Would you like to try a disaster drill with your cat? Disaster preparedness goods and cat harnesses to prepare before typhoons and disasters hit

Hello, this is YOKO from Poponeko!

As typhoon season approaches, we receive many requests regarding disaster preparedness goods for cats.

The overwhelming love cat owners have for their feline companions always touches my heart when I read their messages.

To respond to these heartfelt sentiments, Poponeko thought long and hard about what we could do, and then we created a "vest-style harness."

Let us introduce why a harness is necessary and Poponeko's ideas for cat disaster preparedness.

Prioritize your cat's safety during evacuation

In an emergency, you might have to take your cat to an evacuation shelter. But what and how much should you bring? If you prepare for everything, it'll be like moving house!

We totally understand how you feel as a pet owner.

You can't carry a lot of luggage at once. So, take out life-sustaining items first.

First and foremost, your cat, of course. Have them get into their carrier bag and evacuate together. Your cat's food and water are also absolutely essential. It's safe to have at least a five-day supply.

Then, it would be good to bring bowls, information about you and your cat (contact information, vaccination status, medical history – it's convenient to compile these in a cat health record book), a litter box (temporary toilet) and litter, a brush, and toys.

Even just these items might feel pretty heavy. You'll need to be creative, like using small packs of food for rolling stock or lightweight cat litter.

Life in a cage at the evacuation shelter

You might also be concerned about your cat's life at the evacuation site.

It seems there are various arrangements, such as spending time in a cage in a separate room from the owner, or staying in a carrier bag in a pet-friendly room.

A cage seems better than a cramped carrier bag, but you have to prepare a cage yourself. It's a good idea to have a simple cage ready or consider going back home to get one depending on the situation.

Since the rules for pet-accompanied evacuation vary by municipality, it's important to check the rules in your area.

Harnesses are useful during disasters

Even if you prepare various disaster supplies, you'll still be worried about your cat escaping.

They might jump out of their carrier bag in surprise on the way to the shelter. Or they might slip away while you're trying to feed them at the shelter...

In such situations, a cat harness can be very useful.

With a leash attached to the harness, you can take them to the litter box or feed them. You can also exercise them while preventing escapes.

While cat harnesses and leashes might seem like they're "for walks," they are actually gaining attention as "disaster preparedness goods."

Because it's meant to protect your cat, it should be comfortable and highly safe. Based on such feedback from cat owners, our cat harness was born, utilizing Poponeko's know-how in making gentle cat collars.

We focused on making it easy to put on in an emergency and ensuring it holds securely.

We go into more detail about its comfort and safety features on the product page, so please check it out!

SOS for emergencies

What if you can't return home during a disaster...? What if you can't evacuate with your cat...?

For such situations, it's a good idea to put up a "Cats Inside" sticker.

If you put it on your front door or a window facing the street, your neighbors and rescue teams will know that a cat is left behind.

Cat owners whose cats spend a lot of time home alone should definitely check this out!

Evacuation drills you can do now

No matter how many disaster preparedness items you gather, it's still scary to face a real situation without practice. Why not try an evacuation drill so you don't panic when the time comes?

It's important to actually carry your luggage and carrier bag. It's also important to get your cat used to the cage, carrier bag, and harness.

Many cats dislike harnesses, but it's important to gradually get them used to it over time. The trick is to make practice fun by giving them treats and playing with toys.

Eating meals and going to the litter box while wearing the harness. Occasionally going outside. Imagining life at an evacuation center and getting used to various environments is also an evacuation drill.

Please refer to these tips for disaster preparedness goods you want to have ready before a typhoon, and evacuation drills you want to practice.

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