EMERGENCYPETPREP

Tool

Pet Emergency Kit Builder

A pet emergency kit is only useful if it fits your animals and your hazard. Tell it what you have and what you are most likely to face, and it builds a tailored checklist from the same Ready.gov, ASPCA, and AVMA guidance the rest of this site runs on, then points each item at the calculator or template that finishes the job. It is free, nothing you pick is saved, and you can print the list when you are done.

The builder runs with JavaScript on. With it off, use the sourced kit basics and the per-hazard notes further down, and the calculators and templates linked throughout.

The “Shop it” links are affiliate links: if you buy through them the site may earn a small commission at no cost to you, which is how these tools stay free. Every item traces to the authorities cited below, not to a sponsor.

What every pet kit needs, and where the list comes from

The builder starts from the checklist the federal and veterinary authorities agree on and adds to it. The non-negotiables, listed by all of them, are a carrier and a leash for every pet, an ID tag plus a microchip you keep registered, at least a week of water, food, a two-week supply of any medication, copies of your vet records, and a recent photo of you with each pet. The Ready.govguidance is to keep a larger kit for sheltering in place and a lighter version to grab and evacuate, and to review both so the food and medicine stay fresh.

One honest note on the food line: the authorities give different day counts, from 3 to 7 days (AVMA) to 7 to 10 (ASPCA) to two weeks (CDC), so the builder gives the range rather than pretending there is one number.

The tools each item points to

The builder is the front door. When an item needs a number or a form, it hands you off: thesupply calculator for exact water and food amounts, thecarrier fit finder for the right carrier by weight, therefill calculator for when to reorder medication, and the printable emergency plan,wallet card, andsitter instructions for the paperwork.

Free checklist

Get the printable pet go-bag checklist

The complete go-bag list from this site, mapped to Ready.gov and ASPCA guidance with per-animal quantities, as a print-ready PDF delivered straight to your inbox. One email to send it, then occasional new guides. Unsubscribe any time.

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from a generic kit list?

A generic list gives everyone the same items. This one changes with your household: it counts carriers by how many pets you have, adds litter and a calming pillowcase only if you have cats, adds waste bags only if you have dogs, and swaps in the items that actually matter for your hazard, whether that is a waterproof container for a flood or clean-air steps for wildfire smoke. Every item traces to Ready.gov, the ASPCA, the AVMA, the CDC, or the Red Cross.

Why doesn't it give one exact number of days of food?

Because the authorities don't agree on one. The AVMA says 3 to 7 days, the ASPCA says 7 to 10, and the CDC recommends two weeks, so the list gives the range and lets you plan to the high end. For an exact per-pet amount, the supply calculator does the math.

Are the hazard notes medical advice?

No. The wildfire and heat notes tell you what to watch for, like coughing or heavy panting, and to call your vet. They never tell you how to treat a pet. Follow your veterinarian for anything medical.

Does it save my list or what I typed?

No. The builder runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you select is stored or sent anywhere, so check off items and print the list in one sitting, or come back and rebuild it.

What about livestock, or exotic pets?

This builder covers dogs, cats, and common small pets like birds, reptiles, and small mammals, and points you to the ASPCA's species-specific lists for those. Horses and livestock need their own evacuation planning, which the ASPCA and Ready.gov both cover separately.

Sources