ASPCA Poll Reveals Pet Owner Evacuation Plans

              Those of us with "fur kids" know the gut-wrenching feeling of experiencing an emergency involving our pets: the guilt after leaving them for long periods of time, the concern when they feel sad, and of course, the panic that ensues when they disappear (a cat parent's worst nightmare!) While we may be more or less prepared for basic predicaments, what do we do when an all-out catastrophe calls for a widespread evacuation? Well, according to a new poll released by the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, most of us just wouldn't go! The poll's findings, detailed in The Washington Post and on FoxNews.com, reveal that 42% of cat or dog owners would not evacuate without their pets, 39% would leave them behind, and 19% aren't sure. While it is wonderful to see statistics proving the strength of human-animal bonds, both parents and pets can benefit from pre-disaster planning.

An ASPCA emergency pet shelter for Hurricane Irene victims.

              As cat owners, it is important to be prepared for emergencies beyond the daily stressors we expect (my gadget-loving kitty steals and hides various trinkets on a daily basis, for example). Be sure to invest in a carrier crate and keep it stashed with a blanket and some plastic containers of food and litter in case you ever have to just throw kitty in there and hit the road! Also, keep tags and collars on AT ALL TIMES - I can not stress this enough as cats are prone to slipping away at extremely inconvenient times and will only stop fussing with their collars if they wear them consistently enough to get used to its sensation. Last but not least, consider microchipping, a procedure that securely places identifying information beneath the skin. This way, if all else fails, your kitty friend will come straight back to you as soon as he or she is scanned at a local shelter. I am personally grateful for the microchip I have invested in considering how often I find my cat's collar stuck on a neighbor's tree branch or chewed and frayed to the point of disintegration. More tips for prepping your pets for peril can be found on the ASCPA website's "Disaster Preparedness" page.

An X-ray of a cat with a microchip implant.

Carriers such as this one can increase kitty's safety.