tyce
Well-Known Member
Anyone ever took one sailing, i know abuot ships cats but how about on a 30footer, could save me a fortune each year in cattery fees.
Anyone ever tried it?
Anyone ever tried it?
I am about to ask the second strangest question on the forum - cats
- Thread starter tyce
- Start date
haydude
Well-Known Member
I saw a woman once getting through East Cowes marina's gate with a dog and a cat in a cage. I stopped chatting and asking about the cat and she said she always took the cat on board.
There was a liveabord at Gosport marina with a kitten. I haven't seen them last time I visited.
There was a liveabord at Gosport marina with a kitten. I haven't seen them last time I visited.
swatchways
Well-Known Member
Well, as we arrived back at the pontoon to unload dinghy after a weekend last year, the dinghy next door tied up with a cat in a basket - they'd just come off after doing something similar, so it's obviously done!
IIRC there was an article in a PBO recently about sailing with a cat?
IIRC there was an article in a PBO recently about sailing with a cat?
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
Many liveaboards have cats but I think most started out when kittens. Maybe the average 10 year old hearth moggy wouldn't be too happy being dragged on board.
Frankie-H
Well-Known Member
We have 2 cats, as well as us dogs, 1 joined at 5 weeks and has been with us for 5 years. No2 joined at about 6 months and has been here for 4 years. We have done many 200 mile trips with them. No1 goes to bed. No2 can be ill if the weather is bad. They have the run of the boat and the marina and are usually home at night. When the mistral blows, it is sometimes difficult to get them to go out.
rhumlady
Well-Known Member
We sailed with our 2 Siamese on our 29' Konsort for 10 years and they loved it. Everyone to hand where they wanted us. They both went swimming on a couple of occasions but were non the worse for it. The oldest I have known a cat start sailing was 17 and he was far happier than if he had been left at the cattery.
Go for it.
Go for it.
mixmaster
Well-Known Member
Ok. A question for the 2 week trip/weekend types rather than those with cats that live permanently on board. What are the details. Where do they to the loo? Do they know to come back to the boat? etc...
aluijten
Well-Known Member
Our two permanent deckmates are feline. As they are oriental cats they really enjoy human companionship. So we take them with all our sailing that involves an overnight on the boat. During sailing they are not allowed out of the cockpit, but in the marina they are allowed on deck. They are not allowed to go off the boat. This obviously takes some attention from us but they seem to accept this.
We also have a cockpit tent to increase the living space of the gentlemen when not sailing and overnight.
Bear in mind our cats are indoor cats at home as we live in the inner city.
We also have a cockpit tent to increase the living space of the gentlemen when not sailing and overnight.
Bear in mind our cats are indoor cats at home as we live in the inner city.
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pagoda
Well-Known Member
In January, while using our boat as accommodation (visiting hospitals...) I decided to take our cat with me - as SWMBO was in France.
Cat is 11 year old oriental blue (+-Siamese) The weather was nothing great, so outside was not much of an attarction. (Boat is 35ft) For the first 24hours she was very scaredy cat, jumped at every noise- and hid in the strangest corners. After that - much better, eating OK, searching the boat from end to end inside. I put the litter tray on the floor in the heads- that was Ok. I was careful about letting her in the cockpit, but she was Ok if I was sitting there having a coffee. Not impressed by seagulls!
I did plug in a "Feliway" atomiser- since I have found that very effective for helping her settle in unfamiliar places.
We didn't get the chance to try sailing then, but I will certainly consider it, since the company on board and space available is better than a cattery!
Try a couple of stationary week-ends first?
Graeme
uxb
Well-Known Member
We'd love to take fuzz-face (her identity has been changed to protect the innocent..) with us but as she is a hunter with a territory that she has fought for we don't feel it's fair.
Also, she likes to keep her claws sharp and we've sort of trained her- as much as you can with a cat- to sharpen them on a section of the veranda timber (easy replaced) I don't fancy trying to keep her off the boat wood-work....
If we'd got her as a kitten we would try her on the boat but she was a rescue cat of about 2 years when she took over ownership of us.
Also, she likes to keep her claws sharp and we've sort of trained her- as much as you can with a cat- to sharpen them on a section of the veranda timber (easy replaced) I don't fancy trying to keep her off the boat wood-work....
If we'd got her as a kitten we would try her on the boat but she was a rescue cat of about 2 years when she took over ownership of us.
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
We met a couple who sailed with cats. Their biggest headache came when one of them went exploring and got into another boat via an open cabin side port. Once inside it couldn't jump back up and the owners had gone home for the week.
Another cat owner was horrified when their cat which had been dozing in the foot of the main on passage was flipped into the sea by a wind eddy.
Going foreign is fine as long as it's a one-way trip - the pet passport scheme doesn't apply to private yachts.
On the plus side, you shouldn't have any problem with wildlife coming aboard.
Another cat owner was horrified when their cat which had been dozing in the foot of the main on passage was flipped into the sea by a wind eddy.
Going foreign is fine as long as it's a one-way trip - the pet passport scheme doesn't apply to private yachts.
On the plus side, you shouldn't have any problem with wildlife coming aboard.
SHUG
Well-Known Member
Crew Wanted: Agile, sure-footed, observant, sociable, will eat what is put in front of him, charming to port officials etc etc..... That was Hector our cat when we lived aboard for five years.
You cant possibly sail without a cat!!!
Cat passport is not a problem . There are no pet restrictions between Eire and Europe and there are no pet restrictions between Eire and UK. Just route accordingly. The only place where the cat passport was requested was Gibralter.
In any event you could, if you wish, fly back with the cat via Heathrow or Manchester or take the ferry to Southampton if you wish to be more official about. What's this "one-way trip" . It sounds like a death sentence
You cant possibly sail without a cat!!!
Cat passport is not a problem . There are no pet restrictions between Eire and Europe and there are no pet restrictions between Eire and UK. Just route accordingly. The only place where the cat passport was requested was Gibralter.
In any event you could, if you wish, fly back with the cat via Heathrow or Manchester or take the ferry to Southampton if you wish to be more official about. What's this "one-way trip" . It sounds like a death sentence
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RichardTaylor
Well-Known Member
We are currently trying to get Laurie, our 21 month old cat, used to the boat (33ft) with the view to cruising during the summer with him.
mixmaster
Well-Known Member
where does everyone keep the litter? heads floor?
tonybannister
Well-Known Member
When we set out for the Med we had our 2 Balinese cats on board. What a disaster. We have a 30 footer.
We were told by others our boat stunk. The litter tray had to be kept in the cabin. Cat hair got into every nook and cranny.
When going for visits to UK we could not go together as one of us had to remain to look after the cats.
We did find a very good cat home that allowed me to go to my wife for a spell. When I returned the cats had been very ill. They were stressed and would not eat. A vet came daily to give them valium injections. The bill for that was £500
They scratched the furniture.
When sailing they trembled with fright. OK they were Pedigree cats and that may have been most of the problem but 2 cats on a 30 footer - no thanks.
We were told by others our boat stunk. The litter tray had to be kept in the cabin. Cat hair got into every nook and cranny.
When going for visits to UK we could not go together as one of us had to remain to look after the cats.
We did find a very good cat home that allowed me to go to my wife for a spell. When I returned the cats had been very ill. They were stressed and would not eat. A vet came daily to give them valium injections. The bill for that was £500
They scratched the furniture.
When sailing they trembled with fright. OK they were Pedigree cats and that may have been most of the problem but 2 cats on a 30 footer - no thanks.
thalassa
Well-Known Member
Our 12 year-old wasn't happy either. She wouldn't come out the cabin, and was terrified by the seagulls.
We were in Dunkirk once and the yacht next to us had a cat. After some time she went AWOL. The owner enquired everywhere on all pontoons for the missing cat. After a few hours she was found happily dining of the leftovers in a fishing boat.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
Kick the thing out of the door and let it fend for itself. Nasty animals.
Judders
Well-Known Member
SWMBO desperately wanted to introduce our seventeen year old (came to us at fifteen) farm cat to sailing but in a rare show of backbone, I put my foot down and insisted she was too old and would be happier at home.
Our new kitten however, is to be given the opportunity to become a ship's cat. We've had some good advice from this forum. Apparently life jackets affect their balance and harnesses and extending leads are the way to go. Carrying a carp landing net is apparently essential.
With the time nearly upon us to take Fitzroy to sea for the first time, I would be grateful for any further advice that the forumites might care to share?
Our new kitten however, is to be given the opportunity to become a ship's cat. We've had some good advice from this forum. Apparently life jackets affect their balance and harnesses and extending leads are the way to go. Carrying a carp landing net is apparently essential.
With the time nearly upon us to take Fitzroy to sea for the first time, I would be grateful for any further advice that the forumites might care to share?
Bosun Higgs
N/A
Take plenty of fresh air spray and fabreeze with you for when it pees on the upholstery, plus cat lit for it tocr*p on, and towels etc for cleaning up vomit. The be prepared for it to leg it the first time it gets back on dry land.
tyce
Well-Known Member
Wish i could but my kids would kill me.