New Zealand is no stranger to natural disasters, from earthquakes and slips to floods and cyclones. While most families are encouraged to keep a 72-hour survival kit ready, many pet owners forget one key thing:
Your pets need an emergency kit too.
If you are searching for a pet emergency checklist, or wondering what to pack for your cat or dog in a disaster, you are in the right place. This is your NZ-specific guide to pet safety in an emergency, designed to help you act fast when time matters most.
Why Do I Need a Pet Emergency Kit in New Zealand?
Because in an emergency, you may not be able to grab supplies, visit a store, or return home for days. If you are evacuated or sheltering in place, your pet will need food, water, and safe containment, just like you.
Situations where a kit is essential:
- Earthquakes or aftershocks
- Floods or landslides
- Power or water outages
- Cyclone or storm evacuations
- Unexpected vet or emergency transport
Stay Informed
Having the right information during an emergency is just as important as having the right supplies. Bookmark these resources so you can access them quickly when it matters.
- Get Ready (NZ Government) for household emergency supply checklists
- Find Your Civil Defence Group for local emergency contacts and evacuation centres
- MetService Warnings for real-time weather alerts and severe weather updates
Staying Safe Indoors With Your Pet
Not every emergency requires evacuation. During an earthquake, severe storm, or flood warning, you may need to shelter in place with your pet. Knowing how to keep them safe indoors is just as important as having a grab-and-go kit ready.
During an earthquake:
- Drop, cover, and hold. Do not try to grab or restrain your pet during shaking. They will instinctively seek shelter.
- After the shaking stops, calmly secure your dog on a lead or your cat in a carrier before moving around the house. Broken glass, fallen objects, and open doors are all hazards.
- Check your pet for injuries. Look for cuts, limping, or signs of distress.
- Keep pets away from damaged areas of the house, especially rooms with broken windows, exposed wiring, or structural damage.
During a storm or flood warning:
- Bring outdoor pets inside well before the weather hits. Do not wait until the last minute.
- Close all windows, doors, and cat flaps to prevent pets from bolting.
- Set up a safe, quiet room away from large windows. Include their bed, water, food, and a familiar toy or blanket.
- If your pet is anxious during storms, calming sprays, chews, or diffusers can help take the edge off.
- Keep a torch and your pet emergency kit within easy reach in case you need to evacuate quickly.
General indoor safety tips:
- Make sure your pet is microchipped and their details are up to date. If they escape during an emergency, a microchip is the fastest way to be reunited.
- Keep a recent photo of your pet on your phone in case you need to identify them.
What Should Be in a Pet Emergency Grab-and-Go Kit?
Here is what to pack for dogs and cats. This list assumes you may be away from home for 3 to 7 days.
Essentials:
- Food (3 to 7 days' supply) in sealed bags or tins
- Dry kibble or canned food with easy-open tops
- Include a pet food scoop or travel bowl
- Water (3 to 5 litres per pet)
- Plus a collapsible water bowl
- Medications or supplements (include flea/worm treatments or calming essentials)
- Copies of vet records and microchip info in a waterproof ziplock
Containment and Comfort:
- Lead, harness or crate, use an escape-proof harness or travel crate
- Poop bags or litter tray + litter
- Bring 10+ waste bags and hand sanitiser
- Blanket or toy with familiar smell (helps reduce stress in loud or crowded shelters)
First Aid (Pet-Specific):
- Bandages, gauze, scissors
- Saline eye wash
- Tick remover
- Gloves
- Pet-safe disinfectant
- Pet First Aid Kit or build-your-own
Pro tip: Pack everything in a labelled waterproof backpack or duffel, something you can grab in 10 seconds.
What Does a Dog Need in a Civil Defence Emergency?
Dogs can get highly anxious during earthquakes or floods, and they may bolt or freeze if not secured.
Must-haves for dogs:
- Durable lead and harness
- Portable crate or travel carrier
- Food and water for 3+ days
- First aid + poop bags
- Familiar-smelling blanket or toy
- Optional: calming chews or sprays
What About Cats? Do They Need Their Own Kit?
Absolutely. Cats need secure transport, quiet space, and litter options, especially if they flee or panic during shaking or evacuations.
- Ventilated carrier or top-entry crate
- Towel or fleece to drape for privacy
- Litter tray + litter (even a shallow cardboard box works)
- Food, water and dishes
- Optional: pheromone spray to reduce stress
How Can I Help My Pet Stay Calm During a Natural Disaster?
- Train pets to enter their carrier or crate calmly
- Practice leash-ups and car exits with dogs
- Add familiar bedding or toys to reduce scent shock
- Use calming sprays, chews or diffusers as part of daily routines
- Never leave pets behind, plan for them in evacuation routes
Remember, a calm pet is easier to evacuate and safer to manage in shared spaces.
Can I Buy a Ready-Made Emergency Kit for Pets?
While few NZ-specific kits exist, you can build your own using:
- First Aid Kits and grooming tools
- Dog and cat travel gear
- Food and feeding accessories
- Waste management essentials
Look for lightweight, packable gear, and test it before a real emergency hits.
Emergency Checklist (Copy, Print, Stick on the Fridge!)
- Food and water for 3 to 7 days
- Bowls, scoop, treats
- Medication and vet contacts
- Lead, harness, carrier
- Waste bags or litter
- First-aid kit
- Comfort item or blanket
- Emergency contacts + photo of your pet
- Local shelter and vet options (in case of evacuation)
Where Can I Go With Pets in an Emergency in NZ?
Not all evacuation centres or shelters allow animals, so it pays to research pet-friendly civil defence locations in advance.
Things to check:
- Do nearby shelters allow pets?
- Is your dog crate-trained or car-safe?
- Can you stay with friends or whanau who accept pets?
You can also:
- Register with local council pet alert systems
- Contact SPCA NZ for disaster assistance
Petdirect's Take
Your pet relies on you for safety, especially when the world gets loud, wet, or unpredictable.
That is why we have made it easy to shop for pet-safe essentials for your grab-and-go bag. From first aid to collapsible bowls and travel crates, everything you need to be ready is right here:
Build your pet emergency kit now!
Stay safe. Stay ready.