How to Create a Dog and Cat Food Kit for Your Car: A Must-Have for Animal Lovers

How to Create a Dog and Cat Food Kit for Your Car: A Must-Have for Animal Lovers

As an animal lover, there’s nothing worse than seeing a stray dog or cat in need and not knowing what to do. I’ve found that being prepared in these situations can make all the difference. That’s why I’ve started keeping a simple dog and cat food kit in my car, so I’m always ready to help when I see an animal in need.

In this post, I’m going to show you how I create my own dog and cat food kit, and why I think it’s an essential item to keep in your car. It doesn’t take much to put together, but it could make a huge difference for a hungry, scared pet.

Why Keep a Dog and Cat Food Kit in Your Car?

You never know when you’ll come across a lost or hungry animal, and it can be a heart-wrenching experience to see them in distress. Having a food kit ready means you’re prepared to help right away. It’s a simple way to make a difference, and it also gives you some time to make other calls, like reaching out to animal control, while still providing food and water to the animal.

And if you’re feeling extra compassionate, you can even hand these kits to people who are homeless and have pets of their own—they’ll appreciate the kindness.

What You’ll Need for Your Kit

Putting together a dog and cat food kit is simple, and you don’t need a lot of supplies. Here’s what I keep in mine:

1. Sealable Plastic Containers

I use these sealable containers that are divided into two sections. One side is for food, and the other side holds treats (i use milkbones as they seem to have a long shelf life). You can also use cleaned, sealable to-go bowls from takeout food, which is a great way to recycle and re-purpose. These containers are perfect because they’re easy to store in your car, keep things separated, and help keep the food fresh.

2. Dog and Cat Food

For the food side of the container, I pack dry dog food and dry cat food. I make sure to get the basic, no-frills kibble, since it’s easy to store and doesn’t spoil quickly.

3. Dog and Cat Treats

On the other side of the container, I put treats like Milk-Bones for dogs or treats for cats. Sometimes I even add tuna in one of those "on the go" slim packets of plain tuna, just to see if a stray cat is more interested in tuna (these are better than cans of tuna, well because, who wants to carry a can opener in their car?). These treats can help lure a dog or cat to me, especially if they’re scared or hesitant.

4. Water Bottle and Bowl

The water is just as important as the food, especially in hot weather or when you’re dealing with a dehydrated animal. I use a small water bottle and tape it to the side of the container using packaging tape. The water bottle stays securely in place, but it’s easy to grab when needed. I also use the empty side of the container for water, or you can add a collapsible bowl if you prefer.

5. Packaging Tape (for Water Bottle)

This part is simple but crucial. I use packaging tape to tape the water bottle to the side of the container. This way, I always have water on hand without having to worry about it rolling around in the backseat or somehow go missing in the trunk.

6. Disposable Gloves (Optional)

If I’m worried about handling a stray animal, I’ll throw in a pair of disposable gloves. This is more of a precautionary step, but it can help if the animal seems aggressive or if I just want to keep things clean.

How to Assemble the Kit

Assembling the kit is quick and easy, and it really doesn’t take up much space in the car. Here’s how I put mine together:

1. Start with the container: I use a divided, sealable plastic container, but any sturdy container with compartments will work.

2. Add the dog or cat food: Fill one side with dry dog food and treats. I keep 2 containers and 2 water bottles. One for cats, one for dogs. It’s always a good idea to have both.

3. Add treats: Place the treats on the side that’s designated for them. I use Milk-Bones and cat treats.

4. Tape on the water bottle: Use packaging tape to secure a small water bottle to the side of the container. I keep it ready to go so I don’t have to scramble to find it.

5. Double-check the food: Before I pack it, I make sure all the food is fresh and not expired.

6. Label the container: I sometimes add a simple label with the expiration dates.

How to Use Your Kit When You Find a Stray Dog or Cat

If I come across a stray or lost animal, here’s what I do to help:

1. Stay Calm and Approach Slowly: Strays can be scared, so I always try to remain calm and avoid making sudden movements. I crouch down to their level to seem less intimidating.

2. Offer Food and Water: I place the food and water down from a distance and back away slowly. I want to give the animal space to come to me if they feel comfortable.

3. Check for a Collar: If the animal comes closer, I’ll check for a collar or ID tags. If there’s a collar you can contact the owner right away.

4. Call Animal Control: If I can’t take the animal home or can’t figure out the next steps, I’ll call animal control or a local rescue group.

5. Post Online: Post on local lost and found pet groups online to help get the word out. Facebook groups are great for finding the owners of lost pets. I recommend checking out Lost & Found Pet facebook groups to post a picture and details of the pet you’ve found. If you're in a different area, try searching for your city's specific lost pet Facebook groups, or check out platforms like Nextdoor or Petco Love Lost.

Other Ideas for Helping Strays

Sometimes the animal just isn’t ready to trust right away, and that’s okay. Here are a few other things to keep in mind:

• Call local rescue groups: Many rescues will send someone to pick up a stray animal or help with rehoming.

• Take Photos: If the animal isn’t approachable,take photos to help with identification.

• Move to Safety: If the animal is in a dangerous location, like near a busy road, do your best to move them to a safer spot until help arrives.

Having a dog and cat food kit in my car has been a simple but effective way to be prepared for those unexpected encounters with stray or lost animals. It’s easy to put together, and it gives me peace of mind knowing that I can offer food and water to an animal in need. It’s also a small act of kindness that can make a big difference. I know if I ever lost my pets I would be absolutely frantic, and be so grateful that someone stopped to help save my pets and find me. It varies by state but, where I live in Virginia, the county requires you to register your pet with the county. Most people do not seem to do this, but it only costs a one-time $10 and your dog receives a tag with a code on it. If they were ever to be picked up by animal control, they would be able to look up their home address and bring the drop right to your home, eliminating the need to bring them to a stressful shelter. I highly suggest registering your dog with the county or city you live in. Unfortunately for some reason, the county where i live does not offer this for cats. I would like this to be an option for cats to be easily found as well.

If you have a missing pet, I highly recommend going to the animal shelters in person to look for them. I personally had a friend whose dog was picked up by animal control with another dog, and they dogs were accidentally labeled as the wrong sex, so when my friend called to ask if her dog's description was there, her dog was listed as a male and did not show up in their system. This could be rare but it is something to think about, to just go in person. Her dog got scared from new year's eve fireworks and ran away and was missing for 2 weeks and was eventually picked up by animal control.

You never know when you might be the person to help a lost pet find its way home or just provide a little bit of comfort until more help arrives. Having a kit on hand can be a game-changer, and it’s something I always keep in my car.