Pet emergency kit UK: food, documents and transport
Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · 6 min read
Quick checklist
Quick checklist
0 of 8 doneWhy a pet emergency kit UK homes can afford starts with what you have
Be Ready, the government campaign, asks households to prepare for three days of disruption. That might be a power cut, a storm, a burst main or a short evacuation. Your pet will not know what is happening, so a plan that is ready first keeps you both steadier.
You need your normal pet supplies in one place, a few papers, and a decision about how you would carry your animal. Our household emergency plan covers the people side.
Food and water for three days
Plan for at least three days of your pet's usual food. Check the use-by or best-before date, and ask your vet what to store if your pet has a special diet. Quantities depend on the animal, so we give none.
A few habits keep this cheap:
- Buy one extra bag or a few tins when you shop, then use the oldest first.
- Keep dry food in an airtight tub. An airtight food storage bucket (Retailer link coming soon) with a lid does the job.
- Write the date you opened a bag on the tub.
- Keep ring-pull tins or a manual tin opener if your pet eats wet food.
For water, tap water in clean, food-grade containers is the default. Set aside some for your pet, on top of the 3 litres per person per day Be Ready suggests for people. Ask your vet how much your animal needs, since that varies a lot. A few food-grade water containers (Retailer link coming soon) keep it clean. Swap the water every six months, or sooner if it looks or smells off.
Documents and identification
Put copies of these in one waterproof pouch, or a folder in your own grab bag:
- Your name, address and mobile number, and a second contact who does not live with you.
- Your vet's name, address and phone number, and an out-of-hours number if they have one.
- Vaccination and treatment records, and insurance details if you have them.
- Your pet's microchip number, if it has one.
- A recent printed photo of you with your pet, in case you are separated.
A waterproof document pouch (Retailer link coming soon) also holds your own papers. Our guide to important documents to keep safe lists what else to copy.
Microchip and collar details
If your pet is microchipped, the details on the database are usually what a vet or rescue uses to reach you. It is worth checking now that your address and phone number are current, and updating them after a house move. The company that holds your pet's chip record can tell you how. A collar with a tag and your phone number gives a second way to reach you. For a cat, check the collar is a safety type that releases if it catches.
Medicines and special needs
If your pet takes medicine, speak to your vet about how to keep a safe spare and what to do if you have to leave in a hurry. Keep medicines in their original packaging with the label on. Do not give any medicine, human or animal, unless your vet has told you to. For a pet with a long-term condition, write the name of the condition and the vet's number on a card and keep it in the pouch.
Transport: the carrier you already own is enough
For cats, rabbits and other small animals, a secure carrier is the main thing. For dogs, a collar or harness and a lead. Check it fits and the catches close. Leave the carrier out with the door open and a familiar blanket inside, so your pet sees it as a bed and not a surprise. A spare fleece blanket (Retailer link coming soon) is cheap, washable and smells of home.
For birds, reptiles and other pets with special needs, ask your vet how to move them safely, particularly for warmth.
If you may have to leave home
Plan ahead for where your pet would stay. Not all emergency shelters or rest centres take animals, and rules differ by council, so do not assume. Think now about a friend, a family member, a boarding kennel or cattery, or a pet-friendly place to stay. Write the numbers on a card. If you are told to leave, take your pet with you where you can, and tell the people helping you that you have an animal. Our evacuation checklist covers the human side, and our grab bag list shows where to keep a pet pouch.
If you cannot take your pet, tell the people helping you and ask for advice.
Do this today (free)
- Put the carrier, lead or harness where you can reach it.
- Write your vet's number, your own number and a second contact on a card.
- Photograph your pet and the microchip certificate.
- Check your pet's microchip record has your current address and phone number.
- Count the days of food left. Aim for three.
If you have £10, £25 or £50
These are budgets, not quotes. Check the current price first.
- About £10: an airtight tub for food and a waterproof pouch for papers.
- About £25: add a second water container, a spare fleece blanket and a head torch.
- About £50: add a second lead or harness, a spare bowl and a few extra tins or a spare bag of food, rotated through your normal shopping.
A head torch (Retailer link coming soon) keeps both hands free when you carry a pet in the dark.
Questions people ask
What should be in a pet emergency kit in the UK?
Keep a few days of your pet's usual food, some water, a carrier or lead, copies of vet and vaccination papers, the microchip number and a recent photo. Add any prescribed medicine and a familiar blanket. Most of this is already at home. Ask your vet about special needs.
How much food should I store for my pet?
Aim for at least three days of your pet's usual food, in line with Be Ready's three days of disruption advice. Keep it in an airtight tub, rotate it with your normal shopping and check the dates. Ask your vet if your pet has a special diet or health condition.
Do emergency shelters take pets?
Not always. Rest centres and shelters differ by council and situation, so do not assume yours will. Plan ahead for a friend, family member, kennel, cattery or pet-friendly place to stay, and write the numbers down. Tell the people helping you that you have an animal.
Should I update my pet's microchip details?
Yes, if your address or phone number has changed. The database record is usually how a vet or rescue finds you, so it is worth checking it is current. The company holding your pet's record can tell you how to update it.
Sources and further reading
Sources
firesidefolk.com/family-and-home/pet-emergency-kit-uk · Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · Fireside Folk