How to prepare your pets for a power cut

List what depends on electricity

Walk through your pet’s normal day and note anything that uses mains power. Include equipment that runs automatically, because it is easy to overlook when the house goes dark.

Separate essential equipment from items that can safely remain off. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before connecting any device to a battery or backup power supply.

• Aquarium filters, air pumps, lights and heaters
• Heating, cooling or ventilation used in pet rooms
• Automatic feeders, water fountains and electronic doors
• Powered medical or mobility equipment
• Fridges or freezers holding pet food
• Internet-connected cameras, alarms and entry systems

• Write down every powered pet-care item.
• Record how long any backup battery normally lasts.
• Keep equipment manuals somewhere accessible.
• Mark the equipment that must not be left without supervision.

Build an accessible pet outage kit

Keep outage supplies together in a place you can reach without entering a dark garage, loft or locked room. Check the kit regularly and replace expired or damaged items.

Store food and water according to the product label. Rotate supplies into normal use so that nothing is forgotten at the back of a cupboard.

• Suitable food and drinking water for several days
• Manual can opener if required
• Bowls, waste bags, litter and cleaning supplies
• Torches and spare batteries
• Charged power banks and suitable cables
• Spare bedding and temperature-appropriate covers
• Carriers, leads, harnesses and identification details
• A printed copy of your pet care card

• Label supplies for each pet.
• Check food dates and storage instructions.
• Test torches and power banks.
• Make sure carriers open and close securely.

Plan for temperature and ventilation

Indoor temperatures can change quickly when heating, cooling or ventilation stops. Decide in advance which room is safest, and keep doors and windows secure if you move pets there.

Do not use outdoor heaters, barbecues or generators inside a home, garage or other enclosed area. Follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions and local fire-service guidance for any backup equipment.

• Choose an interior room that is easy to monitor.
• Close curtains when this helps reduce heat gain or loss.
• Keep cages and tanks away from direct sun and sudden draughts.
• Use a simple room thermometer rather than guessing.
• Know the safe environmental range for each species.

• Write down your move-or-relocate trigger.
• Identify a safe alternative property.
• Confirm that your transport can carry every pet.
• Follow your veterinarian’s written plan for pets with health-related temperature needs.

Make species-specific backup arrangements

Different pets are affected in different ways. Avoid improvising with unfamiliar equipment during an outage. Prepare instructions based on your veterinarian’s advice, trusted husbandry guidance and the equipment manufacturer’s directions.

• Dogs: keep leads near the exit and plan safe toilet trips in dark streets or gardens.
• Cats: secure doors and windows before using candles, torches or temporary ventilation.
• Rabbits and small pets: monitor room conditions and keep enclosures away from draughts or direct heat.
• Birds: protect cages from fumes, abrupt temperature changes and unsafe temporary heaters.
• Fish: identify which filtration, aeration and temperature systems are essential, and have an aquarium-specific backup plan.

• Label switches, plugs and backup equipment.
• Write simple restart instructions.
• List any equipment that must never share a backup supply.
• Test the plan without disturbing or endangering your pets.

Protect food, water and hygiene

Keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Do not offer food if you are unsure whether it has remained safe; follow its storage label and local food-safety guidance.

If your home relies on an electric pump for water, include stored drinking water in your plan. Use clean bowls and prevent pets from drinking from toilets, outdoor floodwater or unfamiliar containers.

• Keep a shelf-stable version of the pet’s usual suitable food where possible.
• Avoid making unnecessary diet changes during the disruption.
• Store rubbish and used litter securely.
• Clean spills promptly using pet-safe methods.
• Record meals if several people are sharing care.

• Confirm portions from the food label or your veterinarian.
• Label opened food with the date.
• Keep drinking water separate from cleaning water.
• Pack bowls and food if relocation becomes necessary.

Give a sitter clear outage instructions

A sitter should not have to decide your priorities under pressure. Add a short power-cut section to your pet care card with the location of supplies, backup equipment and emergency contacts.

Be clear about what the sitter is authorised to do. This includes staying overnight, moving pets to another property, arranging transport or contacting your veterinarian.

• Where torches, carriers and keys are stored
• Which equipment should be checked first
• How to enter or leave if powered doors stop working
• Who can help locally if you are unavailable
• Where each pet should go if the home becomes unsuitable
• Which warning signs require prompt veterinary contact

• Give the sitter a printed plan.
• Show them how manual locks and gates work.
• Provide written veterinary instructions for health-related needs.
• Agree how and when the sitter should update you.

Know when to relocate and how to return

Relocate if you cannot maintain safe conditions, essential equipment cannot operate or local authorities advise you to leave. Do not wait until transport routes are difficult or pets are already distressed.

When power returns, check equipment before resuming the normal routine. Some devices may restart with altered settings, alarms or timers.

• Use secure carriers or correctly fitted travel equipment.
• Take food, water, bedding and care instructions.
• Check that the destination accepts every species you keep.
• Inspect automatic feeders, doors, pumps and temperature controls after power returns.
• Contact your veterinarian promptly if a pet appears unwell or distressed.

• Confirm the destination before leaving.
• Tell your emergency contact where the pets are going.
• Check rooms for hazards before releasing pets.
• Reset timers and review stored food before returning to normal.

Frequently asked questions

How much pet food and water should I store for a power cut?

Keep enough suitable food and drinking water to cover several days, following local emergency-planning guidance. Confirm portions using the food label or your veterinarian’s written instructions, and rotate stored supplies regularly.

Can I use a generator for pet equipment?

Only use a generator according to its manufacturer’s instructions and local fire-service guidance. Never operate one inside a home, garage or enclosed area, and confirm that any connected pet equipment is compatible with the power supply.

What should I do about refrigerated pet food?

Keep the fridge or freezer closed while the power is off. Follow the food label and official food-safety guidance, and discard food if you cannot confirm that it remained safe.

When should I move my pet somewhere else?

Move your pet if safe temperature, ventilation, water or essential equipment cannot be maintained. Choose a destination in advance and follow your veterinarian’s written instructions for pets with medical or specialised care needs.

What should a pet sitter know about a power cut?

The sitter needs to know where supplies are kept, which equipment is essential, how manual locks work and who to contact. Your care card should also state when they may relocate the pets and where they should go.

Related guides

• How to make a pet emergency contact sheet
• The pet sitter care card checklist
• How to leave fish with a holiday sitter