We are considering taking a cat on board when cruising. We would like some feed-back from anyone who has had a cat on board long term. Pros
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Tim Schaaf
Kitty cruising!
I should offer the disclaimer that while I have co-habited with numerous cats on land, I have never cruised with one, nor have I lived on board with one (although I have done both with a dog - never again!) But, I have had several close friends with cats on board, and they seem to be, by far, the best boat pets. The four things I learned from these friends were: First, check out what issues like quarantine or shots are relevant to your projected cruising area. Second, when you move your boat, make sure the cat is kept on board for the first few days at each new destination. Third, make sure the cat swims, and that you have a line or towel or something draped over the side and into the water. The cat can climb out of the water and back on board that way, should it fall in....and they DO fall in. They swim quite naturally, but may need to be thrown in (!) so that they get used to the idea and know where their "ladder" is. Finally, and most amazingly, I know several cats that were trained to use the head!!!!!!!!! Apparently, you put the litter box right next to the head, and up on the same level as the seat. Over a period of time, you then move it on top of the head. Then you cut a small hole in the middle. Then you gradually increase the size of the hole until there is not much litter box left. The cat gets used to the idea of dangling over the bowl of the head. Eventually, you get rid of the box and, voila! I would love to observe this whole process, but, I absolutely swear this is true, and there are quite a few offshore cats that are trained this way. Actually, since cats are very clean animals and pretty smart, this is not so outlandish as it sounds. Now....if you can figure out a way to get the cat to manipulate the valves and flush, I will relay THAT gem back to my feline afficianado friends! Good luck. Let us know how this goes.
I should offer the disclaimer that while I have co-habited with numerous cats on land, I have never cruised with one, nor have I lived on board with one (although I have done both with a dog - never again!) But, I have had several close friends with cats on board, and they seem to be, by far, the best boat pets. The four things I learned from these friends were: First, check out what issues like quarantine or shots are relevant to your projected cruising area. Second, when you move your boat, make sure the cat is kept on board for the first few days at each new destination. Third, make sure the cat swims, and that you have a line or towel or something draped over the side and into the water. The cat can climb out of the water and back on board that way, should it fall in....and they DO fall in. They swim quite naturally, but may need to be thrown in (!) so that they get used to the idea and know where their "ladder" is. Finally, and most amazingly, I know several cats that were trained to use the head!!!!!!!!! Apparently, you put the litter box right next to the head, and up on the same level as the seat. Over a period of time, you then move it on top of the head. Then you cut a small hole in the middle. Then you gradually increase the size of the hole until there is not much litter box left. The cat gets used to the idea of dangling over the bowl of the head. Eventually, you get rid of the box and, voila! I would love to observe this whole process, but, I absolutely swear this is true, and there are quite a few offshore cats that are trained this way. Actually, since cats are very clean animals and pretty smart, this is not so outlandish as it sounds. Now....if you can figure out a way to get the cat to manipulate the valves and flush, I will relay THAT gem back to my feline afficianado friends! Good luck. Let us know how this goes.
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Andy
Try it.
Our old cat is diabetic and needs shots twice a day. We were a bit concerned when we bought the boat as she hates changes in her lifestyle but we could not leave her home. As it turned out, no problem. She lives, at the dock, in the hole that extends the settee and she retires to the vee berth when under sail. After a half dozen weekends she became curious as to what things were like outside and we caught her leaning over the rail. Now she has a light harness. All in all she adapted perfectly. Her litter is in the head. We use disposable foil roasting pans (check the discount stores). She seems as if she was born to be a ship's cat. Not all cat's are the same (duh) but give your beast some food and a place to hide and things will probably work out. Andy s/v Baroque
Our old cat is diabetic and needs shots twice a day. We were a bit concerned when we bought the boat as she hates changes in her lifestyle but we could not leave her home. As it turned out, no problem. She lives, at the dock, in the hole that extends the settee and she retires to the vee berth when under sail. After a half dozen weekends she became curious as to what things were like outside and we caught her leaning over the rail. Now she has a light harness. All in all she adapted perfectly. Her litter is in the head. We use disposable foil roasting pans (check the discount stores). She seems as if she was born to be a ship's cat. Not all cat's are the same (duh) but give your beast some food and a place to hide and things will probably work out. Andy s/v Baroque
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Rick
Astroturf
I've read that some cruisers use those plastic grass welcome mats for their cat's litter. Train the cat by putting the mat in their sandbox at first. After awhile the box is no longer necessary. Park the mat on deck or in the cockpit. Clean it by securing a line thru a hole in the mat and tow it behind the boat while sailing. It sounds to me like a good solution to dealing with the stocking, storing and the dusty mess of cat sand.
I've read that some cruisers use those plastic grass welcome mats for their cat's litter. Train the cat by putting the mat in their sandbox at first. After awhile the box is no longer necessary. Park the mat on deck or in the cockpit. Clean it by securing a line thru a hole in the mat and tow it behind the boat while sailing. It sounds to me like a good solution to dealing with the stocking, storing and the dusty mess of cat sand.
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
Avoid astroturf
Yeah, it sounds like a good idea but only if you like the smell of cat pee. The good thing about litter is that it absorbs the smell of the urine, astroturf doesn't do this. Believe me, I know about this one first hand. If you want to try it anyway, ONLY do it outside. And the toilet training the cat IS pretty cool but I've heard of cats missing the toilet. What a mess! And my cats tend to hit the back of the box more than the bottom of the box which leads me to believe they'd probably just pee on the back of the toilet! I would suggest getting a box with a locking lid. Use the EXACT litter you use at home (cats don't like change, especially in food
Yeah, it sounds like a good idea but only if you like the smell of cat pee. The good thing about litter is that it absorbs the smell of the urine, astroturf doesn't do this. Believe me, I know about this one first hand. If you want to try it anyway, ONLY do it outside. And the toilet training the cat IS pretty cool but I've heard of cats missing the toilet. What a mess! And my cats tend to hit the back of the box more than the bottom of the box which leads me to believe they'd probably just pee on the back of the toilet! I would suggest getting a box with a locking lid. Use the EXACT litter you use at home (cats don't like change, especially in food
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Al Sandrik
We have a battery operatered...
Litter-maid litter box, which automatically cleans the litter box 5 minutes after the cat is finished. It works fairly well but goes through batteries quickly (we use the cheap Ray-O-Vac $3.00 per 8 "D" cells).
Litter-maid litter box, which automatically cleans the litter box 5 minutes after the cat is finished. It works fairly well but goes through batteries quickly (we use the cheap Ray-O-Vac $3.00 per 8 "D" cells).
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Tim Schaaf
More on the cruising Kitty *S*
LaDonna, you will be amused to know that one of the toilet trained cats to which I referred belongs to Jim and Dianna Jessie of Nalu V fame. If you are not familiar with them, they are west coast cruising and racing gurus / circumnavigators / writers /lecturers. Jim is an old surveyor and Diana a guite prolific author for both Latitude 38 and the glossies. Anyway, that cat of theirs has been all over, and it was the first skilled toilet cat that I had ever met. Never misses! The Jessies were the ones who told me how they trained it. Others have subsequently confirmed. I would almost recruit a feline crew member, just to see if how it all works!
LaDonna, you will be amused to know that one of the toilet trained cats to which I referred belongs to Jim and Dianna Jessie of Nalu V fame. If you are not familiar with them, they are west coast cruising and racing gurus / circumnavigators / writers /lecturers. Jim is an old surveyor and Diana a guite prolific author for both Latitude 38 and the glossies. Anyway, that cat of theirs has been all over, and it was the first skilled toilet cat that I had ever met. Never misses! The Jessies were the ones who told me how they trained it. Others have subsequently confirmed. I would almost recruit a feline crew member, just to see if how it all works!
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
That would be heaven, Tim!
I unfortunately know from experience that *my* kitties have a tendency to raise their butts so high that I MUST have a lid or the wall gets it! I read Diana Jessie in 48* North all the time - she's great. I never knew they had a cat aboard. Very kewl! LaDonna
I unfortunately know from experience that *my* kitties have a tendency to raise their butts so high that I MUST have a lid or the wall gets it! I read Diana Jessie in 48* North all the time - she's great. I never knew they had a cat aboard. Very kewl! LaDonna
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