The 7 pet essentials are a retailer's list: the government checklist asks for food and water

Where the seven essentials come from

The headline "Pet owners told to stock up on 7 essentials amid government's 72-hour emergency warning" ran in the Daily Record on 30 October. The seven items in it were shared by the retailer Wilko, which the article says has shared "seven things people should consider adding to their pet emergency kit". They are pet food, bottled water, a pet first aid kit, toilet supplies such as cat litter, hay, waste bags or puppy pads, blankets, a travel carrier and toys.

The "72-hour emergency warning" is the government's Be Ready campaign, which the Cabinet Office launched on 22 October. It is not a warning about a particular emergency. It asks households to be ready for 3 days, saying this "helps you manage while support reaches those most in need". The same three-day advice is used by France, Ireland and the Netherlands. Our explainer of the Be Ready checklist covers the whole list.

What the government checklist says about pets

The Be Ready checklist has a pet products line, and it reads in full: "Pet food and bottled water." Its advice on planning says to note down what you still need, "remembering items your family relies on, such as medical supplies, baby formula or pet food."

The hazard pages say the same in other words. The power cuts page says to keep at least 3 days of bottled water and non-perishable food, and to "include ready-made baby formula and pet food if needed." The water supply page lists looking after pets among the things we need water for.

The seven items, checked

Two of Wilko's seven match the government's list: pet food and bottled water. The other five, a first aid kit, toilet supplies, blankets, a carrier and toys, are the retailer's suggestions. They are not on the Be Ready checklist, though most are sensible to have and some echo other official advice below.

One line in the article needs care. Under bottled water, it says the government has advised households to keep at least three litres of water for every person. The checklist's figure is 3 litres per person per day for drinking, for 3 days, and it says more would be needed for cooking and washing. That figure is for people only.

How much water for a pet?

No official source we read gives a figure for animals. Be Ready's water page says: "3 litres of drinking water per person per day for 3 days is recommended. Additional water might be needed to make up baby formula, for medical devices and for pets."

So the simplest guide is your own animal: how much its bowl gets through on a normal day, times three. If you are not sure what your pet needs, ask your vet. Our guide to storing emergency water covers keeping bottled water at home.

What official advice adds for households with animals

The Environment Agency's personal flood plan template has a section on pets. It says to think about what you would do with pets if a flood happened: where they might go, food, carriers and medicines. It adds: "If you are asked to evacuate, many centres will allow you to bring your pet. Put cats or small animals in a carrier or small box." It suggests listing the numbers of kennels, carers and vets with your other contacts. Be Ready's flooding page says to move your family, vehicles, pets and important items to safety, such as upstairs or to higher ground; our flood preparation checklist has more.

Be Ready's advice for people with assistance animals goes furthest. It suggests a grab bag in case you need to leave home quickly, containing "important documents and veterinary records, supplies of food and water, a lead/harness, necessary medicines, toys and blankets". That list is written for assistance animals, but it works as a model for any pet; our guide to grab bags explains the idea.

In hot weather, Be Ready says not to leave pets in stationary or parked cars.

Check the microchip details

A microchip carries a number that shows up whenever your dog or cat is scanned, which is how a lost pet is matched to you, as long as the details on the database are current. GOV.UK says all dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by 8 weeks old. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old, including cats that usually stay indoors. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, microchipping a cat is optional.

You can be fined up to £500 if a dog or cat that needs a microchip doesn't have one. You are responsible for keeping the details up to date, for example when you move house, and a dog must still wear a collar and tag with your name and address in a public place.

Building it up without a shopping trip

Be Ready's advice is to see what you already have and pick up missing items when you can during your regular shopping, to spread the cost. Wilko's spokesperson made a similar point: buying some extra food or a bag of litter after each shop can save you from panic buying.

For most households with animals, that means a few spare days of the food your pet already eats, some extra bottled water, and any regular medicines. Our kit builder sizes the Be Ready list for your household, pets included, and our household emergency plan guide has room for your vet's number.