Jump to content

Bringing A Cat Onboard


Svenuk

Recommended Posts

I’ve been watching some narrow boaters on YouTube (The Narrowboat Experience) who have cats. In one of their vlogs they explain how they keep their cats safe. Okay, canals are a different environment, but interesting nevertheless. The main thing seems to be keeping them indoors when not moored up. 
Never heard of anyone bringing cats along on the Broads though. I would have thought you’d have to be extremely careful not to allow it on deck. Our dog almost fell in the first time we brought her to the Broads. She was trying to hop back onto the boat and missed with her back legs. Luckily she had a life jacket on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We saw one a few years ago on a hired bathtub curled up on the stern - "ooh look, someone's brought one of those stuffed ships cats from Nauticalia!" Then it started washing its bum! There also used to be a liveaboard about (Bourne 40??) with a catflap let into the side of the sliding canopy so it can be done. I don't think I'd trust any of our four on board though.

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Swancraft always had a condition that no cats were allowed on their boats. I can't recall if I ever asked why - I guess maybe cats tend to scratch so there were maybe concerns about the seating etc. 

Bridgecraft have their own resident cat on the yard which quite happily will jump on and off the boats to be fussed. I think cats are naturally wary of water. A confident cat may be OK but I would think twice about taking a timid one who might shoot. I suppose if given time to acclimatise and kept under surveillance it might be OK. I think one of the original mods (long gone) on the site brought a cat on board.  

Our own cat is extremely timid so we leave her at home and a friend pops in to look after her. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have often taken a cat on a boating holiday but only once on the Broads

 Generally I think they prefer it to staying in a cattery but the distance from Runcorn to the Broads is a too far for them. When we did take our cat, Sabina, to the Broads  in the mid 70s we travelled by train which cats seem to prefer. Immediately the engine started she would find some obscure place hide but real enjoyed it when we moored, even found her stalking cows at Geldeston. Today catteries are much nicer places (also a lot more expensive, over £450 last year) and also Silver Cloud as a non-pet boat , we don't have the option. anyway

11 minutes ago, NorfolkNog said:

Swancraft always had a condition that no cats were allowed on their boats. I can't recall if I ever asked why - I guess maybe cats tend to scratch so there were maybe concerns about the seating etc. 

I think it was a scratching problem, also a lot of people are allergic to them.

Posted this before but you can see Sabina at the stern of Navigator II with typical 1970s H&S standards in place!

Fred

Navigator 2 at Port of Yarmouth Marina mid 70s

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, trambo said:

Found this fetching little number for the feline out and about the Broads.

https://www.crew-safe.co.uk/acatalog/Cat-Buoyancy-Aid.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIr-3J3pWZ6wIVwrTtCh3QSwMuEAQYAyABEgKbmvD_BwE

Fred

Getting that on my moggies would be painful, and the thought of trying to pick them up by the handle hilarious

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We had Cleo on board Brilliant. She loved it except when we were sailing, then she went into the ‘wine cooler’ under the bunk until we stopped. 
She viewed her life jacket as an immobilisation device and just sat there looking annoyed until we took it off. 
She did a bit of fish watching off the stern but showed no desire to join them in the water.

The reason we didn’t make a habit of taking her with us was her hatred of car travel, very vocally expressed all the way, and she was an oriental (very loud). Also I was always on edge, worried we might lose her, we also saw a big dog otter crossing our mooring to the wood behind, where she liked to explore. 
On balance, the lovely cattery we always used was a better option.

4DA09758-AB75-4AD9-8516-13BD33A8DADF.jpeg

5AFD6962-48A9-4F8F-B4D1-06C5ED15712F.jpeg

  • Like 3
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I personally would leave my pussie at home. I once took my beloved 'Buzzy' out on my rowing boat on a very still morning. Stupid critter decided that the mirror like water was akin to firm land and jumped off the back of the boat, presumably to walk back to his basket or milk saucer. Nothing more pathetic than a half drowned cat!

I was also involved in a search for a holiday maker's cat. In the end they had to go back home  I promised to keep an eye open for their pet. I did eventually find it, dead, behind the piling where they had been moored up. 

  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our Amazon loves boating but enjoys a busy mooring much more. He is at his best sat on the rear deck somewhere really busy like Wroxham talking away to everyone he can see.

We used to take the cat regularly without issue as well. These days he is a bit old so stays home and gets proper spoilt by the neighbours. I think he just enjoys the break from.the dogs really.

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We used to occasionally look after my daughter's British Blue. He used to lay under the  front screen in the cockpit sunning himself and took pleasure in sitting in the cockpit baiting the swans. He also liked to go out through the saloon window and walk round the boat, across the bow.  coming in through  the galley window.

 

 

Carole

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Off topic I know, but we did tell Gracie that Dave @JanetAnne was a pirate. After a few minutes cogitation and weighing him up, Gracie decided that he couldn't be a real pirate as he didn't have a parrot. Her face was a picture when she saw him at the Beccles Wooden Boat Show complete with a parrot. Of course I told her that pirates have wooden legs and the way to test is to hit their toes with something heavy. So if you spot JanetAnne hopping around it's probably Gracie...testing! 

  • Like 2
  • Haha 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry for late reply. Heres a couple of photos of KitKat sporting his life jacket on and off. He has a great time on and in the boat and was quite a celebrity with plenty of fellow boaters admiring him and even taking photos. No problem with the boatyard Barnes Brinkscraft at Wroxham. Certainly will take him again.

P1040678.JPG

fullsizeoutput_635.jpeg

  • Like 11
  • Love 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Sponsors

    Norfolk Broads Network is run by volunteers - You can help us run it by making a donation

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

For details of our Guidelines, please take a look at the Terms of Use here.