Anyone bring their cat on the boat with them?

M

mrsrobinson

Well-Known Member
Mar 9, 2006
7,704
Virginia
Boat Info
2001 380DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126
No dog replies please :) I used to love bringing the pups on the boat, but now it's a cat only for us since they have all passed.

My gf has asked now that I am buying a bigger boat "can we bring the cat?". My first thought was "why not?". But, the more I think about it I am wondering "How?". It will not be a simple as bringing the water/food bowl and litter box in my opinion.

Curious to know if anyone else does this, and if you have tips/tricks/suggestions on how to make a good experience for the cat, and us.
 
I seem to recall that long time member @Hampton used to travel with a cat. But that was a long time ago and I may be mistaken.

Looks like he hasn’t been on here since October 2020, so you may not get a response.
 
We have dock mates that have a live aboard cat. Seriously they live at their home, cat lives at the boat. They visit everyday. I don’t know what they do about waste as the cat does not wander around the docks. It stays on the boat.
 
We have two cats. They stay on board with us when we live aboard in FL three months of the winter. Pretty easy EXCEPT if you value you the vinyl seat cushions and backrests you might want to reconsider or have a plan to cover it. Their claws will make little tiny tears in the surface of the vinyl. You can buy clear stick on vinyl that you can cut and cover the non seating surfaces to protect them. Since our 20 year old cushions are pretty much broken down and much of the vinyl seating stretched where it wont recoil back, we aren’t worrying about. We will refurbish with new cushions and probably heavy fabric material one day.

Here is an example. It’s the top of one of the dinette backrests.
5ABECF89-6492-45DE-A71F-C43D8CED7720.jpeg
 
When people leave home to live and cruise on a boat they take their cherished pets along. Cats are probably a little easier as there aren’t any early morning or late night dinghy runs to shore when anchored out, although some people teach there dogs to use a piece of Astro turf on deck or swim platform, some dogs just can’t get the hang of it. Take the cat out for a few test runs, I’ll bet it will be just fine.
 
We have a well-travelled boat cat, 19 years old now. On the boats over the last 7 years or so. Had two, but one passed from age and issues.

Indoor only, as at home. No wandering around the deck or bridge or whatever. Cat has no clue there's an "outside" and doesn't seem to care, since it's pretty much that same for her as when we're at home. OTOH, out configuration allows her to see out from various places, so she has "duck TV" going on all the time. (Bird TV and Squirrel TV at home.)

Had dogs on the boats before, too. :)

-Chris
 
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We do occasionally. Cat is declawed all 4 paws or else we wouldn't bring him. Small litter box in the guest head (but don't use clay based litter, or be sure it isn't going down the shower drain) We have dock mates on the loop right now (in Key West currently) with their cat aboard. For us, easier than bringing our dogs since they need to be walked to go poop, and we are at the far end of our marina from land.
 
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Love the pics, thank you! I get concerned about carrying her to/from in the cat crate, as she thinks that means she's going to the vet. She too is an indoor cat, but loves the screened in porch and windows at home. Didn't think about the vinyl @ZZ13, thanks. We have a cardboard scratcher at the house she loves, and to date has not scratched the furniture or anything for that matter.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Love the pics, thank you! I get concerned about carrying her to/from in the cat crate, as she thinks that means she's going to the vet. She too is an indoor cat, but loves the screened in porch and windows at home. Didn't think about the vinyl @ZZ13, thanks. We have a cardboard scratcher at the house she loves, and to date has not scratched the furniture or anything for that matter.
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There is a couple on my dock that brings their cat. They have some sort of backpack cat carrier that they use. Looks pretty slick.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Love the pics, thank you! I get concerned about carrying her to/from in the cat crate, as she thinks that means she's going to the vet. She too is an indoor cat, but loves the screened in porch and windows at home. Didn't think about the vinyl @ZZ13, thanks. We have a cardboard scratcher at the house she loves, and to date has not scratched the furniture or anything for that matter.
Click to expand...
Depends on the cat. One of ours is shy and timid and mostly just stays sitting in one place. The other likes to dart about. She doesn’t claw at the vinyl but just pushing off firmly can do it. Ours aren’t declawed. Getting harder and harder to find someone who will do that anymore.
 
We have a friend with a 40 foot SR Express whose cat pretty much destroyed the boat over many years. The cat smell was always in the air and got to the point we did not board the boat due to allergies. Seats and screens were all damaged. The cat used to enjoy looking out the screens with all four paws clamped onto and through the screen material. It was pretty funny to see but the cost paid was high.
We also met another couple while cruising who had large cats that were not fully domesticated. Don’t recall the name for them but they looked like small spotted leopards and weighed maybe 45-50 pounds each. They were beautiful and well behaved on the boat which was a large Hatteras. Owners said they were not much trouble although they were not particularly friendly to strangers.
 
Love my boat and love my cat, miss him on long cruises but would never dream of taking him on the boat. Know I am going to be flamed for this but if a person really loves their cat why would they torture it for their own selfish desires. Does anyone think any cat would rather be in a strange hostile place rather safe at home in a familiar place? Cats are creatures of habit and they don't like water!
Friends take their cats onboard and they do fall overboard. Can you be lifeguard? How does the cat get back aboard? Can it swim faster than the current? Can you? Ospreys, eagles and more see small animals with no cover as prey. How would you feel watching your beloved pus screaming while being flown off? Does anyone think that the cats we chose to be responsible for would leave home of their own free will? Bet they really enjoy the car ride too! What makes anyone think cats love boating?
Sorry for the rant, I am a cat lover, but do your pets a favor and let them stay peacefully at home safe and stress free and hire a $20 a visit pet sitter to feed them once a day while you do things that make you happy. You will both have a better time.
 
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ZZ13 said:
Depends on the cat. One of ours is shy and timid and mostly just stays sitting in one place. The other likes to dart about. She doesn’t claw at the vinyl but just pushing off firmly can do it. Ours aren’t declawed. Getting harder and harder to find someone who will do that anymore.
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I am very glad to hear it is getting difficult to find someone willing to declaw cats! It is incredibly painful and equivalent to cutting off a human’s fingers.
 
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