I am going to apologize right now for such a long post. While planning this out I have come to realize what a huge nightmare it is to have EVERYTHING a cat needs in one place, ready to go. So, any thoughts or suggestions are welcome and much appreciated!
I have decided that it is a good idea to make an emergency go bag. I am definitely not a "prepper" (not that there is anything wrong with that) but, the way the world is going I think it might be wise to have some sort of emergency supplies ready. I also live in a large apartment complex with a lot of older people who seem to set something on fire every other week. So, I need something that I can grab and go. The main reason for assembling this bag is for Salem, my 10 month old kitten. I need to be able to grab her and our kit and go. I have a pet stroller with a nice sized storage basket under it and I am planning on getting a big duffel bag that can handle up to 50 lbs. I was wondering if anyone here has any suggestions for what I should include for Salem. Whether it be a fire or a major disaster, I would like to be ready. I obviously still need to fit my stuff in that duffel as well. But, I have not decided exactly what I am going to include yet. Plus, to complicate matters, I will only have one free hand to carry stuff as I walk with a crutch on one side. That is why I like the stroller since I can load up Salem, throw the duffel either on top of it or over my shoulder and go. I do not have a vehicle, so I can't just leave the supplies in the trunk or something. I do have a soft cat carrier that I might include as a back up in case I have to abandon the more bulky stroller. Salem is a very nervous cat to say to least. But, she does seem to feel safe in the stroller and it is big enough for her to move around a little. I am betting if it ever came to an emergency evacuation, Salem would lose her mind. I would probably struggle to handle her and would be luck to even get her into the stroller at all. Whenever the fire alarm goes off, she hides under the bed, out of reach. I can't really blame her either as the stupid thing is deafening and the strobe light is blinding. So, any suggestions on how to get her into the stroller quickly during an emergency? My worst fear is that I will be forced to immediately evacuate during a fire and won't be able to get to Salem in time. Though, I would have to be physically dragged out before I left without her.
The biggest thing I am trying to figure out is the litter box. I am stuck between a disposable cardboard litter box or a foldable, suitcase style litter box. Plus, litter is obviously heavy. The only thing I can think of is to place her litter supplies in the bottom storage compartment of the stroller along with a small jug of light weight litter. But, that will take up all of the space in the stroller, so the rest of Salem's stuff would need to go into the duffel. I love cats, but this is their one "disadvantage" when compared to dogs. I wish you could just take a cat for a walk to do their business.
I am not sure how much food to include, but Salem is a kibble addict and refuses wet food (working on changing that). So, I figured I would pack a supply of her dry only. If it really were an emergency situation and Salem was stressed, it would be a challenge to get her to eat at all, let along canned food. So, I don't see the point in taking up valuable space with cans that will go to waste. As far as the dry goes though, Salem eats up to, but often less than a 1/2 cup of dry a day. 1/2 cup of dry weights about 4 oz. So, there would in theory be 4 days worth of food per pound of dry. Her food comes in 2 lbs bags. Do you think an 8 day supply of food would be enough? Do you think I should include a bag of her favorite treats to help keep her calm?
I plan on putting together a custom first aid kit as the premade ones are expensive and leave much to be desired. Is there any medical supplies that I should include just for Salem? I will be adding a bottle of her tummy meds(Homeopet feline digestive upset remedy) and a bottle of Kwik-Stop Styptic Powder. I will also include a few sterile oral syringes and some kind of cat safe wound spray or wipes. What else could a cat need that is not part of a standard human first aid kit?
I made up a binder with all of Salem's medical and dietary information. It also contains her microchip number and any emergency phone numbers. I think I will start storing the binder in the bug out bag and just take it out to update it as needed so it won't get left behind.
What would you include in your bug out bag for you kitty? Am I going overboard here?
Thanks!
I have decided that it is a good idea to make an emergency go bag. I am definitely not a "prepper" (not that there is anything wrong with that) but, the way the world is going I think it might be wise to have some sort of emergency supplies ready. I also live in a large apartment complex with a lot of older people who seem to set something on fire every other week. So, I need something that I can grab and go. The main reason for assembling this bag is for Salem, my 10 month old kitten. I need to be able to grab her and our kit and go. I have a pet stroller with a nice sized storage basket under it and I am planning on getting a big duffel bag that can handle up to 50 lbs. I was wondering if anyone here has any suggestions for what I should include for Salem. Whether it be a fire or a major disaster, I would like to be ready. I obviously still need to fit my stuff in that duffel as well. But, I have not decided exactly what I am going to include yet. Plus, to complicate matters, I will only have one free hand to carry stuff as I walk with a crutch on one side. That is why I like the stroller since I can load up Salem, throw the duffel either on top of it or over my shoulder and go. I do not have a vehicle, so I can't just leave the supplies in the trunk or something. I do have a soft cat carrier that I might include as a back up in case I have to abandon the more bulky stroller. Salem is a very nervous cat to say to least. But, she does seem to feel safe in the stroller and it is big enough for her to move around a little. I am betting if it ever came to an emergency evacuation, Salem would lose her mind. I would probably struggle to handle her and would be luck to even get her into the stroller at all. Whenever the fire alarm goes off, she hides under the bed, out of reach. I can't really blame her either as the stupid thing is deafening and the strobe light is blinding. So, any suggestions on how to get her into the stroller quickly during an emergency? My worst fear is that I will be forced to immediately evacuate during a fire and won't be able to get to Salem in time. Though, I would have to be physically dragged out before I left without her.
The biggest thing I am trying to figure out is the litter box. I am stuck between a disposable cardboard litter box or a foldable, suitcase style litter box. Plus, litter is obviously heavy. The only thing I can think of is to place her litter supplies in the bottom storage compartment of the stroller along with a small jug of light weight litter. But, that will take up all of the space in the stroller, so the rest of Salem's stuff would need to go into the duffel. I love cats, but this is their one "disadvantage" when compared to dogs. I wish you could just take a cat for a walk to do their business.
I am not sure how much food to include, but Salem is a kibble addict and refuses wet food (working on changing that). So, I figured I would pack a supply of her dry only. If it really were an emergency situation and Salem was stressed, it would be a challenge to get her to eat at all, let along canned food. So, I don't see the point in taking up valuable space with cans that will go to waste. As far as the dry goes though, Salem eats up to, but often less than a 1/2 cup of dry a day. 1/2 cup of dry weights about 4 oz. So, there would in theory be 4 days worth of food per pound of dry. Her food comes in 2 lbs bags. Do you think an 8 day supply of food would be enough? Do you think I should include a bag of her favorite treats to help keep her calm?
I plan on putting together a custom first aid kit as the premade ones are expensive and leave much to be desired. Is there any medical supplies that I should include just for Salem? I will be adding a bottle of her tummy meds(Homeopet feline digestive upset remedy) and a bottle of Kwik-Stop Styptic Powder. I will also include a few sterile oral syringes and some kind of cat safe wound spray or wipes. What else could a cat need that is not part of a standard human first aid kit?
I made up a binder with all of Salem's medical and dietary information. It also contains her microchip number and any emergency phone numbers. I think I will start storing the binder in the bug out bag and just take it out to update it as needed so it won't get left behind.
What would you include in your bug out bag for you kitty? Am I going overboard here?
Thanks!