(If the video doesn't play, you can watch it on Youtube.)
And when the local news showed a neighborhood just three miles from me totally flooded, I began to panic because I had nothing prepared. I ran around the apartment grabbing things and throwing them in a bag in case we had to leave.
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| Photo by WABC-TV |
Thanks to the folks at Sleepypod I have the perfect Go Bag to pack my emergency kit in.
Packing Your Cat’s Emergency Kit
Do you know what you should pack in your cat’s emergency kit? I have some tips and ideas for you.Food and Water
I think how much food you should pack depends on where you live and the types and risks of natural disasters that hit your area. You should pack at least a few days worth of food and bottled water. The ASPCA recommends having enough food for at least three days, which would be sufficient for me. (Paws crossed!) Of course, don’t forget treats.Since you may not have access to running water for washing, make sure you pack disposable plates and/or bowls, as well as spoons. I included a couple of collapsible bowls for water as well. Don’t forget paper towels and garbage bags! (Plastic bags from the grocery store can be just perfect for this, and I fold them into little triangles so they’re compact and neatly packed.)
Cat Litter
Pet stores and even supermarkets carry disposable litter trays pre-filled with litter. (I keep one in the closet just in case.) Disposable aluminum cooking pans also work well. And of course, don’t forget items for clean up such as garbage bags and a broom and dustpan set. And a scoop, of course!Safety Items
Carriers are first on the list of safety items; make sure you have a sturdy carrier with plenty of room for each pet. I’m so glad Lexy has her Sleepypod because she can lie comfortably and safely in it, complete with the smells of home. I have a sturdy, hard carrier for Lola because she does better in that. Since she frequently urinates in the carrier, I keep a pad in the bottom of it, and an extra in the emergency bag.Other items to have on hand include a first aid kit (you can read our post on a DIY kit here), collar with ID, harness and leash, and a flashlight.
Medications
Make sure you have enough of your cat’s medications for at least a few days. Pack them in a waterproof container or in double Ziploc bags.Documents
It’s a good idea to pack copies of your cat’s medical records (if you need to evacuate to a shelter, some may require proof of vaccinations). Other important information to bring is microchip documents (this provides proof of ownership), and your vet’s information. It’s also a good idea to include photos of your cat, including one of you together. This can also help to prove ownership, and can help in finding her in the event you get separated. I also included a list of pet-friendly hotels, so I have the info readily available if I need to make reservations.Familiar Items
Familiar items can help reduce your cat's stress level. Pack a favorite blankie, toys, treats, and anything else you think will help our cat feel calmer and more comfortable.
Sleepypod® Go Bag
We cat owners cannot just put our cats in a carrier and leave – we need to be organized and ready to go. The Sleepypod Go Bag is the perfect way to pack and prepare for emergencies.Go Bag Features
First, I want to tell you that the Go Bag is very sturdy and very well made (just like the rest of Sleepypod’s products.) I packed it full (as you will see below), and I’m not worried that the straps or zippers will break.The Go Bag has a padded main compartment with top zip and double zipper pulls, as well as an adjustable shoulder strap, tapered profile for comfortable cross-body carrying, and two gusseted side pockets for beverage bottles or a phone. There is a single zip front pocket where you can keep important items for easy and quick access, and a utility ring to clip on a flashlight or a leash.
Main Compartment
- 2 small pockets for smaller items
- 1 large padded pocket for essential documents, computer or tablet
- Clip for hanging items like keys
- Included organizers
- 2 padded, mini cubes in Glacier Silver color with double zipper pulls for organizing travel essentials
- 1 insulated food bag in Glacier Silver color
- Easy clean exterior is made of luggage-grade, ballistic nylon
Specifications
- Go Bag main compartment - dimensions: 16 inches (tall) x 14 inches (wide) x 5 inches (deep)
- Go Bag main compartment with side pockets extended - dimensions: 16 inches (tall) x 16 inches (wide) x 5 inches (deep)
- Go Bag weight: 1.2 pounds
- Mini Cube - dimensions: 4.5 inches (tall) x 6.5 inches (wide) x 4.5 inches (deep)
- Mini Cube weight: .25 pounds
- Insulated Food Bag - dimensions when fully open: 13 inches (tall) x 7 inches (wide) x 4.5 inches (deep)
- Insulated Food Bag - dimensions when rolled close: 7 inches (tall) x 7 inches (wide) x 4.5 inches (deep)
- Insulated Food Bag - weight: .45 pounds
The Go Bag is available in four beautiful colors. Ours matches Lexy’s Sleepyod bed just purrfectly!
I was able to fit a lot of things in my Go Bag!
- Eight cans of food
- A Ziploc bag of dry food
- Three bottles of water
- A bag of treats
- Medications/Supplements
- Flashlight
- Hand sanitizer (clipped on the side)
- Paper plates and plastic spoons
- Small garbage bags
- Important documents and photos
- collapsible water dishes
- Toys
- An extra pee pad for Lola's carrier
- Paper towels
- My Kindle
If I should need to pack more canned food I can remove the toys from one of the Mini Cubes and put them in a plastic bag. Then I will have more room for eight more cans of food.
Other Uses
- This is the perfect bag for pet owners to use while traveling with their pets, or just going on an outing to the pet store or the park. Everything your pet would need is right at your fingertips, in an easy to carry bag.
- If you board your pets, packing for them is easy with the Go Bag. It keeps all of their items together in one neatly packed bag.
- I’m keeping this fully packed for the cat sitter when I go away. It will be nice to have peace of mind knowing that Lola and Lexy will have everything they may need in the event they have to leave the house.
- When I was at BlogPaws in April and CWA in June, I saw a couple of friends using it at both conferences. Because it’s so lightweight and comfortable, it's the perfect size to carry a laptop/tablet, water, snacks, as well as some swag! The insulated bag will keep water cool and snacks can be easily stored in one of the mini cubes.
My Opinion of the Sleepypod® Go Bag
I LOVE the Go Bag! When I got a sneak peek from my blogging friends I was intrigued, and I was very happy when I got the opportunity to work with Sleepypod again to review it. I love that it includes a padded pocket for electronics, and an insulated bag as well. It’s high quality, sturdy, and stylish. I like the size of it as well. It’s roomy enough to fit a good number of items, but not so bulky that it would be difficult to carry. And I really like that I can clip my keys securely right inside the bag so I don’t have to worry about losing them. (In an emergency I’m sure I’d make myself very anxious looking for my keys!) |
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A Giveaway!
Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Sleepypod, one of our lucky readers will win a Sleepypod® Go Bag in a color of their choice (Glacier Silver, Robin Egg Blue, Strawberry Red, or Jet Black.)
Just enter via the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway is open to US residents 18+ years of age except where prohibited by law. The winner will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter and contacted via email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize, and a new winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter. Please note that to qualify for the prize a comment must be left on this post. The giveaway will run from September 24 through Midnight October 8. Good luck to all who enter!
Good luck, everyone! To stay up to date with Sleepypod, make sure to follow them on social media.
What would you pack in your Go Bag to be disaster prepared?
Dawn
About Sleepypod®
Look behind the beautiful designs and you’ll find multiple functions, durable materials, and safety beyond compare. Sleepypod pet products have earned numerous awards and accolades for safety and design innovation. Every Sleepypod carrier and car safety harness has been independently tested and certified with a top safety rating from the Center for Pet Safety. Pets travel safer with Sleepypod. Sleepypod.com
I'd like Robin Egg Blue to match my Sleepypod carrier.
ReplyDeleteI could totally use this for my therapy cat visits! I love that I have a tote bag with our organization's name on it, but everything gets lost in it. My human would probably want the black or red because those are her favorite colors.
ReplyDeleteThat really is a grand idea, thanks for the cool giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThat is pawesome!! Black is pawesome too!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful - and we could really use one! I'd love the red one, but any color would be just fine.
ReplyDeleteDrops of sweat were breaking out on my forehead, as I read your post and thinking about trying to get three cats out of danger! This is a terrific giveaway...thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so cool. We would totally want it in silver. That would look pawsum with our favorite color purrple. We're glad you're purrpared fur anythin'. Big hugs
ReplyDeleteLuv ya'
Dezi and Raena
L & L.....we rememburr when de tunnel flooded; we haz palz out that way....N HOW KEWL IZ THIZ BAG !!!!!! we send best fishez two everee one on winnin thiz.....thiz reel lee iz one awesum give a way :) ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteThe bag is really well organised and looks good. Good luck to those who enter.
ReplyDeleteGirls, you look so charming in the photos showing off the bag! Your mom did an excellent job packing emergency supplies. We wish everyone luck on winning!
ReplyDeleteThose bags are incredibly impressive! Sleepypod makes such amazing products. We would probably go with the silver.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome bag, and a great idea. And good modeling by Mr. Will. Sleepypod really comes up with some wonderful ideas! We would probably go with jet black if we won.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great giveaway, I especially like the blue. Excellent post and a good reminder to be prepared.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd go with the red bag if I'm lucky enough to win. In addition to needing to be organized with my own furbabies for trips (and heaven forbid, emergencies), I am a volunteer rescue transport driver and would love something like this to keep things organized for that, too!
ReplyDeleteI really like the blue one! I'd love to have a designated bag to put emergency kitty supplies if we ever have to evacuate.
ReplyDeleteWe like the red one. This post is full of good ideas just in case...
ReplyDeleteAlthough the bag looks like it would serve a bunch of different purposes.
Thanks!
xxoo
Maggie, Mickey Mouser and Rufus the Red
Love the bags! Sleepover makes such amazing bags. If we win we'd like a net black bag. Thanks for all the excellent information and the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteAwesome giveaway!Thanks for the opportunity! I'd love to the Robin Egg Blue!
ReplyDeleteThis bag sounds amazing. We do have an emergency kit ready to go. We don't have many weather emergencies in our area knock on wood. However, I always worry about being stuck somewhere and not being able to get home to rescue my pets.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like such a great go-bag! How scary it must've been when Sandy hit. Pet parents need to be prepared and this bag would definitely help! I love the Robin Egg Blue color.
ReplyDeleteHow cute! I would love one in aqua.
ReplyDeleteIm torn between red and blue.
ReplyDeletei prefer the red because it stands out, so i can just look at it, get it and go. i had to be prepared during Florence, just missed my area, but still had damage. i cant believe how many people left their pets to die.
ReplyDeleteWe like the red as it would signify an emergency. All the human emergency things are in red o it just makes sense. LOVE sleepypod!
ReplyDeleteellen beck on form
It sounds like we might be in the same area. Sandy hit us really hard too. Luckily we didn't need to evacuate but we went without power for over a week. I've only had to evacuate quickly with the pets once, that was when we had a carbon monoxide scare. The firemen were impressed, I managed to get out quickly with all my pets including a fish lol. It was all because I had my emergency plan thought out ahead of time, including carriers ready for all the pets.
ReplyDeleteI think the Robin Egg Blue because it would be an easy color to spot quickly
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea!
ReplyDeleteWe especially like the red one...
Noodle and crew
I like the blue bag!
ReplyDeleteRobin egg blue
ReplyDeleteReally great idea and so important to have an on the go bag ready for emergencies. I am at this moment redoing mine to make sure I have all
ReplyDeleteNobody should ever underestimate disaster preparedness no matter where they live. I learned that this summer. Just because you don't live in a hurricane or tornado area, doesn't mean things cannot happen. Such as forest fires.
ReplyDeleteThe robin's egg blue one is gorgeous. I'm torn. Should I use it as their modeling go-bag!!?!? or pack for disasters?? decisions, decisions. maybe i could win one and buy one!!
ReplyDeleteThose look like great bags, I would choose the robin egg's blue!
ReplyDeleteI have been eyeballing this Go Bag for months! Thanks for the thorough review. I'm not at all surprised that you loved another Sleepypod product! They're the best! Crossing our paws that the Rafflecopter gremlins choose us:)
ReplyDeleteI know this bag would be of huge use to any pet owner. All the paper work, tins, bowls and water could app be packed in.
ReplyDeleteGood luck everyone!!
Sleepypod has some awesome products. Many of which I found out about through bloggers like yourself. I'm glad you now are ready and prepared just in case. I remember Hurricane Sandy too. I waited out the storm and was in Queens at the time. It's only by the miracle of GOD we survived and everything was dry and not flooded. I say it was a miracle because I lived right by the beach at the time. (5 minute walk) When the storm was due to land I drove to NJ to leave my cat Dusty with her "grandparents" to be safe. Everything worked out fine thank goodness but it's best to be prepared and stylish! ;)
ReplyDeleteWe think the Go Bag is amazing! We love Sleepypod products and this is another to add to our collection. We have the red bag and donated our robin egg blue to a friend who had to evacuate from the coast. If we were to win, we'd like the silver because it would blend in with our purple Mobile Pet Bed.
ReplyDeleteWe really like your idea of having a bag packed when you have a pet sitter coming.
I am WILD for this bag! It's so gorgeous but mostly I love the insulated bags inside, that is super useful. I need to update the dogs' emergency go bags, the current one is a zipper bag and not as secure as I'd like. I would love this one in basically any color! I think I'd choose the Blue, it matches Icy's eyes - but the Red is great 'cause red is a perfect emergency color, but then of course Black goes w/ everything - plus us NY-ers just Love wearing black LOL!! Any color would do, I just love this bag! I've had an emergency go bag since learning how incredibly important it is to have one. I update items w/ expiry dates now & again to ensure it's current and that we are READY for anything. Hurricane Sandy scared the pants off everyone here and raised a lot of awareness! Great post & fabulous contest. Sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
I just love that bag! While we have an extremely large red first aid bag here, that would be a perfect travel "go" bag for sure! I'd love red! Great review! And thank you for hosting this terrific giveaway, too!
ReplyDeleteI'd like the red to match Mr. N's sleepypod air!
ReplyDeleteSilver for sure! I really need to get one of these together - especially now that I have two cats to think about. We won our Sleepypod from another blog - and I remember jumping up and down on the bed when I got the notification. Yes. Sleepypod is THAT good.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway opportunity! I’ve been admiring the go bag for awhile. It would be perfect for traveling with a service dog. I absolutely love the robin egg blue!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea to get organized prior, we live in CA with wildfires and this bag would be perfect! Silver
ReplyDeleteI like the red and black to match my car
ReplyDeleteIt's a great idea to be prepared even if you don't live in a disaster-prone area. You never know what might happen! I keep our SleepyPod easily accessible for my elderly cat in case we ever have to leave quickly.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great idea to be prepared even if you don't live in a disaster-prone area. You never know what might happen! I keep our SleepyPod easily accessible for my elderly cat in case we ever have to leave quickly.
ReplyDeleteI love the blue color! My fur babies & I would love to win this SleepyPod Go Bag... can never be too prepared in case of an emergency!
ReplyDeleteMy babies already have the robin egg blue Sleepypod, so the matching Go Bag would be amazing! Could pack up all of their favorite toys, blankets and food to take to the office with me every day. It would also be super useful in case of an emergency <3
ReplyDeleteI like the silver but there's no room for the litter box and litter.
ReplyDeleteI['d like the red to match his Sleepypod harness. jackie241 AT hotmail DOT com
ReplyDeletelove the idea
ReplyDeleteLove any color but black matches my cats!
ReplyDeleteI would most like strawberry red.
ReplyDeleteI'd love the grey.
ReplyDeleteI like the blue.
ReplyDeleteI love this teal color that you have. That is actually my fav color ever and it is gender neutral since we have both genders it would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteI really like the blue one
ReplyDeleteOh, A Blue one is purrfect for me, Pipo!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a chance to win!!
Robin Egg Blue.
ReplyDeleteI like the aqua one.
ReplyDeleteI would have given anything had I known about you girls back then. I've only been a member of your blog family less than a year now. I would love to have thrown my furs into the drawing,
ReplyDelete