Evacuation at 2am.... you would take your kitties right?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately actually. We have the cat carrier in our spare room right outside the apartment (it's in a house). However, as I'm reading this thread, I'm trying to think of how I can find a place for it in the apartment. I may even pick up a soft sided one that can collapse - even if they both had to cram into it, it's better than nothing in a crunch. I suppose I could also put them in their harnesses and carry them out. Mine tend to freak out with new sounds/people, so I wouldn't feel comfortable just carrying them out. Even if I just had to hook a leash to their collars for some extra protection.

In any case, I would take my cats before I worried about anything else. What really concerns me is what would happen if there was a fire when I was not here. My upper neighbour has pets as well and knows I have 2 cats, but I KNOW they would hide when alarms started and if firefighters came in. It causes me a lot of anxiety to think about it. I always check the stove before I leave and try turn off/unplug whatever appliances, etc. I can!

oh yes, I would, and it would cause everyone to break out laughing I sure, since I would be running out in my pjs, carrying a bag with my laptop and two kitty heads poking out. I really need to get new carriers....

I definitely always think about how I would get the cat out in an emergency. Since Princess likes to hide under the bed I put the bed up on risers so it would be easier for me to get her out fast if I had to.

Of course I would. IMO that's why you really need to evaluate the number of pets you do have. When an emergency happens, you may not have time to rescue all - maybe only 2-3 at the most.

Also, if your carriers are not handy, you can stuff kitty in a pillowcase and take them out.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Of course I would. IMO that's why you really need to evaluate the number of pets you do have. When an emergency happens, you may not have time to rescue all - maybe only 2-3 at the most.

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That is the absolute truth and that thought worries every last one of us with a household of critters.

I've had to evacuate my old house twice. Once from a fire and the second time from a tornado. When the fire hit, the cats hid in every possible place they could. The fact that DH was running around the house grabbing fire extinquishers and I was on the phone with 911 made them panic. I was actually tossing cats out the door (at least the ones that I could find).

When the tornado hit, it was all we could do to wedge a door open wide enough to fit our bodies thru. We didn't have a basement, just an underground cellar behind the house. Judging by the fact that we had boats hanging from our trees, if we had tried to carry out carriers, they would have been blown away into the next county. I was blown to the ground and had to crawl halfway to the cellar.

We were lucky both times. I sold the house and bought one with a basement. We do tornado drills and there are a lot more exits in case of fire here.

I am more prepared to evacuate my pets than myself!

YES!!!!!



With 9 cats, this is a big concern for me. Since DH works different hours each day, most likely I would alone if evacuated. I don*t know how I would get all of the cats crated and in the car! I do keep their carriers on shelves by the garage door, all ready to go, complete with towel/blanket, and a slit trash pag *poncho* to cover the carrier, should it be raining (I have done this for vet visits, too. Works very very well.) I also keep their med records in a big Zip-Lock bag in one carrier, in case we have to go to a shelter that accepts pets; you have to produce current vaccination records to be admitted. I have a small car, and I can tell you, 9 cats in it is very difficult; never mind cramming in any emergency supplies for a real evacuation. When my car dies, which may be soon, we are seriously thinking of getting a mini-van because of this!

Whenever DH sees a natural disaster on TV, such a Katrina, he always says he will NOT leave without our cats. I feel the same way. They are our babies.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

That is the absolute truth and that thought worries every last one of us with a household of critters.

I've had to evacuate my old house twice. Once from a fire and the second time from a tornado. When the fire hit, the cats hid in every possible place they could. The fact that DH was running around the house grabbing fire extinquishers and I was on the phone with 911 made them panic. I was actually tossing cats out the door (at least the ones that I could find).

When the tornado hit, it was all we could do to wedge a door open wide enough to fit our bodies thru. We didn't have a basement, just an underground cellar behind the house. Judging by the fact that we had boats hanging from our trees, if we had tried to carry out carriers, they would have been blown away into the next county. I was blown to the ground and had to crawl halfway to the cellar.

We were lucky both times. I sold the house and bought one with a basement. We do tornado drills and there are a lot more exits in case of fire here.

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Since we have no basement (but the area does get minor tornadoes every summer), I worry about what I would do with my cats. Our shelter would be under the stairs, which houses the pantry. Try fitting a 5ft woman, a 6ft Marine, and 9 cuddly cats there! Seriously, barring that, I guess the stairwell would be the other alternative.

Yes I would, for the simple fact it's better to be safe than sorry. You may pack the kitties up and it turns out that nothing was really wrong, but I think that's far better than the alternative, not packing them up and realizing there was danger, thus loosing them.

uh yeah..and I didn't even have cat carriers at the time. But come mid'night when my three story buildings fire alarm went off.

Out I went with me, and one cat under each arm. It was all I took.

I may not be able to replace pictures, but pictures are memories and I wouldn't want my cat in a stupid move to become just a memory.

I can't replace a living loving being that is alive right there and now.

I would never abandon my pets. EVER.

I have minor panic attacks about this all the time because Luxor HATES the carrier and he will hide if we have it out or look upset.

If the situation ever arose, I would absolutely try to evacuate all of my animals to safety.

I try to plan ahead by leaving out the cat carriers in different spots so that they are used to them and not afraid to go in them. If cats learn that these are safe hiding spots- there's a chance they will go into them on their own during an emergency, or even at least let you handle them better so it will make evacutation easier. I also have copies of all their important doctumets (As well as ours) and meds in waterproof bags ready to go at a moments notice if need be.

I've also got our tornado drill down to an art since we have tornados so often around here. I can have the entire house secure and all the animals in the guest bath in under 2 minutes if need be.

Yes! Anything living comes first! I can REPLACE everything else!

Puppy and kitty are BOTH leash/harness trained. They both have carriers as well, but one carrier is used for the rats! Every time we had possible tornadoes this summer kitty got put in his carrier and rats in theirs and the dog was leashed. When the sirens blew, off we went! (We had to share a basement with our downstairs neighbors.)

I like the leash for the cat, just in case something happens in the middle of the night... he's much easier to leash rather than fight him about a carrier.

A few months ago there was a few tornadoes that touched down near the side of town we were living on (if you can call it "side of town" it was more outside of town). Anyways, we had been moving a lot of stuff and had put the carriers in the storage building a couple days prior, with the intention of bringing them back in... everyone sees where this is going.

They didn't know how close the tornadoes were or how many due to rain, so we didn't have time to go out and get the carriers. So what did we do? We put on jackets and zipped the cats up inside. It worked.
The carriers stay in the house now, but I'm facing the same problem that a few others have. Where do I keep them? They're apart and sitting inside of each other right now, I had considered sliding that under the bed but in an emergency that would still require putting them together. The good thing is that the cats are very good about going into their carriers, I only have to point and tell them "in" - though they yowl about it later.

The tornadoes just touched down in some pastures and fields so no one was hurt.

For those needing carriers, check farm and live stock supply stores. I've found decent ones there on sale for $20, and that's the second to smallest size? or maybe third (big enough to fit Sho with plenty of room, he's not a small cat).

The building fire alarm goes off here about once a year and thank God always a false alarm. I have always taken my girls with me. I have to tell you though the last time the alarm went off earlier this year Jazz was sleeping in the carrier in the living room and Maggs was with me in bed. I heard the alarm and immediately put my hand on Maggs and told her "wait for me" I got out of bed put her in the carrier with Jazz (who never left the carrier) and away we went.

Yes I do.

Back in 2004 there was a fire on the 3rd floor of my building. I live on the 7th floor.

Most high rises have fire proof walls and doors in order to minimize the damage, so in the event of a fire, unless the fire is directly below or above you, or on either side of you, you shouldn't need to evacuate so long as you are not getting smoke into your apartment.

The building I live is something like 50 years old, so I wasn't sure what to do when I smelled smoke.

I managed to catch Chynna, but Abby got away from me and ran and hid behind the water bed. There was no way I could get her So I took Chynna and left, hoping for the best.

On the 4th floor I encountered more smoke and my asthma kicked in, plus I wasn't feeling in tip top shape because I was still recovering from my lung related illness and hospitalization from a couple months prior. The fire fighters helped me down to the main floor. I had an oxygen mask on and one of them carried Chynna. It was freezing cold out so they let Chynna in the ambulance with me. And since the fire and smoke hadn't spread, they were going in and checking on Abby and coming back and giving me reports. They said that if they needed to, they would bring her out for me.

I felt awful having to leave her though

I found out subsequent to that that I didn't have to leave my apartment. They have since put up notices saying that if you are unable to leave your apartment, to remain inside with the door closed. If there is smoke, you have to call 911 and report that you are still in your apartment.

Now when the fire alarm goes off, I just remain in my apartment. I feel the front door for heat, and listen, then open the door slightly to smell. If there is no smoke smell I don't worry. The last time the fire alarm went off it rang for about 20 minutes. I didn't smell or see any smoke, but I called the fire department to let them know that I was still in my apartment....just in case. There was no cause for alarm though because there was no smoke or indication of fire on my floor.

I would absolutely evacuate my cat. In fact I'd risk my life for his if I had to.

So glad you did!
Yes I would and have. not only the dogs and the cat but also the reptiles. They are all in my care and all are important to me.

Absolutely I would take my cats if we had to evacuate. It'd be a small chore finding them but I'd die with them before I'd leave them to. I've told hubby over and over if there is a fire, he'd better be outside with three cat carriers, and Lord help him if he doesn't have them! He gets Twig, Rocket, and Isis, and I get Luna, Cali, and Neffie. When the tornado sirens go off, they are the first things we take to the basement, then we get cat food, and we are off to the little room that doesn't have any windows, cats in first of course.