Community cat disaster preparedness

Although community cats are resourceful and instinctively seek out safe places in times of danger, extreme weather may pose a threat to them. If you take care of a colony of cats, there are many things you can do to increase their chances of coming through the storm safe and sound.

What to do right now

• Create (and update) a list—complete with detailed descriptions and photos—of all the cats in the colony you care for. After a storm, this list may help you locate displaced cats and recover those being cared for by shelters or other rescue groups.

• Gather veterinary records for the cats (including microchip numbers if the cats are chipped) and store them in a safe place. 

• Make sure you have cell phone numbers for other neighbors who may also feed the cats so you can connect with them to locate lost cats or make sure those remaining are cared for.

• Find someone who will commit to being a back-up caretaker in your absence.

• Carry the contact information for your secondary caretaker in your wallet. Also post the information on your refrigerator or some other visible place in your home.

• Collect contact information for local shelters and rescue groups. They may be able to help you locate cats who have gone missing.

• For extra security, save digital copies of all gathered information.

What to do when bad weather threatens community cats

Consider what type of natural disaster you are dealing with and what kind of havoc it will wreak on your neighborhood. Will there be high winds, flooding or fire?

• Post laminated signs on or near cat shelters and feeding stations alerting any emergency responders that this is a managed group of cats and include contact information.

• Secure or remove objects (such as chairs, potted plants or garden utensils) in and near the colony that could become airborne during high winds or get washed away.

• Move shelters and feeding stations to higher ground in areas that may flood. Raise shelters and feeding stations to keep them dry. You'll find wooden shipping pallets, available at some lumber yards, are ideal for this purpose.

• Tie shelters and feeders to permanent structures (like a fence or a sturdy tree) to anchor them or wedge them tightly into a secure space. Be careful about placing heavy objects (e.g., bricks, boards or rocks) on top of shelters to keep them in place, as these may pose a danger in high winds.

• Keep rain out by positioning shelters so their openings face a wall or so that the entrances of two shelters face each other, no more than a foot apart.

• Cover shelters and feeding stations with heavy tarps to keep out driving rain. Tie tarps at an angle and extend any overhang over shelter doors so water can run off and away from shelter doors. Hammer stakes securely and/or tie the tarps to a permanent structure.

• Leave extra dry food in covered feeding stations in case you can't return soon and place extra kibble inside the cats' shelter, as far from the openings as possible. Don't put water in the shelter—it's important that the shelter and cats remain warm and dry.

• Leave out several bowls of water, particularly if your concern is fire rather than a storm.

• Lay Mylar blankets inside the shelters for extra warmth.

• Put portable shelters, litter boxes, food and water in an accessible shed or garage during the storm.

• Stockpile adequate cat food, bottled water, extra batteries and flashlights and store them in a place that will be safe from the disaster.

• If possible, trap the friendly cats and kittens young enough to be socialized prior to the storm and take them to a safe place. Don’t fret over leaving the unsocial and feral ones, as they have excellent survival instincts.