An animal shelter sent dozens of stray cats out of town while pet owners bought pet food and travel crates in case they have to evacuate ahead of Tropical Storm Gustav.

When Hurricane Katrina threatened, and even after it hit, some pet owners refused to go to shelters because their pets couldn't come. Other animals, left with food and water for three days, died because it took nearly a month to pump out the flooded city.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says that if there's an evacuation, a hurricane shelter in Shreveport will take pets as well as people.

Lee Anne Matherne, director of the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter, says one reason shelter animals are leaving so early is in case the staff is needed to help evacuate busloads of pet owners. About 625 animals are leaving the two Jefferson Parish shelters and the Louisiana SPCA shelter in New Orleans on Friday.

Matherne says that if there's a bus evacuation for pet owners, pets weighing less than 15 pounds can go on their owners' laps if they are in small crates or soft-sided carriers. Others will follow the buses in temperature-controlled tractor trailers.

Matherne says owners need to bring carriers for those pets, too.