Earthquake Preparedness for Pets: A Complete Guide to Keeping Your Animals Safe

Every year, earthquakes strike without warning — and while most families focus on human safety, the 70% of U.S. households that include pets face an additional challenge. During Hurricane Katrina, an estimated 600,000 pets were killed or left behind, largely because owners had no animal emergency plan. That disaster changed federal law through the PETS Act of 2006, but the responsibility for preparing your animals still falls on you.

This guide covers everything you need to protect dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and large animals before, during, and after an earthquake.

Key Takeaways

• Build a pet emergency kit with at least 3 days of food, water, medications, and copies of vaccination records — kept in a grab-and-go container near your exit.
• Microchip your pets and keep registration current. Collars fall off during disasters. A microchip is a permanent ID that shelters scan for immediately.
• Know your evacuation options in advance. Not all Red Cross shelters accept animals. Identify pet-friendly hotels, boarding facilities, and friends outside your area who can take your pet.
• Never leave pets chained or confined during an earthquake. Animals that can't flee falling debris face serious injury or death.
• Practice your plan. Get your pet comfortable with carriers, crates, and car travel before an emergency forces it.
• Large animals require separate planning. Horses and livestock need trailer access, pre-identified evacuation routes, and receiving facilities.

Why Pet Preparedness Matters

FEMA and the American Red Cross both emphasize that pet preparedness is human preparedness. Studies after major disasters consistently show that people who cannot evacuate their pets often refuse to evacuate at all — putting themselves and first responders at risk.

The PETS Act of 2006 requires state and local emergency plans to account for households with pets and service animals as a condition for receiving FEMA disaster preparedness funding. Despite this, the burden of day-to-day preparedness remains with individual pet owners.

Building a Pet Emergency Kit

Your pet emergency kit should sustain each animal for a minimum of 3 days (72 hours), though FEMA recommends preparing for up to 2 weeks when possible. Keep the kit in a waterproof container near your primary exit.

Essential Pet Emergency Kit Checklist

Medications and Medical Records

For pets with chronic conditions — diabetes, seizure disorders, heart disease — medication access after a disaster can be life-threatening. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends:

• Keeping a minimum 2-week supply of all medications in your emergency kit
• Storing a written summary of your pet's medical conditions, dosages, and veterinarian contact information
• Asking your vet for an extra prescription to keep in your kit, rotated before expiration
• Noting any drug allergies or sensitivities

If your pet requires refrigerated medication (such as insulin), include a small insulated bag and cold pack in your kit.

Kit Maintenance Schedule

Review and update your pet emergency kit every 6 months. A good rule: check it when you change your clocks for daylight saving time (March and November). Replace expired food, medications, and water. Update photos and vaccination records.

What to Do With Pets During an Earthquake

When Shaking Starts

Earthquakes give no warning. You will not have time to search for your pet. During shaking:

Do:

• Protect yourself first. You cannot help your pet if you're injured.
• If your pet is next to you, bring them under a sturdy table or desk with you.
• Stay away from windows, mirrors, and heavy furniture.

Don't:

• Do not run through the house searching for a hiding pet during shaking.
• Do not try to restrain a panicking animal — you risk bites and scratches.
• Do not open exterior doors during shaking (pets may bolt).

Common Pet Behaviors During Earthquakes

Animals often sense seismic activity before humans do. The USGS notes that while anecdotal reports of unusual animal behavior before earthquakes are common, no reliable scientific method has confirmed animals can predict earthquakes. However, animals do react to the P-wave (the initial, less noticeable wave) seconds before the stronger S-wave hits.

Expect these behaviors:

• Dogs may bark, whine, pace, try to escape, or hide under furniture. Some dogs become clingy; others become aggressive out of fear.
• Cats typically hide immediately — under beds, in closets, behind appliances. They may not emerge for hours or even days.
• Birds may fly erratically in their cage, screech, or fall from perches.
• Reptiles and small mammals may become completely still or try to burrow.

After Shaking Stops

1. Check yourself and family for injuries first.
2. Secure your pet as quickly as possible — leash dogs, put cats in carriers. Aftershocks will continue and may cause additional panic.
3. Do a quick damage assessment of your home. If there's structural damage, gas leaks, or downed power lines, evacuate with your pet.
4. Keep dogs leashed and cats in carriers for at least 24–48 hours after a significant earthquake. Familiar landmarks and scents are disrupted, and even well-trained pets can become disoriented and run away.
5. Check your yard for hazards before letting pets outside: broken glass, downed fences, exposed wiring, spilled chemicals.

Evacuation Planning for Pets

Know Before You Go: Shelter Options

Not all emergency shelters accept pets. The Red Cross operates shelters for people, and while the PETS Act requires communities to plan for pets, the reality varies widely by jurisdiction.

Your evacuation options for pets include:

Finding Pet-Friendly Shelters and Hotels

• FEMA's disaster shelter locator: After a disaster declaration, check FEMA.gov/disaster for shelter information.
• Red Cross shelter info: Use the Red Cross shelter finder — and call ahead to confirm pet policies.
• Pet-friendly hotels: Sites like BringFido.com and PetsWelcome.com maintain directories, but always call to confirm during a disaster — policies may change.
• State-specific resources: Many states maintain lists of emergency pet shelters. California, for example, operates through county-level animal services agencies.

What Shelters Require

Most emergency pet shelters and co-located sheltering facilities require:

• Proof of current rabies vaccination
• Pet in a carrier or crate (you may need to provide your own)
• Enough food for your pet's stay
• Medications with dosage instructions
• Collar with ID tag

If your pet is not vaccinated, many shelters will turn the animal away. This is one of the most important reasons to keep vaccination records in your emergency kit.

Creating a Pet Evacuation Checklist

Before an earthquake happens, complete this checklist:

• Identify 3 potential destinations for your pet (hotel, friend, boarding facility)
• Confirm each destination's requirements and capacity
• Map at least 2 evacuation routes from your home
• Practice loading your pet into a carrier and into the car
• Post your pet's information (species, breed, microchip number) on a card near your front door — this helps rescue workers if you're not home
• Arrange a buddy system with a neighbor who can check on your pet if you're away during an earthquake

Post-Earthquake: Behavior Changes and Recovery

Behavioral Changes to Expect

After a significant earthquake, most pets will show behavioral changes. The AVMA notes these are normal stress responses that typically resolve within a few weeks:

• Clinginess or separation anxiety — following you from room to room, whining when you leave
• Loss of appetite — may last 24–72 hours
• House-training regression — accidents indoors, even in well-trained animals
• Aggression or fearfulness — snapping, growling, hiding
• Excessive vocalization — barking, howling, meowing more than usual
• Hypervigilance — startling at small noises, difficulty sleeping

When to See a Vet

Contact your veterinarian if your pet:

• Refuses food or water for more than 48 hours
• Shows signs of injury: limping, bleeding, swelling, difficulty breathing
• Has prolonged diarrhea or vomiting
• Displays extreme aggression or complete withdrawal lasting more than a week
• Has been exposed to hazardous materials, contaminated water, or debris

If Your Pet Is Lost After an Earthquake

Time is critical. Take these steps immediately:

1. Search your home thoroughly. Cats especially hide in small, dark spaces — inside walls, under appliances, in cabinets. They may not respond to their name when frightened.
2. Contact local animal control and shelters within 24 hours. Provide a clear photo and description. Visit in person if possible — online listings may not be current.
3. Report your lost pet online:
   • PetFBI.org — free national lost and found database
   • Your microchip registry (HomeAgain, Found Animals, PetLink, etc.)
   • Local community social media groups
4. Post flyers with a clear photo, your contact number, and the last known location.
5. Leave familiar items outside — your pet's bed, a worn piece of your clothing, their litter box (for cats). Animals can detect familiar scents from considerable distances.
6. Check with your microchip company to ensure your contact information is current. If your pet is found and scanned, the chip is only as useful as the registration behind it.

The Importance of Microchipping

A collar and ID tag can fall off during an earthquake. A microchip is a permanent form of identification implanted under the skin, about the size of a grain of rice.

• Cost: $25–$75 at most veterinary clinics, often less at low-cost clinics or shelter adoption events
• Registration: Must be registered with a national database to be effective. Registration is free or low-cost ($15–$25 one-time fee with most services)
• Lookup: Any shelter or vet can scan for a chip using the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup

The American Humane Association reports that microchipped dogs are returned to their owners 52.2% of the time, compared to 21.9% for dogs without chips. For cats, the return rate is 38.5% versus just 1.8%.

Special Considerations by Animal Type

Dogs

• Practice "crate training" before an emergency. A dog that panics in a crate is harder to transport safely.
• Keep an extra leash and collar in your car.
• If your dog is on a chain or tie-out in the yard, switch to a breakaway tether or bring the dog inside when seismic activity is elevated.
• Large-breed dogs may need a muzzle in their emergency kit — not because they're aggressive, but because pain and fear can trigger biting in any dog.

Cats

• Indoor cats are generally safer during earthquakes than outdoor cats, who may flee and become lost.
• Acclimate your cat to a carrier well in advance. Leave the carrier open in your home with a familiar blanket inside.
• Cats often refuse to eat in unfamiliar environments. Include a high-value treat (like tuna or squeeze treats) in your emergency kit.
• After an earthquake, keep cats confined to one room in your home until they settle — a full house with post-earthquake disruption can be overwhelming.

Birds

• Cover the cage with a light cloth during shaking and transport to reduce panic.
• Keep a small, ventilated travel cage ready.
• Ensure at least 3 days of bird-specific food, as pet stores may be closed.
• Birds are extremely sensitive to airborne toxins. If there's any gas leak or fire after an earthquake, move birds to fresh air immediately.

Reptiles and Small Mammals

• Reptiles need their heat source. Include a battery-powered or chemical heat pack in your kit.
• Hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits need a secure, ventilated travel container with bedding and food.
• Snakes can escape through surprisingly small gaps — inspect enclosures after shaking for any cracks.
• Small animals are vulnerable to temperature extremes. Plan for heating or cooling during extended power outages.

Large Animals: Horses, Livestock, and Farm Animals

Large animal preparedness requires significantly more planning and resources. The AVMA and California's Ready for Wildfire program provide detailed guidance for large animal owners.

Before an Earthquake

• Identification: All horses and livestock should have permanent identification — brands, microchips, leg bands, or photographs of distinguishing markings.
• Trailer readiness: Keep your horse trailer maintained, fueled, and accessible. In a disaster, roads may be damaged quickly.
• Evacuation destination: Identify at least 2 facilities that can receive your animals — fairgrounds, other farms, equine centers. Confirm in advance.
• Supplies: Maintain a 72-hour supply of feed, water (12 gallons per horse per day), hay, and any medications.
• Fencing: After an earthquake, inspect all fencing before releasing animals. Downed fences near roads create dangerous situations.

During and After an Earthquake

• Do not enter a barn during shaking. Barns are especially vulnerable to collapse.
• After shaking stops, check animals for injuries before moving them. Panicked horses can injure themselves and handlers.
• If you cannot evacuate large animals, move them to an open field or paddock away from structures, trees, and power lines. Do NOT leave them locked in a barn.
• Provide identification visible from a distance — use livestock marker paint or tape to write your phone number on the animal's side if necessary.

Large Animal Emergency Kit

Resources and Next Steps

Create Your Plan Today

Start by taking these three steps today:

1. Assemble your pet emergency kit. You can build one from items you likely already have. Total cost for a basic dog or cat kit: approximately $50–$100.
2. Confirm your pet's microchip registration at AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup.
3. Identify your evacuation destination and confirm they'll accept your pet.

Then read our related guides:

• Earthquake Preparedness for Families
• Best Earthquake Emergency Kits

Additional Resources

• Ready.gov — Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies
• Red Cross — Pet Disaster Preparedness
• AVMA — Disaster Preparedness for Animals
• Humane Society — Disaster Preparedness for Pets

Sources

1. FEMA. "Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies." Ready.gov. https://www.ready.gov/pets
2. American Red Cross. "Pet Disaster Preparedness." https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/pet-disaster-preparedness.html
3. American Veterinary Medical Association. "Disaster Preparedness for Animals." https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/disaster-preparedness
4. U.S. Congress. "Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 (PETS Act)." Public Law 109-308. https://www.congress.gov/109/plaws/publ308/PLAW-109publ308.htm
5. USGS. "Can Animals Predict Earthquakes?" https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/can-animals-predict-earthquakes
6. American Humane Association. "Microchip Study: Return-to-Owner Rates." Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2009.
7. Humane Society of the United States. "Disaster Preparedness for Pets." https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/disaster-preparedness-pets
8. AAHA. "Universal Pet Microchip Lookup." https://www.aaha.org/pet-microchip-lookup
9. California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. "Ready for Wildfire — Livestock and Large Animals." https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/ready-set-go/ready-for-livestock-and-large-animals/