Cat(s), on board, who has them?

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 562 Photos: Thistle

I briefly looked at the history of the subject, but I didn't find anything very consoling. I'm a dog guy! But I just happen to have two wonderful cats. One is 16 and the other is five or six. When I eventually go on board for longer periods of time of course the dog is a given. I have a cattle dog. He knows how to speak English, he's simply won't, but he knows how. He listens to all of my complaints and calms me down and everything that cattle dogs do when they're not chasing animals across the meadow. Cats on the other hand, having grown up on a dairy farm, cats I find to be just tools to the end goal of getting rid of mice.

So when I decided I was going to work on completing parts of the loop, I realized that I would have more time on the water then was reasonable to ask friends and family to watch my cats for. I'm thinking I could bring them along if I do so humanely, not that putting cats on a boat is humane, but have them on my boat in a fashion that is as a accommodating as can be given that they're cats and they're on a boat. I've heard of people on this site that were successful with cats aboard. I'm also a member of AGLCA. Many of their members have cats aboard, but those are generally on large boats in the 30 to 50 foot range.
On the AGLCA today a cat has gone walk-about in Atlantic City. A Nice Bengal is now on the hoof and perusing the streets of that city. How do you avoid having your cats jump ship? Do you cage them when on a wall or in a slip? is there much of an issue when swinging at anchor?

If any of you that have cats aboard, and they're still happy with you, could you pleas share some of your thoughts/observations with me I'd be greatly appreciative as I don't really understand cats very well.

Best wishes!
Don and Kim

thataway · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 10:31 am Post subject:

Many of or C Brats have cats: Wild Blue, (Cat on a leash), and Molly Brown come to mind immediately.

We have friends where cats have "jumped" ship--both figuratively and literally. Some lost at sea. There always seems to be a search--occasionally the cat is found. Loss of a feline friend has to be traumatic.

thataway · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 11:08 am Post subject:

There have been rule changes on taking dogs into Canada and bringing your pet back into the USA. Be sure to understand these requirements and get the proper documents from a vetinerian in the USA.

Pets leaving the US to Canada

And bringing a dog back into the USA[url]

ssobol · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 11:50 am Post subject:

I knew people that had cats on a sailboat. One fell off the boat one night at anchor. Fortunately, they heard the splash and were able to fish it out. It was a black cat on a dark night, so the cat got lucky, but expended one life.

C-Wolfe · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 12:57 pm Post subject:

Some cat do enjoy doing outing with their owner, being on car or boat, like this one.

I used to be much more of a dog person but my kids decided that they are cat peoples, so now I’m a little bit of both. The previous cat we had, I would have never dare take him on the boat. But the current one like to go on leashed walks and love car ride and going out on the boat with us. We had him on the boat for up to 3 days and it went well. We do have a life vest for him for when he hang out in the cockpit or we take him to shore on the dinghy.

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 562 Photos: Thistle

PFD sounds reasonable. I also have read that Cats swim well but that the usually will avoid it if possible. How do you handle the litter box and confinement?

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 562 Photos: Thistle

Very Helpful. Thank you.

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 562 Photos: Thistle

I'm hoping to hear how people handle the movement and security of their cats while on board. Do you keep them in a cage? Especially when fueling or pumping out? If you decide to go out for dinner and you're at a dock, do you block your cat in the open cabin or do you put them in the cat Jail, Wink

C-Wolfe · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 1:42 pm Post subject:

Cat can swim just fine. for me, the pfd is more about having something easier to grab if I need to retrieve the cat from the water. As for the litter box, my wife found a portable one that sit inside a hard sided canvas bag with a zipper mesh top. Our cat does not need privacy so we can keep it just about anywhere, and clean it right after he use it. you might need to try a few different things until you find what works for you, none of this would have worked with our previous cat.

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 562 Photos: Thistle

Can't herd cats, I've heard that a million times. But they do all have special personalities and we hope they become compatible with water and boating.

ssobol · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 7:37 pm Post subject:

There are some YouTube videos about living with cats on boats.