[Series #1] To protect cats' lives during a disaster. Preparing for emergencies.

Hello, this is Kuriyama from Poponeko. It has been 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. In this milestone year, I would like to consider "pets and disaster prevention" to help protect the lives of our beloved cats.

The theme of this first installment is "Preparing for Disasters."

For the disasters that will happen someday, what should owners prepare and how should they get ready to survive together with their cats?

Preparing for Evacuation with Your Pet

In the event of a disaster, "evacuation with your pet" is recommended.

When evacuating with a cat, "self-help" is fundamental. You must save your cat on your own, evacuate on your own, and protect yourself on your own.

Please remember that without prior preparation, you cannot keep your cat safe.

Getting Them Used to a Carrier

When evacuating, you will move your cat in a carrier. Be sure to have one ready as it will also serve as a temporary home for your cat at the shelter.

However, it rarely goes well if you just try to put them in the carrier suddenly. Getting your cat used to the carrier on a daily basis is also part of disaster preparedness.

You can reduce stress during travel by making the carrier a place for sleeping, a relaxing space where they can be alone, or even a place to eat treats.

To prevent your cat from jumping out during an evacuation, take measures such as using a harness and leash, sealing the door with duct tape, or putting them in a laundry net.

Checking Evacuation Centers and Routes

Discuss with your family how to confirm safety, where to evacuate, and what routes to take in case of a disaster. You should also check how local shelters handle pets.

Even though evacuation with your pet is recommended, policies vary by shelter, such as whether you can stay with your cat in the same room or if they will be isolated in a separate room or outdoors.

You can check on your municipality's website, or gather information from local cat-loving friends and veterinarians to build a cat network.

Preparing Disaster Supplies

Shelters do not stock cat supplies. It takes at least 3 days for relief supplies like cat food and litter to arrive. If your cat requires a special diet, it will be even harder to obtain.

You need 1 week's worth of food per cat. Since food and water have expiration dates, use the "rolling stock" method to ensure you always have fresh supplies on hand.

Also, many shelters do not have pet cages. It would be good to prepare a pop-up collapsible cage so your cat can have space to use the bathroom and move around freely.

[Essential Items for Evacuating with a Cat]

• Dry food
• Prescription diet/medication
• Water (soft water)
• Dishes
• Carrier bag
• Portable litter box/pet sheets
• Cat litter
• Harness and leash
• Cat health record (including the cat's photo, vaccination history, chronic illnesses, medical history, etc.)

[Items to Bring If Possible]

• Cage or pop-up cage
• Wet food/treats
• Towel
• Brush
• Toys
• Cardboard
• Newspaper, wet wipes, deodorizing spray, lint roller, etc.

Evacuation Drills

Once you have prepared your cat's disaster supplies, pack them in a bag and keep them in an easily accessible place, such as near the front door.

Also, don't forget to try carrying the cat's disaster bag and the carrier with your cat inside. Add the supplies for humans as well and try walking the evacuation route to do an evacuation drill to see if you can carry everything.

Preparing for Life at an Evacuation Center

While evacuating with your pet is recommended, it does not mean you will always be able to "stay with your pet" in the same room at the shelter.

At many shelters, pets will be kept in a separate room, or you may need to place their cage outdoors, such as in a bicycle parking area.

Since many cats will be gathered together, having basic training, not fearing being in a cage, and having infectious disease protection are essential requirements.

Getting Them Used to a Cage

You need to get them used to cage life on a regular basis so they don't panic and can use the toilet properly while inside. If you purchase a new pop-up cage, be sure to have your cat use it beforehand.

Vaccinations and Flea/Tick Prevention

Vaccinations and flea/tick control are essential, even for strictly indoor cats. Because some diseases can be transmitted to humans, some shelters require proof of vaccination and flea/tick prevention as a condition for entry.

Getting Them Used to a Harness

Having a harness and leash can prevent your cat from escaping when you want them to exercise or use the toilet while living at the shelter. Train them to get used to the harness and leash so they can eat, use the toilet, and exercise comfortably.

It is also recommended to take them for occasional walks with a harness and leash so they don't panic when faced with sudden shelter life.

See this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anko and Kinako + new arrival Monaka (@anko_and_kinako)

Spay and Neuter Surgery

Urine spraying, fighting, and mating calls from male cats can be sources of trouble. Considering the possibility of shelter life, there are significant benefits to spaying or neutering.

During the Great East Japan Earthquake, it was confirmed that cats and dogs that became strays reproduced explosively. To avoid increasing the number of unfortunate kittens and puppies, make sure to get them spayed or neutered.

Annual Health Checkups

Even if they don't have any chronic illnesses, please get a health checkup once a year. If your cat gets sick during a disaster, having data on their usual health status will be helpful for diagnosis.

If your cat has a chronic illness, it's a good idea to consult with your veterinarian about their regular medication and emergency procedures.

Preparing for Escape and Getting Lost

Many cats get scared by earthquakes and emergency alerts and bolt out of the house. It's also possible for them to get out through broken windows or doors.

Even during the Great East Japan Earthquake, many pets were separated from their owners and reunion was difficult. One of the reasons cited was the "lack of owner identification."

To reunite with a lost pet, you must prove ownership with a "microchip" or "ID tag."

Microchips are Essential

Microchips record the owner's information and are implanted under the skin with a special syringe, so they won't fall off during a disaster.

When a cat is rescued at an animal welfare center or hospital, the microchip can be scanned to identify the owner. While you may be difficult to reach during a disaster, it is certain that a microchip greatly increases the chances of reuniting with your cat.

Getting Them Used to a Collar and ID Tag

Please put a "collar and ID tag" on your cat so they can be identified as a pet at a glance. The collar serves as a marker and is helpful when gathering sighting information.

I recommend using it in conjunction with a microchip, as it also helps in case of an escape.

Proving Ownership

Pets rescued during the earthquake were returned to their owners through the efforts of public health centers, animal welfare centers, and volunteers.

In such cases, having a "cat health record" with vaccination history or "photos of you and your cat together" can help you prove ownership smoothly.

Disaster Preparedness Guidelines for People and Pets

During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, there was a major issue that "pets could not be evacuated with their owners." Few owners knew about evacuation with pets, and there were few shelters equipped to accept them.

There was also the problem that even when lost dogs and cats were rescued, they could not be identified because they had no ID tags or microchips.

It broke my heart to see news of owners desperately searching for their beloved dogs and cats.

To solve the issues regarding "pet disaster prevention" that became clear during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, the Ministry of the Environment has compiled "Disaster Preparedness Guidelines for People and Pets."

It summarizes daily preparations and actions during a disaster in detail, so I encourage the entire family to read it.

Summary

To protect your pet's life, the owner must be safe. For that reason, basic disaster measures such as securing furniture and checking disaster stockpiles are essential.

Disasters like earthquakes can happen at any time. No matter how much you prepare, you may still panic when the time comes. I don't have the confidence to act calmly either.

But the owner's anxiety and impatience are felt by the cat as well.

To act calmly, we must not forget to conduct simulations and evacuation drills in daily life.

Furthermore, the preparations needed for "evacuation with your pet," "shelter life," and "escape/lost pet prevention" are things that are necessary to protect your cat even if a disaster doesn't occur. Let's take another look at your cat's disaster prevention measures.