Many family earthquake plans leave the cat or dog until the last minute. Yet AFAD states that an emergency kit should also cover your pets’ needs. An animal cannot find water or take its medicine, and if it loses you it cannot say who it is. Here is what to do before, during and after the shaking.

Identification first: microchip and PETVET

The US CDC calls a microchip one of the best ways to reunite a lost animal with its owner. In Türkiye it is a legal duty: under Animal Protection Law No. 5199 and its regulation, owned cats, dogs and ferrets must be microchipped and registered in the Pet Registration System (PETVET). According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, an amendment required cats and dogs of all ages to be identified by 31 December 2025.

PETVET also holds an emergency contact person, and a loss can be recorded. Your phone may be off after an earthquake, so choose someone outside your area. Add a collar and tag with a current phone number; the CDC recommends both.

A kit for your pet

The CDC recommends a two-week supply of food, water and any medication for each animal. The ASPCA also advises two weeks of medication and rotating supplies every two months. Add to your own kit:

  • Food in a waterproof container, water, and non-spill bowls.
  • Regular medication and instructions for giving it.
  • Copies of the vaccination card and health records; AFAD lists the pet health booklet among the documents.
  • A spare collar, a harness and a leash.
  • A carrier for each animal, labelled with its name, your name and phone numbers (CDC).
  • A recent photo of you with your pet, to describe it and prove it is yours.
  • Litter and a small tray for cats, waste bags for dogs.
  • A blanket and a favourite toy.

Put it in your family emergency plan: who takes the animal if you are out, who has a key, who is the vet? ShakeOut BC suggests arranging this with a neighbour.

During the shaking: you first

Drop, cover and hold on immediately. ShakeOut BC is clear: take care of yourself first. Many pets do not want to be held during an earthquake; let them find a place to hide.

  • If your pet is next to you and happy to be held, hold it to your chest as you take cover.
  • If it struggles, scratches or tries to bite, let it go and stay covered.
  • If it is in a carrier or crate, leave it there; it is protected from falling objects.
  • Do not run around looking for it while the ground is shaking.

After the shaking stops

ShakeOut BC suggests counting to 60 so unstable objects can settle, then, if safe, looking for your pet. It may be hiding in an unexpected corner.

  • There may be broken glass; if your pet allows it, put it in the carrier to protect its paws.
  • If it is very skittish, let it stay where it is and clear the area around it.
  • The CDC advises checking your home for hazards before letting pets loose. If you leave, use a leash or the carrier; a scared animal can bolt through an open door.
  • Behaviour can change after a disaster; if you see signs of stress or illness, the CDC says to talk to a vet.

If your pet goes missing

The CDC recommends reporting it through the microchip record and contacting local animal shelters. In Türkiye a loss can be recorded in PETVET; ask the vet who registered your pet or the provincial or district directorate of agriculture and forestry. The photo in your kit helps here.

Evacuation and shelter

If you have to leave, take your pet. The ASPCA and CDC recommend deciding in advance where you can go together: relatives and friends outside the area, vet clinics, boarding kennels. At an assembly area, keep it on a leash or in its carrier, for its safety and everyone else’s.

For the first days after a major earthquake, read the first 72 hours. When you use the emergency kit checklist, add your pet’s items.