There was an elderly couple, Henry & Louis Meyer, both sadly no longer with us, used to moor their boat Profugus on the EA moorings top side of Shepperton weir, and used to arrive with elderly cat and dog, the cat used to follow the dog from the car, across lock gates along the path to the moorings, neither on a lead but both knew where they were going.
After the rigors of battling with the tree that escaped from a Dr Who episode I am surprised to hear a few paws and claws of a 17 yr old feline should bother you.
Must admit however I was glad I was controlling the engine rather than holding on at the bow. Dont think the knuckle dragging Neanderthal look will catch on though!