Cats on boats

[Dave Payne]

Seen a few threads on this subject, and someone in the marina has a cat, am thinking of getting one, always loved cats but could never have them with the ex as one of her kids had an allergy...

 

 

Problem is i sometimes stay away from the boat for the night which worries me, would the cat bugger off!

 

Will fit a cat flap, and would ideally get a kitten so it gets used to living on a boat.

[mrsmelly]

Cats only live were they please. It will not bugger off from a boat anymore than if it were housebound if its happy. We had a liveaboard cat for a few years whilst ccing and moving daily and it always came back to the correct boat. We had a cat flap. Remember that Dogs have owners whereas Cats have Staff and be prepared to obey it!!

 

Tim

[Lmcgrath87]

We don't let Gonzo out yet - but will in the summer, we have often left him for a night both at the flat when we had that and now on the boat and he's totally fine with it, any longer and we get our neighbours to pop in and feed him, but the odd night doesn't matter.

[Dave Payne]

ha gonzo, great name!

 

Want to name mine fingers if i ever get one.

 

I think ill have a little more thinking about it, i understand a cat makes its own mind up about where it lives, but i have always been a sucker for them and will ensure its well cared for, i just get a little nervous about spending a night away and it buggers off to someone else.

[billS]

I am a part time boater, and all three cats which I have owned over the last 30 years have been dragged onto the boat at weekends and holidays, with no problems. The first cat and the current cat seem to love it, the second cat - not so much.

 

In all cases they have been allowed off the boat to roam at night (they all have have loud jangly collar bells to limit the limit the carnage to the local fauna). As long as they know where their litter and food trays are, they seem to do just fine.

 

We cruise extensively and they have always found their way to back to the boat.The only problem we had was once when we moored a few hundred yards from where we had moored the previous night. This time the cat failed to return, but we found him close to our previous mooring from the night before and we think he got confused.

Edited January 11, 2016 by billS

[bizzard]

A few cat haters, because they couldn't control them, although they didn't mind dogs because they could-- Adolf Hitler, Churchill, Mussolini, Napoleon, Julius Caesar, Alexander the great, Stalin.

[Loafer]

A mate calls his ginger cat 'Mcvitie', 'cos it's got huge ginger nuts!

[nb Innisfree]

I'm having great difficulty typing this post because of the neighbours cat!

[WotEver]

A few years ago I was 'present' at a very important online meeting with around a dozen contributors. Suddenly the host was interrupted by "pkljnytvasd`" from one of those present. Followed a few moments later by "Sorry, the cat just walked across my keyboard"

[JJay]

A few cat haters, because they couldn't control them, although they didn't mind dogs because they could-- Adolf Hitler, Churchill, Mussolini, Napoleon, Julius Caesar, Alexander the great, Stalin.

Not Churchill! http://www.winstonchurchill.org/support?catid=0&id=837

[bizzard]

Not Churchill! http://www.winstonchurchill.org/support?catid=0&id=837

Ah, interesting. It must have been John Churchill the 1st Duke of Marlborough.

[Paradox Pete]

 

[paulstoke1975]

A mate calls his ginger cat 'Mcvitie', 'cos it's got huge ginger nuts!

thats just wrong

[Loafer]

thats just wrong

 

Eh? How is it 'wrong'? Don't follow you.

[nb Innisfree]

thats just wrong

Agreed, they are quite mediocre, Ive dunked much bigger ones,

[treddieafloat]

If only away for a night leave it in with food,water and cat litter doesn't need to be out. Only problem might be cold this time of year

[GOONIESnvrSAYdie]

We don't let Gonzo out yet - but will in the summer, we have often left him for a night both at the flat when we had that and now on the boat and he's totally fine with it, any longer and we get our neighbours to pop in and feed him, but the odd night doesn't matter.

 

Hunter related name?

[ROBDEN]

We always leave rope fenders down, one at the bow and one at the stern, for when (Not if) it falls in especially when the banks are steep or piling.

Have heard the cat 'calling' a couple of times, only to find it clinging on to a fender after taking a dip.

Never had a cat flap so the cat is used to staying in at night. Always worried that if it went in at night we wouldn't be there to help.

Large landing net on the roof for fishing it out when it panics, used several times.

Often mooved again, after mooring, when a boat turns up with several dogs running around, especially greyhounds or lurchers.

 

After all that we wouldn't be without one......even the dog likes him.

 

Rob....

[ROBDEN]

You may this useful for when your moggy is unwell.

 

1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

    

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

    

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

    

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

    

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

    

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

    

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered Doulton figurines from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

    

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

    

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

    

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

     

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

     

12. Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.

     

13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, force cat's mouth open with small wrench. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet mignon. Hold head vertically and pour 1/2 litre of water down throat to wash pill down.

     

14. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture store on way home to order new table.
15. Rob....

[Dave_P]

I have a cat. She lives on my boat with me. No problems. Except one. She enjoys bringing live mice in, playing with them for a minute and then letting them go. The mouse then hides and can't get out. Two years ago there was a mouse on my boat for months, Unknown to me, living off cat food. It chewed through my washing machine drain hose, again unknown to me. The first I became aware was when my kitchen floor was underwater. Now my kitchen floor is rotten and needs replacing. It's on the list.

[Dave Payne]

ahh good point on the Mice, i watched the cat on another boat in the marina chasing a mouse playing with it the other week.

[cuthound]

Cats not only train their humans, but any other pets living in the same household.

 

Below are a couple of photo's of my dear departed pair, Tom and Buster, showing how Tom trained Buster to share his dinner and bed with him

 

 

[RufusR]

 

 

 

omg So true ... love it

[She25]

Go for it. I live in a marina and have two on board - started life indoors, then outdoors in a flat, now full time on the boat. Both have been for a few swims, more alarming for me than them, and I have watched them climb out onto the back of a boat (no fender to hang onto) and head for the shallow bank, so confident they can look after themselves.

 

I get at least 3 mice (or half-mice) per week, so no cat flap for me. I like to check their mouths are empty before they're allowed back in.

 

Leaving them overnight is no problem at all. If they are fed, have water and litter tray access (and a hot water bottle if you're feeling particularly soft), they'll be perfectly happy. Alternatively, get a neighbour to pop in to give them some attention.

 

 

[Loafer]

I have a cat. She lives on my boat with me. No problems. Except one. She enjoys bringing live mice in, playing with them for a minute and then letting them go. The mouse then hides and can't get out. Two years ago there was a mouse on my boat for months, Unknown to me, living off cat food. It chewed through my washing machine drain hose, again unknown to me. The first I became aware was when my kitchen floor was underwater. Now my kitchen floor is rotten and needs replacing. It's on the list.

 

WOW! What a bummer. Sorry to hear all that.

 

Where's the cat now?