Animals on board

[larryjc]

Sold our last boat 8 years ago (where did the time go??). We and the dog did about 2/3 of the network over 6 years and then sold up. Now seriously considering getting back on the water, the dog unfortunately has long gone. But we now have a rather cute little pussy cat. Not sure whether we can take him because we tend to go away for months at a time. Does anyone have any experience or advice on how to acclimatise a cat to a narrowboat and not lose him after a couple of days? 

[Lady M]

It depends to some extent on the cat and you must provide separate eating, sleeping and toilet facilities, possibly a catflap.  Perhaps don't let them out until they seem settled.  Will the cat return for a rattled biscuit box?  None of mine liked the engine but they all soon just treated the boat like another house.  They all complained about moving between their homes.  Our main access is at the front of the boat and we used to open the cratch cover on the towpath side when we moored up.  We used to keep away from roads and canal junctions.  If the bank was high, we'd put down an extra rope fender that the cat could use to climb up if they should fall in.  they all knew instinctively that the 'big wet' was to be avoided but had to be warned about 'the hot' (stove).  One of our cats got lost from the boat but she also got lost from the house so was just no good at finding her way home.  We got her back every time but she used her nine lives rather quickly.  If you stop in one place for a while, the cat's territory will tend to get larger and larger.  Good luck!

[larryjc]

Thanks for that. I think I'll start training on the rattle tin method. 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Most cats regard their boat as their home, or one of their homes. They soon cope with the outside changing every few days. What @Lady M said about water. A rope fender, or a carpet tile will let them climb back out. They think walking gunwhales is great fun, but inevitably they will change their mind half way along and try turning round. This is usually when they go in. 

[Ken X]

As irregular hirers we have trained all our cats to request a walk and walk them to the lead. These days we fit a tracker as backup. 

 

Edited Wednesday at 14:29 by Ken X

[larryjc]

Not sure about the lead but the trackers are obviously a very good idea. 

[wakey_wake]

2 hours ago, larryjc said:

Does anyone have any experience or advice on how to acclimatise a cat to a narrowboat and not lose him after a couple of days? 

I never tried it but I've seen that some people do it OK. For example,

 

Remember that to the extent that anyone else might consider it at all, they would expect a dog on board not a cat. This can cause the cats to get scared by passing dogs.

 

Get a piece of old carpet trapped between two battens, on a rope, to use as a reboarding ladder.

Else when a reboarding ladder is required, it will be your shirt sleeve / arm!

[mrsmelly]

All cats are different but ours would leap off when we stopped and wander off but always uncanily returned before we set off again. We were ccers at the time between Yorkshire and Bath and he never got lost. He was a wanker on the gunwhales though and did oft get wet and one cold winters night when he was soaking wet he got in to another boat and in bed with the occupants who were not amused 😂, that was outside The George at Bathhampton. 

[Russ T]

7 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

All cats are different but ours would leap off when we stopped and wander off but always uncanily returned before we set off again. We were ccers at the time between Yorkshire and Bath and he never got lost. He was a wanker on the gunwhales though and did oft get wet and one cold winters night when he was soaking wet he got in to another boat and in bed with the occupants who were not amused 😂, that was outside The George at Bathhampton. 

Ours was stupid enough to jump in the river one day while the boat was mid stream on a river. He was used to jumping off the side where the bank side mooring was, except this time, it wasn't. He came out the front door, under the cratch cover and plop. I ran down the back end, fully expecting the poor cat to be dragged in to the prop. The local rowing club was out practicing, and one of them yells at my Mrs "Is your cat ok?". "oh, yes, he's fine" she sarcastically replies "He often likes a swim on a Saturday.  morning".

 

I got a right bollocking later for leaving the front door open.

 

My advice is don't let them out when the boat is moving.Keep an eye on them when moored up at a new location, and don't be tempted to let them out when the boat is i a lock.

[larryjc]

All good advice, everybody. Thanks very much. 

[adam1uk]

This episode of my canal-based podcast is about pets on board, and has an interview with a cat owner.  Might give you a few pointers.

 

Click here to listen.

 

This link will detect what device you’re on, and take you to either Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or a web page.  AlternativeLy search for The Water Road wherever you get your podcasts.  As well as Apple and Spotify, it’s also on Amazon Music, Audible, Deezer, GoodPods, OverCast, Castro, PodChaser, Pocket Casts — in fact pretty much everywhere.

[ditchcrawler]

When I worked Offshore we had a scaffolder who lived on a Narrowboat, He failed to turn up for his flight because his cat went walkabouts for three days

[LadyG]

21 hours ago, larryjc said:

Sold our last boat 8 years ago (where did the time go??). We and the dog did about 2/3 of the network over 6 years and then sold up. Now seriously considering getting back on the water, the dog unfortunately has long gone. But we now have a rather cute little pussy cat. Not sure whether we can take him because we tend to go away for months at a time. Does anyone have any experience or advice on how to acclimatise a cat to a narrowboat and not lose him after a couple of days? 

I have had two cats, they will likely fall in once, so make sure they can likely scramble out. I find this cat never goes far. I always make sure not to be near a busy road. They may cross farm bridges, but then sit on the bank and yowl.

I tried to keep them indoors for two weeks, but they escaped after a week.

Best to keep them hungry if you plan a release 

You could get a little cage to keep him secure when you are locking and for the two weeks. I have a scratch stand and a few toys, Yeowe catnip are good. Tunnels are also available.

Cats have a good sense of smell, this will be how they find their way back.

Edited Thursday at 10:14 by LadyG

[cuthound]

4 hours ago, Ken X said:

As irregular hirers we have trained all our cats to request a walk and walk them to the lead. These days we fit a tracker as backup. 

 

 

When we moved to our current canalside house we had a 19 year old cat. Not wanting him to fall into the canal I bought him a harness and lead. Somewhat surprisingly he took to it straight away and quickly got so used to regular walk times that he would come and look for me if I was more than a couple of minutes late taking him out. 

[LadyG]

Yes, they will expect to jump over one side, so be carefull to train this out of them by holding them while they get used to the idea. My cat often sits on the roof, but I keep him inside when moving.

Be careful he does not go on to other boats.

Edited Wednesday at 19:22 by LadyG

[wakey_wake]

4 hours ago, adam1uk said:

This episode of my canal-based podcast is about pets on board,

Excellent reminder - a good mat of duckweed, such as may collect above the top gates of a lock, can fool an animal into an unexpected swim.

 

I suspect it helps for the animal to see the process of casting off and pushing the boat away from the bank. At least for a collie, he seemed to develop a natural understanding quickly enough. "This is just a long thin house. Oh wait, it's a car and I can stand on top and take in the smells! 🐾"

[Hunter1]

I've had two very different cats on board! 

 

My previous cat, Stuart, was very adventurous and regarded the entire tow path as his territory. This was a little stressful, especially when terriers were being walked. We had a couple of trips to the vet from minor incidents. But overall he understood the boat was his home, and after a while would lounge happily whilst going through locks, etc... there were a few weeks while he adjusted to the various thuds and engine noises. I was worried he wouldn't adapt but he was very happy. He lived to 17 years old! 

 

My current little cat, Stella, is much more reserved and tends to only go out at night when the tow path is quiet. Or else just lounge on the hot metal of the bow. She's adjusted well, and is a very content girly. I've trained her to come when I call using treats. I tend to keep her in for the first 24 hours after moving... In my mind, this lets her cat compass recalibrate. I also avoid letting Stella out during peak dog-walking hours (first thing in the morning, and just before dusk).

 

I think the main thing is the first time they go in the canal (and they will go in!) - once you know they can swim and climb well, that's some piece of mind. I don't do the whole carpet over the sides thing... but I'm mostly moored in places without sheer banks. I also bought a large fishing net rod thing - luckily it has never had to be used! 

 

And make sure they're locked in while cruising! Stuart was a terror for getting off for an adventure halfway up a flight of locks! 

 

It's really about the personality of the cat... you'll get a feel for it, and make adaptions to suit their tendencies. I have had one friend lose a cat to the canal, so it's not to be taken lightly. But with care and attention, it's a good life for a cat... And of course they have a long history with boats and ships, protecting grain and so on from pests... (Though on a steel narrowboat, they're more likely to bring mice in than keep them out hehe).

[Lady M]

I, too, found that girl cats were 'easier to manage' on a boat.

[wakey_wake]

2 hours ago, Hunter1 said:

And of course they have a long history with boats and ships, protecting grain and so on from pests...

@TheShipsCat "saw this and thought of you" 😉

[TheShipsCat]

3 hours ago, wakey_wake said:

@TheShipsCat "saw this and thought of you" 😉

Why thank you for thinking of me and calling my attention to this thread.  I can't have pets because of my itinerant presence in the UK, but if I could, I would love to have a boat's cat. 

 

Indeed, I took on the handle in reference to the historic British naval tradition of keeping a cat aboard ships, a practice sadly abandoned only recently (as British maritime history goes).  Some friends and I have been mildly obsessed with this practice for decades.

 

Though the rationale was pest control, the ship's cat was also a pet and mascot as well as a working animal, and often considered the most beloved member of the crew.  I read one account from the sea dog era of a cat overboard which caused several crewmen to leap and launch a dinghy for a rescue.  The chronicler doubted that such an effort would be made for any other crew member.   Sailors are a penny a dozen. 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

6 hours ago, Hunter1 said:

I have had one friend lose a cat to the canal, so it's not to be taken lightly

Of the many boat cats it has been my pleasure to make acquaintance, only one has drowned. An older kitten that got out during the night and fell in, without being noticed. If they get a chance, they learn not to panic and look for a place to climb out. Although they mostly hate it, cats swim very well. I think the dangers of boat life for cats compare very favourably with the dangers of road traffic for house cats. 

[TheShipsCat]

1 hour ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Of the many boat cats it has been my pleasure to make acquaintance, only one has drowned. An older kitten that got out during the night and fell in, without being noticed. If they get a chance, they learn not to panic and look for a place to climb out. Although they mostly hate it, cats swim very well. I think the dangers of boat life for cats compare very favourably with the dangers of road traffic for house cats. 

Unless of course you keep your housecats indoors.  Cats on the whole live perfectly well in confined spaces. (Neutered cats anyway.)  My wife never would have our cats out.

Edited Thursday at 19:45 by TheShipsCat

[Jen-in-Wellies]

37 minutes ago, TheShipsCat said:

Unless of course you keep your housecats indoors.  Cats on the whole live perfectly well in confined spaces. (Neutered cats anyway.)  My wife never would have our cats out.

I know that's common in the US. It isn't so common here. Usual practice is to let them roam, relying on their stomachs to being them home! They lead fuller lives, despite the sometimes terminal scrapes they get into. 

[TheShipsCat]

18 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

I know that's common in the US. It isn't so common here. Usual practice is to let them roam, relying on their stomachs to being them home! They lead fuller lives, despite the sometimes terminal scrapes they get into. 

I do agree. I always had indoor/outdoor cats before I married Jenny.  But whenever one of our cats got out she would go immediately into disconsolate grief.  I accept the indoor cat thing and they're fine.

[Alway Swilby]

Our cat loves boat life, far more so than life at the house. We got her as a kitten and we had the engine running before she first came on to the boat. The engine noise doesn't bother her at all. We don't have a cat flap, we prefer to be in control of when she goes out and just as importantly when she comes in. If she's brought something back home to eat then she has to do so on the towpath. We keep her in at night and during the peak hunting time of twilight. We also keep her in while cruising, we don't want any jumping off at bridge holes. She's been in the water a few times, the first time at Selby basin during duckweed season, as described on Adam's podcast above. We have a landing net on the roof to help with scooping her out if needs be however she normally manages to find the stern button fender to haul herself out. 

She doesn't run away from dogs on the towpath. She puffs herself up and hisses and this normally stops the dog. Or She might run up a tree if there's one handy. She has a worrying thought that once she's on the gunnel she's on the boat so home and safe. So far she has been safe but it is a worry.

When we're at the house she finds life boring and the outside never changes. There are also quite a lot of neighbouring cats, she doesn't get on with cats!