When a power outage comes, you can handle it. But heart-wrenching whines and big eyes hiding under bedframes? That’s harder to deal with. Pets are part of the family. Losing familiar lights, sounds and routines can make them anxious and afraid—and when they’re hurting, we hurt too. You can’t explain that it’ll be ok, but you can do everything in your power to keep them safe and comfortable until the outage lifts. All it takes is some care and preparation.
Power outages are a fact of life. And with extreme weather and infrastructure issues on the rise, they’re becoming more and more frequent. That’s ok. Stay ready, and you’ll be able to care for your pets in any conditions.
It begins with a solid game plan—preparation makes all the difference for our furry, feathery and scaley friends. Stock up on food, water and medication before severe weather hits. Then, consider how your pets might react if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Scared pets might bolt. Make sure their tags, microchips and other forms of identification are up to date just in case. After that, all you can do is be careful.
While you’re preparing, take some time to assemble a pet emergency kit. This includes anything you might need to care for your pets during an extended outage: carriers, food, medication, can openers, batteries, first aid tools and more. Tuck it away for a rainy day, and you’ll always have the means to keep your pets safe and happy.
Animals are incredibly sensitive. When you’re stressed, they’re stressed—and pets that are feeling anxious are likely to act out. If you have any vet-prescribed calming aids, now would be a good time to use them. But when all else fails, you can keep pets occupied with activities that will distract from any stressors. Give your animal friends careful attention, and they’ll be back to their normal, lovable selves in no time.
Dogs have a lot of energy, and it’s best to let it loose outside of the house. If the weather will allow it, take your dog for a long walk or trip to the park. Play frisbee, fetch, tug-of-war—all the games you’d typically play. Wear them out enough, and they might even snooze through the rest of the outage.
Cats can be more unpredictable. Offer them plenty of soft surfaces and hiding places to hunker down in, and they might weather the outage on their own. If they want attention, they’ll be sure to let you know. Then, you can give pets, snuggles and entertain them with their favorite toys.
Birds and other exotic pets can be especially anxious creatures. Do your best to stay calm and comforting, and they’ll settle down.
Power outages come with new safety hazards like candles, open fireplaces and downed power lines. Those dangers, you can keep out of reach. But the biggest threat of all is your environment, from the extreme cold of winter storms to boiling temperatures during summer heatwaves.
Keeping cats, dogs and other mammals comfortable during an outage can be as simple as providing plenty of blankets for snuggling or shady spots for chilling out. Treat them the same way you’d treat yourself: with plenty of food and water, battery-operated fans or small heaters and more. But pets that live in controlled environments, like aquariums or reptile habitats, are more of a challenge. Ideally, you’ll have some form of backup power: a home safe backup generator, portable generator, power bank or extra batteries will all do the trick. Depending on your power needs, you could even use a laptop or car battery in a pinch.
Fish rely on heaters, filters, lights and CO2 systems to survive—equipment that runs on electricity. When the power goes out, they’re left in the lurch. Don’t panic. Fish are adaptable, but sensitive to sudden changes. If you don’t have a backup on hand, your safest bet is to wait it out. Don’t dump flakes in the water or attempt to adjust the temperature with hot or cold water. Your fish will be ok for one to two hours without intervention, and you can use that time to find a power source. Once you have one, use it to run oxygen for an hour or so. Pay close attention to your fish—if they’re gasping for air, add oxygen earlier or more often. If you’re stuck inside and can’t find any source of power, you can get creative with last-resort manual techniques.
For reptiles, the challenge is to keep them warm. First, consider moving them to a smaller enclosure that’ll be easier to heat. Then, you can insulate their habitat with blankets or cardboard, using hand warmers or hot water bottles to keep their home toasty. (Take care to wrap your heat source in a towel or cloth. Direct contact with a hot surface could hurt your pets.) You can also use the fireplace, stove, candles and even your own body heat to warm them. Finally, don’t feed them. It might seem counterintuitive, but reptiles need heat to digest their meals. If conditions aren’t ideal, it’s better to wait for power to return before treating them with a snack.
Birds are finicky too. When outages strike, you might be tempted light some candles or heat your stove for warmth and light. Unfortunately, birds are very sensitive to fumes—you might’ve heard the phrase “canary in a coal mine.” That said, fire isn’t completely off-limits so long as you take proper precautions. Keep your birds in another room, far away from any emissions, and they should be ok. Stick with other heat sources to keep them warm. Unlike reptiles, birds will appreciate some extra snacks. They have high metabolisms, and they’ll need the calories to stay warm.
If heat, not cold, is the issue, do your best to keep your birds cool. Move them into the shade, offer them plenty of water and consider opening a couple windows to provide a breeze (making sure they’re not in the direct path of a draft). You can also give them a bath or bottle misting to help them chill out.
When the lights click back on, you can breathe a sigh of relief. But don’t rest yet—check your pets for lingering signs of stress, injury or illness. Significant changes in their behavior might be a cause for concern. Keep a close eye on them, and if it feels serious, call their vet. You know your pet best.
Don’t forget to restock your emergency kit in the days after. If you were missing something this time, make sure it’s on hand for the next outage.
Backup power can make outages easier on you and your pets—especially if they’re sensitive to sudden changes. Need power for the pet essentials ASAP? Go for a portable generator. Or, if you’re planning for future outages, get lasting peace of mind with a permanently-installed standby generator.
