost got all microchipped & have a folder of their vet info. Sometimes when the news announces a fire I run over all the things I need to do in my mind. I still may have some trouble but I sure hope I can work it right IF an emergency ever comes our way. Thanks for sharing your story
@Vienna1902 Late to the party here and not sure if any of this will be useful in your particular situation, but this is what my process and plan looks like as I'm working out an evacuation strategy for my youngsters.
They have hard-sided crates that are stacked as a unit in the front entrance and they spend a lot of happy time in them because it's where they get their meals. Once they're all solid on going to their crates on command between feedings too, I'll start teaching them that the smoke alarm also means 'kennel'. The next step on the list for the crates themselves is to find an aluminum-frame hiking pack to reconfigure as a transportation pack. With a quick-release system the crates will still be easy to use as individual units, but they'll be attached to the frame along with the go-bags for day-to-day storage/use. If we ever have to move fast, we'll have an easily-adjustable hands-free carrier at the door with everyone's familiar individual crates and emergency supplies ready to go. My guys will also know how to self-load on command and hopefully at the sound of the alarm too. Even if they're too freaked out to manage either of those in an actual crisis, things like practicing for an evacuation and making sure they have strong positive associations with their crates will still make a difference.
I had a fire in my apt building (didn't get into my apt thank goodness) but my cat's carriers were downstairs in storage. Instinctively my friend and I just scooped them and we ran into my car! They were FREAKED out (my one cat Ben did fine and thought we were having a car party) but when I brought them back inside they were definitely shaken up. So now they are in the living room!!!!! And my boys are micro chipped :)
I also have a card in my wallet that has my address, my cat's names and my friends who can care for them in case I'm unable to make it home for whatever reason. And their microchip info is UTD!!
You can get little wallet cards that say I have a cat/dog/etc home alone so if ever (heaven forbid) you're in an accident or taken ill and the emergency services check for ID, they will see it
I have been watching you since the very beginning… I am handicapped and every cat I have ever had came to me After the first owners let them go or threw them out. Every single one was unique and special!
Cynthia, you are one of the good ones! Live long and prosper. And your cats too.
I am disabled too, and I worry about these situations because physically it would be hard for me. I would love to harness train both of my cats especially because they were born to feral colonies, but if they bolt I cannot run with them :( makes me feel helpless!
@@Aquarius444K I understand how you feel. I too am physically disabled and on a walker. I can get down a few steps with my husband’s help. Poor guy that he has to deal with almost everything in our lives, and help my mom too, who lives with us. The least I can do is get the cats prepared. Big thanks to Jackson!
VERY good episode. When my apartment caught fire last year, luckily I was prepared with carriers easily accessible. (Also this is the very reason I only have 2 cats- because I only have 2 arms.)
Bye the time my neighbor screamed fire and I had grabbed my cats, the hallway was already pitch black filled with smoke. We got out just in time before my 2 neighbor units were completely burnt to a crisp. Another neighbor could not get her cat because she hid under the couch... but luckily all apartment kitties made it out unharmed.
I always implore my pet parent friends to think about their pets in emergency situations. This is such a huge fear of mine. I WAS SO GLAD I WAS WORKING FROM HOME AT THE TIME.
Great example. Glad Neighbors and Cats made it out.
Excellent ! Thank You.
Thank you Jackson! I put the scented items inside a zip-top bag to preserve the scent over time. Those takeout food plastic utensil packets are perfect to put in your Go Bag to serve up food. If your animal likes food that comes in those foil packets, you can pack more in the Go Bag and reduce the weight. Also include a picture of yourself with your animal to assist with reunification; you may lose your ID or cellphone in a disaster. I also put plastic food storage containers in to serve food & water. I keep a bag of cat litter in my trunk. It's always there, and can come in handy if I get stuck in some mud. The flats that sodas come in make great temporary litter boxes. Save those plastic shopping bags to line them, and also to collect trash. I also have some latex or nitrile gloves, for myself, for 1st Aid and in case I have to clean up an icky mess. A roll (or partial) of paper towels is handy. A signed pre-authorization for veterinary care should be with your vet records. And finally, if I have to leave my pets with a friend, I have some xtra cash in the Go Bag for them to buy anything they need.
Thanks for sharing! I just screenshot your comment for future reference. You mentioned some things I hadn't thought of.
My cats love their carrier they eat their meals there sleep there they go when I command Go Carrier!
My cat is harness trained but growing up in the 70s, our cats were harness trained cuz we took them traveling with us, camping. So my cat has a go bag that I bring every time we travel, either visit friends, go to hotel, go camping. My cat stays in her carrier and is harnessed in it that has her blankets in there snd her quilt over it. It calms her. When we get yo where we are going she either stays in her carrier or once I put her quilt somewhere, she dives under it. It soothes her. Eventually she comes out and plays, eats, and cuddles. Her jackpot treat are her Churu ‘lickies’. So I feel confident in an emergency she would feel safe in her carrier. She sleeps in it snd on it even when we don’t travel cuz she knows she gets treats inside her carrier. It’s our routine every night. Thanks for the reminders on this subject.
We had a tornado warning go off a few weeks ago, and I scrambled around the house to get Jett so I could put him in his crate. Once he was in there, we sheltered in the basement for about an hour until it was all clear. I let him out and he was still his happy confident self. That was a good exercise for how quickly I could get him packed up.
Man that's my fear is dealing with tornadoes, even moreso dealing with them and my pets.
Hurricane season is starting here. I'm getting my pet emergency kit prepped. Thanks for the reminder! 🐱🐈
yes sun jume 1st just a few days a way
Luckily since I always do a run of what to do regularly for my practice given physical disability so I try to factor in the family pets to the plan. Nobody needs a fire and very confused and scared animals.
PLEASE READ THIS- BLOCK UNDERS BLOCK UNDERS BLOCK UNDERS!!!!!!
Its traumatic for me to think about, but we lost our house in a tornado 11 years ago. I had no concept of self preservation but I ran after my cat trying to get her and she ran under a bed. I remember desperately even pulling her tail trying to get her out as the house was shaking and you could've seen shit flying outside. I couldn't get her and my dad had to drag me to the closet. Soon as the tornado passed I ran to the room she was in that now had only one wall standing. She was somehow still under the bed, the mattress was gone but the box spring was there. I refused to let her go for the rest of the day/night, it was hours and I remember petting her poor soaked body the entire time, pulling insulation from the walls and other debris out of her fur. she's still around but now she's around 18 years old and I know she'll be gone soon, and its heartbreaking to think about. But she could've only made it to 7 if we hadn't gotten so lucky. Never think something bad cant happen to you, tragedies and disasters don't give a fuck about you.
So something I have in addition to my cats carrier is a bigger pop-up crate that is foldable and easy to carry. The reason for this is because you could end up in a shelter temporarily and even if it's pet friendly you will have to keep your cat contained. By having a bigger area to contain them in you can put in a litter box as they will need to go to the bathroom, their food and water, and yet they will still have some room to move around. Amazon sells these and some even have scratch proof mesh on the sides. Along with that thought I would recommend getting a foldable litter box and keeping a bag of the litter you use at home in their 'go bag' so they will have the comfort of using a litter they are used to.
Also a thought for being able to get your cat quickly in an emergency, while I don't normally recommend laser pointers if your cat really likes them they can come in such a situation. My cat will hide or shy away from everything when stressful events occur and trying to catch him will only stress him out more and is sometimes futile. But we have discovered if we lure him out with a laser pointer we can easily grab him and place him in his carrier. If your cat has another favorite toy such as a wand toy that will work as well.
There was a fire in the building next door to mine. The electricity pannel of our building took fire as well. Soon, the whole building was filled with smoke, it was horrible. I was with my neighbour's cat, catsitting then. She went hiding IMMEDIATELY when the loud sounds were heard and I couldn't find her. I had no choice but give up to save my own cat upstairs, as my flat got all the smoke that raised. I could open the windows, and put my cat in its carrier instantly to leave when I could see enough.
I tried to go back and fetch the neighbour's cat but a firefighter had me leave the building, which was more than understandable.
Luckily, my neighbour's cat found a spot to hide where the smoke didn't go and was unharmed somehow, but my own cat suffered from respiratory issues and had to go to the emergency vet right after the incident. He's also traumatised and sometimes pees himself when a firefighter truck passes by our building (the sirens).
I will clean up and comfort him as many times as it takes, even if he never manages to overcome his trauma. I'm just so glad our cats were safe. If anyones has tips on how to help however, I'll take tem. I've tried to initiate playtime with him when the sirens were heard, but it doesn't seem to work sadly.
It was by far the scariest experience of my life, but I'm happy I took the time to teach my cat to love his carrier, vastly thanks to your videos.
Thank you for this VERY important show!
After the quakes (Christchurch, NZ here), everyone in our family have go bags for our cats and ourselves. A dish and a bottle of water in each go bag is good to add. We had no water after the big quakes hit. Just remember to refresh it regularly. Their emergency harnesses are in their go bags. We keep all of our emergency stuff in one easily accessible place including carriers. All cats have been micro chipped and on the national register.
When I was younger our water heater in our apartment started an electrical fire in the middle of the night. My cat bolted before I could grab him and went under the bed. I realized then how unprepared for this I actually was. Everyone ended up safe, fur baby included, but lesson learned after that. Always have a plan because you don’t think it happens to you until it does.
Lifetime Floridian here! Hurricanes are the big thing here and one thing I've learned is also get your cats microchip scanned once a year by your vet. Microchips can fail with age. It's rare, but it has happened. Also, make sure you know where your local PET SAFE shelter is. Keep a list of pet safe hotels as well. We've always had really good luck during evacuations with hotels lifting their pet bans during emergencies but it's not guaranteed.
I recently found myself trapped away from home. So my emergency was my cat was home and I couldn’t get back! I am also getting prepped for forest fire season: I have a large carrier with a small litter box that is available for her at all times, so if we need to up and drive hours (or just be in the car for hours) she is familiar with it.
We recently made sure 4 of our closest friends and family have keys to our place and instructions on feeding and play routines in case something happens to us the cats will still be fed.
Our cat sleeps in his carrier every night, and it's right next to our bed. That way if something happens in the middle of the night, I can just grab it and go. Fortunately, the worst thing that happens here (generally) is the possibility of a tornado, and we usually have a bit of notice. So, I take the time to put him in there with his food dish, and take him downstairs. He's fine just falling asleep in there while we wait to determine if we need to take shelter or not. The hard plastic will also help protect him from flying debris. MUCH better than trying to shelter while holding onto a Tasmanian Devil scared cat during the height of the house being torn apart.
I volunteered with Ukrainian refugees in Poland and yes cats can easily bolt. It was so sad when we couldn't find or catch them. Thank you for this very important video.
I'm in Japan -- I think seasonally is the best time to review people prep/cat prep. Update info, buy new food & water and rotate the emergency goods into the regular pantry. (And, thanks to this video, re-scent the t-shirts, and change-out the beloved toys.)
Here, there were huge earthquakes on Sept. 1 and March 11, so all the DIY stores set out emergency goods during these equinox months, so it's easier to be on a twice-a-year schedule.
I have 14 cats, and I think my emergencies would be limited to house fire, house collapse from earthquake, and power outage. You got me thinking that I could set up an evacuation hut in the garage, and even take the cats out there to get familiar with the space.
Hope I'll never need it, but it's good to be prepared.
I live in an area that has the potential for wildfires. I have a evacuation plan but you've given me a few more ideas. Thank you once again!
Defenetivly have to do more preparation. I have all the things littered throughout my apartment. No chance to grab them in an emergency. Thanks for the reminder, I have to get a bag to assemble it all....
Thank you, Jackson, for this video! I wish it had been released earlier, before the 24th of February when all Ukrainians 🇺🇦 woke up at 4 a.m. from the Russian missiles striking our homes. Unfortunately, we weren't prepared for that and that was our mistake cuz you can't predict any horrible things like that. Many people have lost their pets. Thanks again for recording this video as a reminder that absolutely anything can happen absolutely anywhere. So take care of yourselves, people, and of your beloved pets.
Stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦
I'm sorry to hear that you were victim to the Ukraine invasion. I can't imagine how difficult this time must be for you. Please know that many, many people in the US do indeed stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians and we do not buy the load of BS Russian media and Putin are dishing out.
I remember that during the botched Afghanistan withdrawal there were a number of pet charities trying to fly peoples' pets out of the country, or at least remove and rehome them. I gave my last $20 to one of them.
Heartbreaking to think of experiencing those kinds of trauma and turmoil, worse to think about losing one's companion animal during such times. Wishing you safety and peace
When I was driving home from the shelter with Simone 8 years ago, she was attacking the carrying they put cats in, and managed to get out before we got home. I was thinking I might have to pull over, because I've been in a car with a cat on the loose and it was chaos. However, to my surprise, she was just chilling on the back seat like that's where she was supposed to be. Not that I would ever choose that scenario, but I was glad she seemed to do well that time, since that was such a surprise.
Great video! I keep a litter box with litter in my trunk. I also change out the food in the trunk as well. So it’s fresh. I keep the carrier on wheels in the dining room by the door. They nap in it. I’ve thought about an emergency exit since I’ve had them. I can grab them and go. Tornado warnings they go in the carrier and they are by my side just in case.
I've got a couple extra leads and tethers in my critter go bag because Bramble in particular hates being stuck in her carrier longer than a hour. I've also got a small stock of supplies for the pets of the rest of my family because I'm the only one who found this level of preparedness necessary.
Lol I hear ya! My husband just looked at my list and laughed. He goes..we will have no problems getting out of here with the kitties in an emergency. Well, we are 1 carrier short. Lol
😂😂😂 Your comment about travelling with the cat in the car, I can relate.
I was moving once, my little corolla hatch back so full you could barely see out the back window. It was really hot and stuffy in the car and as my cat (Kitty) was leash trained, I pulled over to give Kitty a drink and stretch his legs, and have a nice picnic lunch outside Cunungra. I planned to stop twice, once after about, 45 mins from home to make sure Kitty was doing ok in his carrier on his first car ride, and the second time at the QLD/NSW border because that section is really windy and I was worried about him getting car sick. Umm I live in Australia, so of course a snake happened. A brown to be precise, aggressive and poisonous, coming right at my city cat who was intrigued rather then terrified.
I'd just started packing up, after lunch, so Kitty was just chilling at the picnic table on a really long leash and I was putting stuff in the car when the snake popped up between us. I'm torn between screaming at the cat to get away from the snake, not wanting to scare the snake towards the cat and not wanting the snake to come near me because I was only wearing sandals. So I run in a wide arc around the snake, grab the cat and just throw him in the car, run around the car to grab my keys on the picnic table, and I was dead set going to leave everything else behind but the snake was out of sight so I swept up the last couple of toys and water bowl and literally jumped in the car in case the snake was hiding under there.
I tear out of that park like I'm a stunt driver in Mad Max, I'm crying and hyperventilating, terrified that the snake has gotten up into the undercarriage - and my cat was having a great time popping in and out of all my pilled up belongings. Driving 100km/h, crying, panicked and jumped up on adrenaline while your cat plays peekaboo is not something I'd recommend.
1/2 hr later, when we got the nearest town (Beaudesert), he had settled down as was purring in the passenger seat, pulled over, popped him back in his carrier and shared some McNuggets together. I might have left him there but we were about to cross the great diving range on the Mt Lindsay Hwy and in those days it was single lane, hair pin turns and trucks that weren't to careful about staying on their side of the road, so no distractions. I'm happy to report that in spite of the twists and turns, and the fact we didn't stop at the border, Kitty didn't throw up, which was nice. Certainly, a memorable drive anyway.
Edit: I'm not normally too bothered by snakes but this one was in a foul mood, hissing, rearing up and threatening my cat. It's not supposed to be about the snake, it's supposed to be about me being traumatised in the front seat and the cat playing peekaboo in the back.
I've kicked a snake (accidently- It went flying through the air for a good 8 metres before landing and slithering off) and stood on a snake (accidently wearing a pair of thongs walking to the laundry under the house). Always carry a torch if walking outside at night if you live near a lot of trees / shrubs.
Ps Those rest areas just off the Pacific highway just after you cross into NSW even have warning signs for snakes as its a narrow path to the toilet facilities and lots of scrubs and trees plus leaves about.
@@roadmonitoroz I have spent the last hour or so trying to figure where the toilets you are talking about are... lol Mt Lindsay Hwy NOT Pacific Hwy, nope wait still confused the Pacific Hwy crosses the border at Tweed/Coolangatta, there are snakes at the twin towns resort!!! At the QLD/NSW border on the Mount Lindsay Hwy there is nothing but a tick station and siding for you to pull over. I would not pull over at those rest stops on the P.C. Hwy because I am 5'1" female and those places are seedy A.F. I picked the place I did outside of Cunungra because it was right on the Hwy, the trees were sparse, it was a large area with no grass or bushes, and you could drive right through so if a creep came along I could just drive straight back onto the road, I didn't have to reverse. It was a weird place for snakes but when picking it I was primarily worried about dogs and axe murders.
Hi Jackson! Thank you for another great and very informative video. Could you do a video about how to get your cat to enjoy car trips?👍🏻
My family is currently updating our 72 hour kits. We just got a new human baby, in addition to our two furry babies, so this video came along at just the right time! Making sure everyone has what they might need in a quick grab bag.
Catnip is something good that you can put in a go bag.
During an emergency, try as hard as you can to push down your panic and fear and try to remain calm. I had a transformer for our power lines physically blow up next to our house and we had to evacuate immediately due to fire. We were able to grab two of our cats, but one of them, a shy, skittish little girl, was completely freaked out and I couldn’t grab her. Followed her all over the house and into our basement. It was only when I forced myself to be calm and not be scared, then I was able to approach her and grab her. Cats pick up on your energy! If you are scared, they will be too!
I'm facing Shanghai lockdown, with high risk of seeing my pets taken away in case I'll test Covid positive😓 Ive a suitcase for my 2 cats ready in case of emergency, ill add vet records 👍 one thing i've also put in are foldable litter box (waterproof), a scoop and foldable silicone bowls. Though might be usefull 😊
Thanks Jackson Galaxy for all your great tips!!!
My cats 4 cats I have had over the period of 25 years have always loved sleeping in the carrier over cat beds . So I always put some extra old towels in old pillow case so it’s nice and cozy . I also have a blanket it so then can be covered as the love to sleep in it being covered
I also bought a tile ( pet version) so I can locate her when I am looking for her as she loves to hide (she is chipped)
This video is very important, I have never lived in an area prone to natural disasters, but this year was especially delicate. Due to climate change, the climate of our region is becoming desertic. this summer we had the biggest heat wave in the last 50 years of record, and we had many fires that destroyed thousands of vegetation areas in the hills that surround the city, in the valleys and fields of crops. we stayed for weeks with the windows closed because the air and the ashes were harmful to health, and even so the smell of burning inside the house was horrible, and it stung our eyes. Several exits from the city were cut off to traffic by fires and 2 open only for firefighters, forest guards and ambulances. Tractors were asked to make firebreaks in all the fields, and inside the city they cleared all the plant matter near the sidewalks and areas connecting green areas and natural parks. I was very happy to have a stock of high quality wet food to help hydrate my cats and also the gel beds that lower their body temperature. the heat was horrible and they lay on it or on the tile in the hours of maximum heat. When they started to announce that a mass of hot air was coming from Africa to Europe and the temperatures were going to be historic, I already bought extra feed, sand, the little mice and balls that they like to play with when there is heavy snow and rain and we can't go out to the garden, and it was a very good decision, because the transporters would not be able to enter the city because of the fires. Forecasting and provisioning made this fire weather a lot less stressful, and I knew my cats would be hydrated and not short of food or litter.
I had this experience 2 weeks ago. I was on the border of an evacuation area and started packing my car just in case. My two cats picked up on my energy and started following me all over the house yowling at me. I packed some odd unnecessary things and it made me realize I need a list on hand if it ever happens again. Thankfully the FD got the fire under control but it was a huge learning experience for me. Thanks for the video - I will add your suggestions to my list.
I have a list on the door in case of emergency and the first thing in "Crate the cats." Then we gather everything else and leave. The cats are crated before they catch our panic too much. Also, vaccine records are in our lock box with our important paperwork in case we go somewhere that needs proof they have their shots. Also, practice taking the cats, crates, go backpack, out your exit. It was harder than expected to carry it all down 5 flights of stairs but at least I know.
Proof of spay/neuter is also really important as a lot of pet charities require that, and if you have to bug out somewhere else you may need such services. Vaccine records are also important, especially if you need to have your cat stay in a safe shelter. 👍
I mainly live in a camper.
If a fire breaks out, my German shepherds will grab Billy and I'll get his house, medical pills, and food. I have a picture of him.
Thanks for the knowledge
When I had four of my cats fixed, the clinic's people were a little concerned about me having problems getting them into the carriers. I told them that it's not the kind of thing that my cats would fear because the older four had never been in a car or carriers other than my backpack and a small rolling bag. The night before, I stacked four carriers two high, doors open, in the living room. Two of the cats walked in and laid down, while the other two and the four kittens jumped in and around them; they had a blast. ❤️✌️
The picture is a great idea, but also have a photograph of you with your cat. If your cat becomes separated from you, it may be the only proof you have that your cat is your cat.
Excited for this video.
Right now we have two cat carriers in the back of the SUV at all times and a collapsing bag carrier with the harnesses stored in it in the house. Plan right now is grab cats, throw them in bag, run out to car, put them in their proper carriers, and go. We have a bug out bag in the car.
We probably need to get a second collapsible bag carrier tho just for ease of cat transfer to plastic carrier, cause one might flip out and run while we’re placing the other in the plastic one. And I have no idea how to evacuate my frogs/bugs safely…
Buckets for the frogs
I am curious, why do you not put the cats in the proper carrierin the first place? why into a collapsible then transfer?
@@carolineowen7846 Plastic is too hard to carry quickly as well as store in our tiny apartment all the way out to our designated parking area (it’s not right outside our apartment). One of our cats is a huge male Maine Coon that requires a dog size carrier, so it’d be easier to put the poor guy in something a little more navigable. Especially when we’re bringing the first aid kit and the water keg out of the house at the same time. The goal is to do it all in one trip. Small cat and the first aid kit for my partner and large cat and water keg for me.
@@utopiacore3978 Em, I see, that is a complex situation. Could you harness train your Maine Coon? Then you won't have to carry him. Good luck, & I truely hope you never have to evacuate.
I guess it all comes down to the reason why & how much time / warning there is.
@@carolineowen7846 Thank you! He is harness trained. I’ve just found that it’s much easier to grab and put in a bag when we gotta run. (We’ve had to evacuate to the bottom stairwell during a tornado before.) But after watching this video, I think I’m gonna do what he said in it and make the Maine coon’s pop up and smaller cat’s plastic carriers their indoor “home base” and just keep the bigger plastic one in the car as extra.
Same to you. We live in desperate times, but we have those close to us to help us through.
What an amazing dad. I did fire drills & earthquake drills & even a mall drill after I lost my daughter (my fault) she went to drop something in the trash & I walked away to make a call at the phone booth, she kept walking all the way to the last store in thd mall. I blanked out, I did go to security guard within 3 minutes, they were quick on their walkie talkies & she was found within minutes, my heart stopped because I had seen all those videos in how long it takes to abduct a child. So i had a mall drill. If lost stay there, where we were last together, I will instantly come back. Getting in n out of the car drill, my son had a bad habit of walking away as soon as out of the car, took me time to get all out & lock it, so I said when you're out of the car grab my skirt & don't let go till I hold your hand. So I had all these mini drills including the fire drill. Now to the cats, I periodically get these dreams where we are in danger crossing a bridge and the sea water is rising quickly and we all get swept into the sea, including the 2 birds in a cage and cats in a cage that I've had like 30 years ago or longer 😱
Thanks a lot for the very useful information!🐱
A can of pumpkin and something to store it in after can is opened. After evacuating during a fire, though in a safe room with a window to look out of, my cat was freaked out by always hearing my sister's crazy untrained dogs upstairs. She would eat but wasn't pooping for 3-4 days! I wish I'd had some pumpkin to feed her to move things along...and a feeding syringe because she probably wasn't going to eat it voluntarily. Luckily she finally poo'd any way.
OK, just Googled about apple pectin powder (as it worked GREAT for my ancient mom in her last year of life!). Easier to store, pack around, and doesn't need refrigeration. Several, clicks said it is safe for any pet. It's a mucilagineous fiber (goopy and slick) when mixed with water, or wet pet food, to make an easy moving poo. Mom only needed 1/4 teaspoon so I imagine a small animal would need barely a pinch...mixed in water then put in syringe or in wet pet food - you DON'T want fiber to stop them up MORE if their little bodies are dehydrated.
Thanks for the tip about pumpkin and a feeding syringe
👍😊
My worst fear is a house fire, so this is very valuable to me. Def going to put this into practice.
So good to have food and water dishes in your go bag. The smell of a bowl that hes used, plus, if you have that that in the go bag you can GO if the time comes.
Thank you. I am still a new kitten mom and the emergency bag is amazing. Never thought that far ahead. My cat carrier will be here Thursday and I will have it and the bag filled and set
we got some kitten warmers that the Kitten Lady recommended in one of her videos in our kit. even though they were designed to be heated in a microwave, they do absorb body heat and reflect it back. if you live somewhere it gets cold, i would definitely consider these. thank you for the life jacket recommendation! crowdsourcing the prep work takes some of the anxiety out of it.
i started harness training my cats by teaching them to do tricks for treats while wearing them. one of my girls still isn’t into it very much, but the other one will walk on a leash without treats now. every time we vacuum and every fourth of july we do some harness training. maybe we’ll turn that into our fire drill
Thank you Jackson. I will be watching. I have 6 cats ( 3 are 2 months old) 2 dogs and a hamster
Just had a city-sized fire scare. Realized I forgot to update which hotels take pets....
Otherwise, we did pretty okay. We know what we need to work on now, and this will definitely help :) thanks!
Thank you for this video, Jackson. Our family had to evacuate a few years ago due to fires in the region (North Bay in CA, fires almost every year here) and the one thing we forgot was an actual litter box. Luckily the relatives we were staying with had something we could use. Since then I have purchased a storage bin with lid, so that I can have it available for both the car ride and destination. We don’t really travel with our kitties so we haven’t had the opportunity to experience a pit stop to figure out the logistics (I’m terrified of them escaping during the trip!). I wish had done a pit stop during our prior evacuation as one of our kitties wasn’t able to hold it during the 2 hour drive to the South Bay. Guess I’ll need to do some more research!
I have travelled with my cat and I always left an emergency cardboard litter box on the backseat floor. Depending on how much room you have in your car it's doable. You could also put a harness and leash if you want them to potty outside.
For long road trips, I bought the largest dog crate that I could set up in the backseat of my car, then added a travel litter box, a travel water and food dish that screwed onto the side of the crate, scent-soaked towels and blankets on the second level so they had a place to sprawl out and sleep, and I used clothespins to clip towels on three sides of the crate to help them feel safer. To transport them in and out of the crate, I simply placed their carrier with them in it into the crate (unzipping it before closing the crate door so they were free to move about) because it was the safest way to put them in and get them out of the crate. They did great.
Thank you Jackson! I have a to go bag with copies of their paper works and all info and every few months i update. With pictures as well,Toys, case of food wet/dry, bowls, pop bags, grooming tools, blanket , instructions on feed schedule and vet info , chip info insurance etc . I will buy a pet emergency kit, and will crate train. Thanks for the tip of hiding spots don’t have many for them to hide but good idea. One of my kitties is very scared of thunderstorms and heavy rain. . Thanks will share this video as well. Thanks You.
A new, unopened bottle of still water and a collapsible bowl/s might be another good addition for a pet go-bag. You never know what services will be effected or if you will have access to clean drinking water for your pets where you end up.
Oh and if you have dogs, perhaps a muzzle, just in case.
You know what your dog his like and under stress, surrounded by strangers and other dogs, a muzzle might be a good idea.
Thank you for this video. I live in an area where evacuations on short notice are always possible and I plan to start getting my cat emergency kits together immediately. I thought I was ready, but there is more I can do. Thanks again.
Much complicated if like me you have a insulin dependent cat.. Alway a month of supply but must be refrigerated soooo... Made an icepack pouch for transport.. Doing my best😻
I would say wet wipes are also very handy... my cats can puke in their carriers due to being car sick or stress so it's good to have something to easily clean them up with. Also the poultry wire for under the bed?? THANK YOU. I tried attaching a stiff fabric around the outside of my bed but if they're determined they can still jam themselves underneath it siiigh.
Back in December, during a transfer from apartment to car to go see family, my cat got out of the car and tore out into the middle of a college campus/downtown area wearing his harness and leash. He was missing for 14 hours. I finally found him 4 blocks away, his leash stuck under a car tire, him huddled up under the car in a parking lot. He hadn't been chipped yet so you better believe the next time he went to the vet he got a microchip. But I was so convinced his harness would hurt him and it was actually what kept him from running further and getting truly lost. Now it's time to prepare the bug-out go-bag so we're best prepared
A very important video. We really need this one. Thanks.
I just did it all, updated the cat's microchip (and created a profile for her), got my go bag. I've been giving her treats in her carrier. Sometimes she hangs out in there.
We adopted our cat in Aug21. His was already leashed trained and now we are training him for his carrier safe place. I found a pinch of catnip is helping.
And my family thought I was crazy getting go bags for the cats and dogs 😸. I haven’t thought about packing litter though, will have to figure that one out. And good reminder from multiple people in the comments to remember to go in and refresh everything periodically.
Just before the start of hurricane season, excellent
As some one who works for a home fire prevention campaign - I love how relatively non-flammable concrete housing is!
Home fires are the most common disaster in the USA, and every year an average of 2,500 people die in home fires. Having smoke alarms and fire extinguishers certainly help, but making the majority of the house out of non-flammable materials could save lives.
I do wonder how much CO2 they produce during construction - mixing concrete unfortunately releases a lot of CO2.
I just want to say how thankful I am I seen your video. My apartment building just had a fire. And I was able to get my boys and records out. By time made out door hallway was all filled with smoke. But I owe it to you. I think since I had carriers ready and places I can’t reach them we got out in time. They did immediately run under couch but easy to get from there. Thank you for all your advice and helping me keep my babies safe
I would add wrap bandages to any emergency first aid kit, human or animal, along with clean gauze and knowledge how to use it properly. Cause what if your animal is bleeding and you can’t get to a vet and it’s not a light enough wound to be safe to just leave it? Knowledge to use those could save your cat or dog or whatever animal until you get to a vet.
I have been a prepper for a long time. It wasn't until the last 6 years that I had pets. I went all out. We ended up with 6 cats and 2 dogs. They are included in my prepping. i have sealed foods for them I also have many recipes and human food that can be prepared for cats and dogs when there is a long term breakdown. I bought a large dog kennel. It stays assembled in my shop. I can throw it in my truck, and toss all 6 cats in it. The dogs will jump in back seat. That's for a rapid exit. I only have one cat that will be difficult. She's scared of her own shadow. We can't even medicate her. I plan on taking her to the vet soon to put her on some meds like xanax. But you did make one good point that i did not prepare for. "basecamp". I need to figure out how to manage the cats once we are out of the house. My only plan is a extra large screened in tent that i intended to house them in. I'll have to put more thought/research into this.
We had good success with easing our scaredy cat's stress with Rescue Remedy (pet formulation has no alcohol) and then Jackson Galaxy's Trauma Free tincture. Our pet sitter also discovered our shy kitty loves the sound of Bob Ross's voice, so she'd leave the TV on UA-cam videos of Bob Ross painting. 😆 Our other cat loves classical music so I have our smart speaker automatically start playing classical music (in a room across the house so it doesn't wake me) 30 minutes before we get up. It keeps him from going bonkers and being loud. I'm going to type up our routines and upload them to the cloud so we can email them to vet/cat sitters, etc. If we need.
The other thing I'd add to the go bag is grooming items: claw clippers, a favorite brush, toothbrush/dental toys and treats, etc. Grooming is so important to cats and noone wants to get sliced by sharp claws when kitties are reacting to fearful situations!
I'm so greatful this video popped up on my home page. I've been doing research on what to pack for a cat emergency bag. I have started putting everything together and just as I thought I was done this video came up. I didn't know that I should have the crates out for them to get used to. I know it's common sense probably, but I just tuck them away and get them out as needed. So now they are out and my cats love it. They used to run away and not want me to put them in it. Now they get so excited and see it as a safe place. I also did have two blankets in my bag for them, but they are clean. So I got them out and put it in there crates so they could lay down on them. Put them back in my bag about a week latter and replace them with new ones for the crates. So greatful for the information and I definitely subscribed!
Thank you Jackson! I adopted a 5 yr old rescue 1.5 yrs ago. Last summer was her first summer with us, it was hot, and i live in a forested area, and our Province (British Columbia ) has forest fires every year. Horrible ones taking down a whole town as had happened not too long ago. So, I decided over the winter that i would do harness training with her. Thats done! I wanted to make sure she would be comfortable in it for those times when i would need to tether her to me. I also have a cozy carrier, which is by my bed, which she loves. Shes sleeps in there quite often. I will now prepare a grab bag for her. (Ive also covered the unders. She has a slight under but its with grabbing range.
What a great video, thank you!
My cat is a feral kitty and her safe space is on my bed under my duvet, sadly her carrier isn’t her safe space but I think that under the duvet would be fairly easy to grab her inside the duvet and shove (kindly 😅) into the carrier as when she’s scared she won’t let me handle her! 🙈
Bottled water for cats is a good idea too, their mouths sometimes when nervous get dry it seems, and that way too, it will be fresh water.
Thank you Jackson for all of the videos you put up. I learned a lot from them and I definitively am a better pet owner
Besides being a cat mom I am also a horse/burro mommy. Living in a fire zone I keep my horse trailer stocked with cat/large animal stuff. Appreciate learning more to do in regards to keeping my animals safe.
My 2 cats and I were just in the (Marrakech) Morocco earthquake. Thankfully my (newer) building was able to withstand the event but it was a serious wake up call to be more prepared! Just after the quake started the electricity went out. I quickly got my flashlight and found one cat to get him into the carrier. Unfortunately I only have 1 carrier so when I tried to get the other cat in, the first escaped and yep you guessed it, he hid under the bed. I kept going back and forth from side to side in the dark with just a flashlight to get him out and unfortunately had to resort pulling him out by his tail. Then I got his harness on, which he promptly slipped out of as soon as I got the lease attached and yep, right back under the bed. Had my building gone down I highly doubt we would have survived as so much precious time was spent just trying to get my cats gathered.
So here’s my questions Jackson, please talk about cat backpacks.. or the baby slings.. something wearable, as a small female there’s no way I can run down 5 flights of stairs with 2 large adult cats in hand-held carriers. Also, please talk about harnesses, my cat slipped right out almost immediately. I already know I need better but I haven’t been able to find the type generally used for sm dogs that have more support/coverage here in Morocco. I will look again in Spain next week.
Thanks for all you do!!
"There's no cats here, but.. "
IMPOSTER WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH JACKSON
A lot of appreciation to people who know how to teach and educate other people thank you very much
Thank you for your videos and care 🫶🥹 I would like to add: 💥Tight harness on a leash attached to the cat carrier, then easy access to pet your cat from time to time check on him/ her. Testing the way to prevent tangled leash around body of the cat while in carrier.
💥veterinary antibacterial powder for treating skin damage.
And as mentioned in the video costant training so animals are not freaking out by human lifestyle any situation desensitisation 🫶
I like to use a water tight five gallon bucket with a handle and lid. A different color for each person/pet. Thank you for this video!😸
cat carriers always near the exit, no space under the main beds and no unreachable hides in the house.
When we move to a safe home where we have controll over our lives we need to learn this, we have 13 half rescues half kids of those rescues one male left to snip but he has had alergy problems for a while and we are still fighting that damned cold off and on that he has had sinse he was just old enough to scamper a house or two away from his mom so getting him there for the surgery only for them to say sorry he is not breathing well enough today has become a stumbling block.
We have three or four that are natural car kitties just load them in and let them go anywhere EXCEPT near the drivers feet lol no kitties near petrels. And two that are rescues that are still terrified of the outside, you can't open a door or window with them close by without them running to hide they grew up there and they are bound and determined to never go back.
We are long term Jackson Galaxy students but we need to learn more. Each of our fir babies has a unique personality but we don't get enough play and there's a lot more we could do once in a safe home that goes beyond just the normal base camp and play, there is a bit of tension here and there in the pride that is due to where we live and I want to learn what I need to to heal all the rough spots and to make everyone feel equally as loved.
This is also very good advice for anyone leaving a violent situation.
i lost my cat from smoke inhalation after a wildfire. I wasn't at home when the evacuation order occurred so it took some time to grieve her loss We then rescued a bonded kitten pair. We bring out the carrier and also explore the car when it's not an emergency. We were evacuated for two weeks to a hotel during Covid lockdown (pre-vaccines) and they were perfect! My chicken flock is a story for another time...
I had a laugh at the alien invasion included with the hurricanes, fire, and flood😂.
Thanks for reminder of the hurricane season . I have a cat this year. We do not live in the evacuations zones but never know. Thanks .
This has made me realize that my husband and I would have no way of catching all 5 of my cats while grabbing 5 ferrets in case of a fire etc. 😭😭
Feliway pheromone w both spray and the one you use with an adapter is a must for me
If you're in an apartment building make sure to register your pet with your building management so emergency services know to look for them too, not just the humans. Since I live alone, I keep a "pet ID" with my kitty's details and contacts to my designated pet-sitters in my wallet next to my ID, in case something happens to me while away from home. Also make sure your cat knows them and is comfortable with them.
Thanks for making me think about a few other things I need to add to my babies bug out bag which now will be bags on a 2 ropes in my 2nd floor apartment would there be on fire. I did add extra reflective tape onto it too make sure they would be seen. I'm on the back side of the building and it's very dark.
People here think I'm crazy because I thought about my cat and dog before myself of getting out. I got their kennel before I moved in here with what I thought was enough, but you have just taught me I should have litter never thought about it. Your the best! Blessings! Sherry
This made me think 🤔.
There are so many people that left their pets alone at home and they are not thinking that something might happen one day. This is very dangerous and serious!
Last week, the park next to my apartment was on fire. I was home and I called the fireman.
I don't have any kids nowadays, but I didn't know what should I do. I just observed the fire taking everything from the park and to start getting out of control.
I watched the people from the school that was close to the park evacuating the building.
But the firemen arrived and took care of the fire.
But, if you have some animals in your home, alone, and something like that happen, the chances of getting very ugly is very high!! 😱
I always thought that pets should never ever be alone, and now more than ever!
I’m so anxious just thinking about a fire happening in my building while I’m at work and can’t get to my cats.
I tried to take my cat to the vet the other day. I got some deli leg ham out of the fridge (his favourite treat that drives him crazy) , threw it in the cat carrier and he went "NOPE !". I tried leading him in with ham.. NOPE !
I tried putting him in there (legs go out against the side / climbs carrier)
I unscrewed all those little joiner nuts and took the lid off, put him in the bottom and tried to put the lid down. NOPE ! Escaped
I went and got the large clothes tidy and tried to lower him in.. Again the legs went out sideways . I finally got him in there and chucked a huge beach towel across the top. He found his way up and was trying to stick his head through the towel. NOTE: Lots of holes in the side of the thing he can get a paw through but not his body.
I held down the sides of the towel and carried him to the car. I arrived at the vet 7 minutes late for the appointment.
On the way back I repeated the process. He managed to get out of the tall clothes basket and climbed up on the back parcel shelf of the car. When I got home I had to quickly get out of the car, wait until he was on the other side, open the door and reach in and carry him into the house with his front paws on my shoulder.
Me having 8,723 photos of my cat: I'm ready.
Its coming on summer & bad fire season for California. This summer is supposed to be the hottest in history. Hard to imagine as we sit thru the cool month of May. So, thanks for all the great ideas. I will get started directly to have everything we, me, mom & 12 kitties, will need. Gonna be a bit of a challenge but your video is a major help. Thanks Jackson 😊
Jennifer here from Texas gulf coast. Thank you for this video. We love you Jackson. Your knowledge is priceless.
Loved and Shared on Community sites and Community pet lost and found sites. Thanks Angel Cat Daddy!