Cats on board...?

[ChattingLil]

Anyone got any tips on introducing a cat to sailing?

Am thinking our moggie might prefer coming with us rather than being put in a cattery. He's quite young, so am thinking it's better to start sooner rather than later - or am I deluding myself...?

 

[rovin_turtle]

Our experience was that they were happy to be with us, but practically they need to be safe below, as you need access to most of the boat most of the time, and you do not want to be chasing them around the deck when you are sailing away on full tilt in a busy channel .


We lived on board our 38 foot yacht, for four years with our two cats. One hated it one loved it. . The femail was more tollerant of the situation ..
a note of caution..
A cat flap in the washboard helped the coming and goings during the night when they were most awake, with a pasarell to the regular mooring. Just be careful when you feel a warm furry animal , under your feet in the morning ! it might not be your cat, it might have have large ears and be keen to return to shore, if you can get passed the feline guards .

We met several boat owners with their cats aboard and happy they would not roam.
We were not that lucky so they were confined to litter trays when we were away from home port, unless on a swinging mooring.

We discovered they do swim very well and would spend hours stareing into the water at the mullet below

Have a look at a book called "ships cats" it is a good insight .....

 

[demonboy]

This has been discussed a number of times in the liveaboard forum, do a search there.

You are correct with the 'start young' principal. We got Millie as a kitten and she spends more time on the boat than off, she loves it so much. Check out her Cat-A-Log here (this link displays all articles written by our cat!)

 

[rhumlady]

Our two Siamese have travelled with us for years. Less stress for us than leaving them at home in the hands of the kids, friends etc. Starting them young is the best idea but one we saw was 17 when it made it's first trip and got on fine. We have a cat litter tray under the wet locker opposite the heads on our Konsort. When under way they are restricted to the cockpit and usually end up in the quarter berth curled up together. In a marina if they get ashore they will generally head for the biggest, most expensive boat around so it is usually easy to find them. The spray hood makes a good playground in harbour or at anchor. Both of them have their sights on the top of the mast and often end up standing on the boom at the mast looking for the way up.