Hurricane Irene is heading up the east coast of the United States, bringing with it the dangers associated with rain and high winds. Authorities are urging everyone in the path of this storm to be prepared–that goes for people and for the animals we care for!

First, it’s important to know that feral cats are resourceful. The outdoors are their home, so they know how to deal with weather. Many times animals can “sense” when bad weather is coming, and in the case of hurricanes, they often move to higher ground and safe places instinctually. However, there are things you can do to help keep you and the cats you care for safe:

Things you should do ahead of time…

If you need to evacuate…

After the storm…

Be diligent about looking for your colony cats, but don’t panic. Cats can hide for days after severe weather before returning to their colonies. Please keep yourself, your animals, and the rest of your families safe in the coming days.