On Disaster Prevention Day, what preparations should you make to evacuate with your cat?

What is the significance of Disaster Prevention Day?

September 1st is Disaster Prevention Day. It was established in June of the following year to raise awareness of disasters, inspired by the Ise Bay Typhoon that struck on September 26th, 1959, which caused the greatest damage since the war. This day was chosen because the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred on September 1st, 1923, and because the "unlucky day for farmers," when typhoons are likely to make landfall, is around September 1st, 210 days after the beginning of spring. In addition, the week including Disaster Prevention Day is designated as Disaster Prevention Week. Some people may have participated in disaster prevention drills at their companies or schools.

This time of year, I would like to think about disaster prevention for cats. Cats are important family members, and just like people, they need to be prepared for disasters.

Cats that go missing in disasters

In the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred in March 2011, many cats were frightened and ran out of their homes, going missing. When the tsunami warning was issued, there was no time to prepare for evacuation, and many cats were left behind in the disaster area.

Japan is prone to natural disasters, and has frequently experienced major earthquakes since then, such as the Kumamoto earthquake in April 2016 and the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January 2024. Every time a disaster occurs, cats suffer similar damage.

Even if they are lucky enough to be rescued and taken to a public health center or animal protection center, many cats have no identification and are unable to return to their homes.

Checking disaster prevention measures and evacuation locations within the home

You never know when or where such a disaster will occur, so it's a good idea to prepare for it on a daily basis, assuming it will happen close to home.

First, let's review disaster prevention measures for your home. To minimize damage in the event of an earthquake, it's a good idea to make your home earthquake-resistant on a regular basis, such as by installing anti-tip devices on furniture. On top of that, make sure to place your cat's bed in a safe place where there is no risk of falling objects. Also, if there is a specific place your beloved cat can take refuge in in the event of a small earthquake, make sure to prepare the surrounding area so that it is not in danger. Even if you have to evacuate at home, taking earthquake-resistant measures will be reassuring in an emergency.

Next, check the location of the nearest evacuation shelter to your home, the evacuation route, and the rules of the shelter. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, it has become recommended that owners evacuate with their pets, so it's a good idea to check the website of your local government to be sure. Evacuation with pets generally requires that the cat be kept in a cage or carrier bag, and kept in a separate space from other people. Pet supplies must be prepared by the owner.

Minimum preparations for staying at an evacuation shelter

So, what should you bring if you end up in an evacuation shelter during a disaster? Human life takes priority at evacuation shelters, so pet supplies often don't arrive, or even if they do, they arrive late. Assume that supplies won't arrive for about a week, so prepare as many essential items as possible. Below are some items we recommend you bring with you when evacuating.

1. Food

Ideally, you should have at least a three-day supply, and at least a seven-day supply for therapeutic food. For wet food, use retort pouches, which produce less waste. Regularly check the expiration date of emergency food. Recently, a method known as rolling stock, in which you stockpile food while using regular food, has been gaining attention.

2.Water

It is important to use soft water, not hard mineral water, as this can cause kidney stones in cats. Soft water is essential. A minimum of 5 days to 1 week's supply is required.

3. Container

If possible, have two bowls, one for food and one for water. They should be made of lightweight, unbreakable material.

4. Carry-on case

You'll want to have one for each cat so they can spend their time at the evacuation site without stress.

5. Portable toilet, cat litter, and disposal scoop

If you add a little of the cat litter you've been using up until now, it will smell like your cat's own excrement, allowing it to use the new litter box smoothly.

6. Collar and tag

It's not necessary if you wear it all the time, but it's good to have a spare.

7.Medicine and Health Records

If your pet has a chronic illness, get extra prescriptions from the hospital and keep the medicine on hand. Even if your pet is healthy, it's a good idea to keep a record of its vaccination history, constitution, and chronic illnesses in a health handbook.

*Other useful items include a cage, towels, blankets, pet sheets, plastic bags, and a harness with a leash. We also recommend bringing a photo of your cat that clearly shows its features in case it escapes.

If you keep these items together in a bag so that you can take them quickly when a disaster occurs, you will be able to act calmly.

What you can do to save your cat's life

Some cats may panic during an evacuation. To ensure they can evacuate quickly, make sure they practice getting into a carrier or cage on a regular basis, and get them used to wearing a harness, collar, and tag.

Cats that are sometimes adopted from rescue organizations are often not fitted with microchips. Collars are useful for gathering information on sightings of lost cats, as they are more likely to be noticed if they escape. Furthermore, if a tag with your cat's name and phone number is attached to the collar, it will be possible to identify the cat at the rescue site.

Even if you have already made all the necessary preparations, we recommend that you conduct regular inspections and reviews.

Onddoka items that contribute to disaster prevention

This lightweight fabric collar is gentle on cats' bodies. It uses a Duraflex cat collar buckle that releases when force is applied, preventing the collar from getting caught in tight spaces and causing accidents such as hanging if your cat escapes.

→Click here for Onddoka collars

You can create a one-of-a-kind name charm (lost cat tag) for your beloved cat, a precious member of your family. It can be attached to any type of collar. We hold limited-quantity order events from the 1st to the 3rd of every month.

→ [Limited Quantity | Order Event] Order Name Charm (for collars) here

Your cat's name and phone number will be engraved on a small, lightweight brass plate that fits the cat's body. Because it is hand-typed, even if it gets dirty during a disaster, the letters will not become unclear. Please consider purchasing this product in case of an emergency.