[Series #2] Protecting Your Cat's Life During a Disaster: Evacuating Together and Staying at the Shelter

Hello, this is Kuriyama from Poponeko. An increasing number of cat owners are keeping cat harnesses as part of their disaster preparedness kits for their cats.

Before starting Poponeko, I used to wonder, "A harness for a cat that doesn't need to be walked?" However, the more I imagine life in an evacuation shelter, the more convinced I am that having a cat harness is essential.

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, there have been several major disasters, and I have heard that life in evacuation centers with cats has been fraught with difficulties.

What are the challenges of evacuating with a cat, and how should they be addressed? In this second installment of our series, we will think about how to protect your cat's life with a focus on "evacuating with pets and how to spend time at a shelter."

"Evacuating with pets" (Dogou Hinan) and "Evacuating together" (Douhan Hinan) are different

When an earthquake occurs and evacuation becomes necessary, I think many owners worry, "Can I take my cat to the shelter?"

During the Great East Japan Earthquake, there were cases where people delayed their evacuation or remained in dangerous homes out of concern for their pets. There were also reports of people returning to their homes to save their pets and getting caught in the tsunami.

To prevent such situations, the Ministry of the Environment recommends "Dogou Hinan," which means evacuating with your pet.

However, this only recommends "evacuating while bringing your cat with you," and does not mean that the cat can enter the shelter with you.

Living in an evacuation shelter in the same room as a pet is called "Douhan Hinan," but the reality is that there are still few shelters that allow this. There were many cases where there were no regulations regarding pet evacuation, leading to delayed responses.

There have also been troubles where people went to a shelter expecting to stay with their pets, only to be told to keep them outdoors or in their cars.

While "Dogou Hinan" (evacuating with pets) is encouraged, "Douhan Hinan" (staying together) is not possible. This gap seems to be causing confusion at evacuation shelters.

How pets are treated varies by shelter

There are four conceivable patterns for how cats are treated at an evacuation shelter: "cohabitation in the same room," "cohabitation in the same room divided by pet owners and non-pet owners," "living in a separate room," and "outdoor sheltering."

In past disasters, "living in a separate room" and "outdoor sheltering" seemed to be the mainstream, but the establishment of shelters that allow "cohabitation in the same room" is also progressing.

We need to stay alert and keep collecting information on a daily basis.

Evacuating with pets is prone to trouble

For owners, "staying together" (Douhan Hinan) is more reassuring.

However, there are people at evacuation shelters who have animal allergies or who are uncomfortable with animals. There have been cases where smells and noise caused trouble with other evacuees.

Also, during the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Kumamoto earthquake, it was noted as a challenge that there were no mutual aid associations or self-governing organizations among pet owners.

For about three days after a disaster occurs, it is "self-help" (Jijo). You must protect yourself and your cat on your own. After that, owners help each other in "mutual aid" (Kyojo) to live.

There may not be staff at the shelter to handle pets, so a cooperative system among pet owners is required. By helping each other, trouble should be significantly reduced.

Things to be careful about in shelter life

According to a survey by the Cabinet Office conducted after the Kumamoto earthquake, 35.5% of people felt they did not want pets in the shelter.

The reasons given included "I'm concerned about the smell (79.9%)" and "I'm concerned about barking and noises (77.6%)."

Source: Cabinet Office "2016 Report on Examples of Disaster Victim Support in Evacuation Centers"

As for the smell, it can be improved with the owner's mindfulness. Regarding barking, it seems that it can be solved with preparations during normal times, such as getting them used to a cage so they don't get wild, and getting them spayed or neutered so they don't go into heat.

Based on past cases, I have summarized things to be careful about during shelter life.

Follow the rules

Because cats and many evacuees share the same room, measures against smell, noise, and shedding are essential.

The causes of odors are excrement and cat food. You can take measures by cleaning up both excrement and cat food each time.

If your cat is feeling anxious and meowing, put a towel over the cage or carrier bag to help calm them down. Covering it with cardboard is also recommended.

Also, brushing your cat frequently can prevent hair from flying around. Go outside to brush them, and keep the wind direction in mind. If they don't mind it, wearing clothes is another option.

Create rules with other owners

At many shelters, pets are grouped in a dedicated space indoors or outdoors, where you will go to take care of them.

In living together, "mutual aid" (Kyojo) among owners is indispensable. As a mutual aid society or self-governing organization, talk with other owners and take the initiative to set rules.

If there are rules such as taking turns cleaning the pet area, patrolling to prevent non-owners from entering, setting times for interaction, avoiding contact between pets, and following manners, there will be less trouble.

Creating a place for your cat is also important

You need to prepare a cage yourself. If possible, a hard cage that can be stacked is better, but a pop-up temporary cage is fine.

Install a litter box and water inside the cage, and put in blankets that have your cat's scent.

When taking them out of the cage or carrier, don't forget to put on a harness and leash to prevent escape. It's reassuring to always have an ID tag and collar on your cat.

There are other options besides evacuation shelters

What should you do if the local shelter does not accept pets?

The decision to release your cat into the wild is absolutely wrong. To survive with your cat, remember that there are options other than shelters.

According to the Ministry of the Environment's "Guidelines for Disaster Preparedness for People and Pets," if a shelter does not accept pets, four options are presented:

1. Pets stay at home, people in shelters
2. Living in a car or tent
3. Entrusting to an acquaintance or facility
4. Moving to a shelter that accepts pets

[Flowchart of evacuating with pets]

Source: From the Ministry of the Environment "Guidelines for Disaster Preparedness for People and Pets"

Pets stay at home, people in shelters

If your home is not damaged and there is little worry about secondary damage such as aftershocks, tsunamis, or fires, you can let your cat "evacuate at home."

For elderly cats, cats with underlying illnesses, or nervous cats, being in the familiar home environment might be more reassuring than the shelter.

Set up a cat room on the second floor or higher and visit from the shelter to take care of them. Just in case, prepare plenty of cat food and drinking water. You must also ensure complete measures against heatstroke, cold, and escape.

Also, if you need therapeutic food, store plenty of it in advance. It is reassuring to consult your veterinarian and have them prescribe extra medicine to keep in stock. Write down your prescription in your Cat's Health Notebook or on your smartphone.

Living in a car or tent

If your home collapses, you can temporarily manage by sleeping in your car.

Although it is less stressful than a shelter, be careful about lack of oxygen, heatstroke, and economy class syndrome. Also, escape prevention is essential even when sleeping in a car. Create a place for your cat with a carrier bag or cage, and keep a harness and leash on them.

Also, there is the option of sleeping in a tent. If you are careful about heatstroke and your cat escaping, just like sleeping in a car, it might be surprisingly comfortable.

Entrusting to an acquaintance or facility

Evacuating only the cat is also an option.

It is a relief if you can have someone you trust take care of your cat. It is smoother if you have a memo about your cat's care and health condition organized in advance.

Once the situation calms down, you may be able to use "temporary fostering services" provided by the government or animal welfare groups. Since "vaccinations," "flea/tick measures," and "spaying/neutering" are often conditions for fostering, daily preparation is important.

Moving to a shelter that accepts pets

It is quite difficult in the middle of confusion, but moving to a shelter that accepts pets is one option. Collect information from cat friends or SNS, and if it seems safe, move.

Cat harnesses are useful in evacuation life

A cat harness is less for walking and more for preventing your cat from escaping. Because shelter life is unfamiliar, the risk of escape is very high.

When heading from home to the shelter, when opening the cage to take care of your cat, or when letting them exercise outside the cage, always be sure to put on a harness and leash.

If you are living in a shelter with your cat, a cat harness is an essential item.

A survey of 1,800 cat owners showed that more than half of them had purchased a cat harness as "disaster goods."

*Internet survey of 1,800 cat owners (conducted by Poponeko in January 2020)

To spend shelter life without stress, it is important to get them used to it in advance and to choose a harness that is easy for the cat to wear and hard to take off.

Summary

Although evacuating with pets is recommended, shelters where you can stay in the same room as your cat are still a rare case.

In most cases, pets are placed outdoors or in a dedicated pet space indoors. Because you will be living with many pets, manners and a posture of mutual aid among owners are inevitably required.

Daily preparations such as vaccinations and flea/tick measures, as well as spaying/neutering, and getting them used to a cage and harness, are essential.

Also, expanding your circle of cat friends is a disaster prevention measure. Having people you can rely on in an emergency, such as neighborhood cat friends, veterinary clinics, pet hotels, grooming salons, and community cat volunteer circles, is a great help.

Let's start doing what we can to protect our cats' lives right now.