Cats on a boat

[deising]

By popular request, here are a few photos of our cat, Clyde, during our Bahamas cruise last year.

[bstreet]

Here's our guard cat Spike on duty. Except the last photo, it's hard work being a guard cat on a boat and a break is needed now and then.

[deising]

Spike looks like a competent sailor, Bud.

Clyde is more into navigation than sail trim or security duty. Everytime I pull out the paper charts, he likes to spread out on them to get a feel for the next passage.

[LCBrandt]

In 2006 we cruised to Desolation Sound on High Flight, accompanied by our two cats, Mitsi and Houdini. Alas, Houdini died about a month or two after we returned. (The vet told us long before our trip that he had a "whopping" heart murmur.)

We loved having them with us. They weren't enthusiastic about being underway with the engine, but once we were anchored or at a slip they made our boat a home. And at night, being nocturnal creatures, their curiosity really kicked in. They wanted to explore the docks (on a leash, always), and smell the new smells.

An onboard smell we all loved was the deep-water (from 600 ft or deeper) spotted prawns, out of the water less than 24 hours, that Daniela steamed up while at anchor in Prideaux Haven, Desolation Sound...left photo below.

[LCBrandt]

Holy litter pan, Batman. Do you realize what's happening here? This thread is just a bunch of GUYS talkin' 'bout CATS! If we're not careful we're gonna ruin the reputation of men everywhere.

[bstreet]

Well I could throw in a picture of the dog on board to try to regain our cred a bit. Maybe that's another thread.

Spike is a good sailor but like Larry's cats he doesn't like motoring at all. Scoots off into the V-berth until the racket is gone. We are anxious to see how he enjoys all the extra space in the 36. We really enjoy having him along makes the boat feel more like home. Cats are so easy to take care of on a boat, unlike the dog with the 3 times a day into the dinghy and go find a bit of shoreline routine.

[wfahey]

Abby will stay up all night and watch the door. That is about the extent of her guarding. She loves to watch the birds that nest around the docks but could absolutely care less about ducks. She does like to stretch out and sleep in the salon.

[wfahey]

Holy litter pan, Batman. Do you realize what's happening here? This thread is just a bunch of GUYS talkin' 'bout CATS! If we're not careful we're gonna ruin the reputation of men everywhere.

Good point. There's a country/western song in there somewhere.

[LCBrandt]

Yep.

"She thinks I'm perfect and that I love her cat.
You know me better than tha-aaa-at."

Or something to that effect.

[ldnicholson]

Yes - the cat being active at night often disrupts our sleep. When it's warm out and the companionway stays open in the summer, do you leash the cat down for the night?

We have a screen that snaps over the companionway but I still worry that he'll scratch thru it likes he's done at home (an outdoor cat) and make a break for the deep blue yonder....

We thought about getting the Autotether system for him and the dog (they make a beacon for dogs).

Any thoughts???