There have been many excellent posts on these forums about bugout bags and plans, but nobody I'm aware of has mentioned doing it with one or two or three indoor cats. (ALL loved cats better be indoor cats by New Years Eve.) My kids have been grown and gone for nearly a generation, and my cats are my babies now - my resident family. This has everything to do with my not planning to go and stay with anybody (since there are four of us total) and refusing to go to any shelter (shelters don't take pets) no matter how bad things are. I included preps for cats in my webpage, Y2K and the Single Woman; mine will be all right in the home. But there are two things that will get me out of my home. One is serious attack by more hoodlums than I have bullets, and I'm not Annie Oakley - the other is fire. In the first case, my prep may be irrelevent, but in any case, taking my cats requires some planning ahead. I also have to face facts - I cannot bug out on foot no matter what. I only have two hands. I do have a soft tote-bag type carrier I can put the littlest cat in and wear her over my shoulder. That's one hand each for the other two, and I couldn't carry anything else. You may think it would take too long to get them into their carriers and out of the house. No it wouldn't. Nothing else I take is that important. No, they cannot be put on the ground loose and expected to follow me when they are terrified. Two are very elderly and the third is a pedigreed show cat. We have to stay with the car. The cats' carriers are always stacked and handy near a door anyway, with their collars and rabies tags attached. Yes, after a certain point the cats will wear those, but right now the carriers wear them. Plastic bags will be taped to each carrier, containing my ID, emergency care information, how to reach alternate care-givers (just in case it's possible) and their most recent vaccination records. But they will need a bugout bag already packed and in the car with mine. So I cruised around some show cat Lists and did find one list for a kitty-bugout bag in the event of tornadoes - written after the event, of course. I hate to be critical (well, no I don't) but it included such life-saving items as a battery hair dryer for kitty-baths. I laughed till I choked and then felt badly, because those people need to get real. There will be a litter pan and large jug of scoopable litter inside the car, not the trunk. Then nobody will escape in terror while I'm dorking around trying to put their potty where they are or vise versa. Their bugout bag will contain:

A case (24) of flat zip-top cans of premium (less waste) cat food A large bag of premium dry kibble (expensive but more nourishment in smaller amounts) in waterproof plastic An extra gallon of pure water (distilled or Spring, no clorine smell) - cats don't drink a lot normally, and very little under stress. A clean eyedropper for getting water into any cat too stressed to drink at all 3 tubes of Nutracal, a very palatable high-calorie supplement 1 tube of Petromalt, hairball remedy Several jars of baby food meat & her plastic spoon - if my pedigreed baby is too stressed to eat anything else, she'll eat that. Small stainless steel water bowl 3 lightweight plastic or melmac dishes - 1 per cat A fork for dishing out & breaking up canned food Claw clippers - although if I feel they are in danger, I won't be clipping their claws. Q-tips in a zip snack baggie for cleaning little eyes A little catnip in a zip snack baggie 2 litter scoops & a supply of plastic bags A slicker bush for my shorthair & rolling tines comb for my longhairs Paper towels, folded flat in a stack - less space

No beds - they can sleep in their carriers, but whatever I have for my comfort I'll share with them.

The hair dryer and beauty stuff gets left behind, just like mine.

That's it. None of us will be as pampered as we're used to in a bug-out situation, and I use the term bug-out loosely because we may not have anywhere to go, but when I provide and prep for myself, I do for them too.

Any of you who are cat people, have I left anything out?

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), July 23, 1999

Answers

I am far from a cat lover.

Just wanted to say you amaze me, Scat. You've prepared 100 times more for your cats than 90%+ have for their people family members.

Can't relate emotionally, but still impressed.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), July 23, 1999.

P.S.

I should have addressed medications for any cats who are on them - fortunately, none of mine are, but that's a serious oversight. Also I will have a first aid kit in my own bag with antibiotic ointment that is just as good for wounds on cats as people, and Kaopectate, which cats can have in small doses if needed.

My section on prepping for cats is on my webpage at:

http://community-1.webtv.net/SharonGoodman/Y2KandtheSingle/

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), July 23, 1999.

I hope you and your cats don't have to bug out at all. I tolerate cats and my children had a cat that I thought was going to out live us all. My children left home, and the cat was still here with me. Well, the poor thing got sick and off to the vet it went with the intention of putting him to sleep. The vet wanted to give the medicine 24 hours to work before doing anything drastic. It became clear that no medicine was going to help the cat, so the decision was made. My youngest child went to visit the cat one last time and there was the cat on a table with IV's stuck in him and my daughter bawling her eyes out. She wanted a second opinion on the condition of the cat. ( which I vetoed). The cat was put out of his misery and brought home. My DH built a wood coffin and I made a small quilt for it. We had a proper service and a wooden tombstone. In all the cat's passing cost us $350.00. This cat lived over 18 years. You said some of your cats were elderly. I hope you have considered how to help them go in peace if a vet is not available. I don't mean to cause you any worry, but you will feel better if you have a plan that will help your cats.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), July 24, 1999.

Scat,

Sounds like a nice family you have there. Now I have only seen one or two of these things, but how about one of those "suitcases" on wheels for moving luggage around an airport; refitted with a crate large enough for all three of them? Not really sure how it would work, just a thought.

Also, if you plan on taking your auto, you might want to be sure and have some of those hunter hand warmers (for them and you). In January, even though we hope not, you may need to seek shelter without the cats, or leave them in the car even temporarily. You could activate one, wrap it up and put in the corner of the crate to keep them toasty.

However, if your cats are anything like our ten year old half siamese, (who as a rule lays on the sofa for the first half of the day, planning out his afternoon nap)I would definitely leave the catnip out of the bug out bag. He goes totally ballistic. Hmmm, could be handy though in a self-defense situation.. :-)

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), July 24, 1999.

Don't forget anti-flea products like collars or the new drops to rub in at the back of their necks.

I also suggest leashes and collars, if not already in the bag, your cats might not be able to walk far, but others with younger cats might need this.

There will be a lot of pets abandoned in the event of serious y2k disruptions.

Robert Waldrop + Crooked Paw, Callie, Mother of Nations, and Skitz

-- robert waldrop (rmwj@soonernet.com), July 24, 1999.

Lilly,

Thank you for your great idea - you got me thinking! I've been to enough cat shows to have seen carriers stacked 3-high on wheeled carts for transporting the cats in and out, and don't know why I didn't think of that! Missing the forest for the trees. I might rethink the catnip. ;)

Robert,

Yes, we should definitely have Advantage in the bag. I forgot the fleas aren't in here because they're all out there. Thanks.

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), July 24, 1999.

Scat...your handle reminds me of the old guy who had 9 holes in the outside walls of his house. When asked why, he said, "because I have 9 cats...and when I say SCAT, I mean SCAT !!

Taz.. who has two cats, and is also prepared! Also prepared for 9 donkeys, two mini rabbits, two quaker parrots, one Border Collie, and 7 laying hens. Ther ain't no partridges 'roun here!

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), July 24, 1999.

Scat -- you can also use one of those large grocery carts you see people using in the big cities. I don't mean the grocery store ones. I mean the ones you can buy (try Lechter's or a hardware store) that you can pull behind you or push. Make sure you get the largest (take a cat carrier with you when you buy it so you can make sure it fits).

Thanks for the post. BTW, great web-site!!! peace from Libby, mother of Oops, Casco, Brattle, and Idgie.

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), July 24, 1999.

Good job Scat,

I've traveled half the country, from California to Texas, and all around the Southwest, camping and visiting friends, with two cats in the car.

Will try to put some bug-out "lessons learned" later this weekend.

;-D

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), July 24, 1999.

In anticipation of bugging out with my cat,I've been letting my cat (full grown)eat his fill of kitten food.he's gotten quite round.I guess he's in the same boat as me and zoobiette.He'll either live or die.I should stockpile more catfood,I guess I'm more concerned about feeding my wife

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 24, 1999.

I was going to post a note to this thread commenting on how I think bugging out with cats is a *great* idea. What better way to keep food fresh. And especially if you can get you food to walk on it's own and follow you.

But then I decided that that might offend some of the cat lovers hereabout, so I decided not to.

-Greybear

-- Got Spices?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), July 24, 1999.

Greybear,

You are not funny.

Got mice? Got rats? Got Bubonic Plague?

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), July 24, 1999.

Try bonding with people. Those cats wont do you much good in a real survival situation. They're a serious liability. Family or no family, cut em loose if you need to bug out.

Sorry don't mean to offend, but I'm pretty serious about surviving this thing. If you're thinking of saving your cats, you're obviously not.

-- Gordon (g_gecko_69@hotmail.com), July 24, 1999.

Isn't there a saying about the difficulty of herding cats?

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), July 24, 1999.

1) Gordon, 'Tis no kindness to turn a domestic cat to the wild. either put it down (kill it) or take it with you.

2) I sincerely hope I don't have to get to the bicycle or foot stage, as that would, of necessity mean I had to destroy 3 of the fairer species. Toss up now how we'll do it if it needs to be done. Mrs Driver and I have at times considered the requirement, but I'm not real sure how we'd do it. As it is, THEY have 6-8 months of food, WE have 30-45 days, so far.

3) Greybear - not offended. Mrs Driver regularly threatens one of ours with becoming a cat-skin hand muff. 'Course he deserves it.

Chuck, he who pays the rent and puts down the food (and occasionally brushes and pets) Rascal E. Cat, Stormcloud's Grey Smoke, and Princess Miss Moonshadow, as motley a crew as has ever been assembled from catdom.

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), July 24, 1999.

Chuck,

I don't think you're going to do it.

Gordon,

I am serious about surviving - and about having a reason to try. My youngest and littlest cat is 7 years old. So she's a liability. So what? Would you leave your 7 year old child behind to bug out because she's a liability and wouldn't do you much good? Are we to save only those who will do us good, discounting love and trust? Are we to cut loose our responsibilities to save our skins?

Then will our life be worth more when bought at the cost of one we love, human or pet? I don't think it would be.

Four of us who will survive: BamBam, Mewsette, Phelicity and

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), July 25, 1999.

Forum oldtimers know I'm an incurable cat person; many held my hand when we lost Nelson. Actually, I'm an animal person, we just have too many cats for any other animals right now. And they're all abandoned ones, so yes, we're cleaning up other people's messes. Four of the cats will be impossible to catch and crate, unless we have time to give them tranquilizers, which we already keep for vet visits. Fingers crossed it doesn't get so bad that we have to bug out.

Drs. Foster and Smith have crates on wheels, Scat, they're on line somewhere. They also have pet first-aid kits, and all manner of medications, plus vaccines. The only other thing I'd suggest adding is a pack of baby-wipes for cleaning your cats and you. Oh and plastic grocery bags to dispose of the scooped stuff!

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), July 25, 1999.

Even those folks who actively dislike cats should know that living in the country efficiently requires that everything sort of meshes together like a machine. Particularly here in the Southwest,(plague, hanta-virus and rattlesnake infested) cats become an important part of the system. In the short term bug-out scenario cats might be a nuisance but trying to scratch out a living from the land, cats work as hard and contribute as much as any other tool or part of the system. (Plus, if you have a doggy door for your inside cat you get free presents next to your bed every morning like pack rats, mice, birds and half eaten cotton tail babies!)

The worst thing about country cats is they only get 9 lives and occasionally a coyote or mountain lion will get one. (Really makes me mad, my one inside-outside cat dissapeared about 2 weeks ago and the stupid, wild cats that live out in the barn are just about immortal.)

Horse farming in New Mexico,

-- Roger (pecosrog@earthlink.net), July 25, 1999.

Roger,

Very well said and very true, thanks.

Last night my pampered, elderly Mewsette (who was a Great Huntress in her youth) caught a mouse for me that was no doubt after my stored dry milk. I'll seal up the milk now like I should have. Cats earn their keep in many ways.

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), July 25, 1999.

Old Git,

I found it, finally. I always had great and fast service from them too.

Drs. Foster and Smith Pet Catalog

Roger,

Likewise, we have one inside cat, his vet bills, most might say, would far exceed his worth as a couch cushion. The four outside cats, on the other hand, only require the occasional "battle and tricking" for worming and vaccinations...one is well over six years old, way to sly to ever capture for any such treatment, but never been sick a day. Unfortunately, we loose most of our cats to human hunters; really burns me up.

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), July 25, 1999.

Scat, Thanks for an important post. My two cats and my elderly parents are the reason I can only bug out by car and why I have prepared my home so that, fire and vandalism notwithstanding, we will never have to go to a shelter. If it came to bugging out by foot, I would think you would want the *heaviest* cat in the backpack. [g]

I always pad the bottom of the carriers with towels. One invariably vomits on the way to the vets, so extra towels would be a good idea.

I worked a while in an animal research lab. I had to find creative ways to kill rodents (no poisons allowed) since we were feeding them to other animals. When it came time to put down my 19 y.o. cat, I felt I owed it to my old friend to do it as quickly and humanely as possible, and I couldn't deny having the experience. That meant NOT putting her through the needless trauma of going to the vets. Nothing quite like a heavy blunt object, like a hammer. It was very upsetting, and I hope I never have to do it again, but I have the consolation that it was the easiest method for her. No way I would ever be so cruel as to turn my cats loose if I couldn't keep them. I'd get out the hammer first if it came to that.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), July 26, 1999.

"A righteous man regards the life of his animals." Proverbs 12:10

-- winter wondering (winterwondering@yahoo.com), July 26, 1999.

Applies to any pet -

When the need arises -- and it does -- you must be able to shoot your own dog. Don't farm it out -- that doesn't make it nicer, it makes it worse. --- from "The Notebooks of Lazarus Long"

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), July 26, 1999.