Boating With Your Cat
Nothing beats spending a day out on the water in your boat, cruising and enjoying the sunshine. Unless, of course, you add your favorite feline friend to the trip! Pets are part of our families, so it makes perfect sense for mariners to want to bring their animals along on their boating excursions, whether it’s just an afternoon of sailing or a multi-day adventure visiting a number of ports. It’s important that you consider a few things before bringing Mittens aboard, however -- you want your cat to feel safe and comfortable on board your vessel, with everything he or she needs to acclimate herself to marine life.
We know how important your cat is to you here at Spicer's Boat City, which is why we’ve prepared this guide to boating with your cat. If you still have questions about the safety and comfort of your cat on board a boat, visit us at our location in Houghton Lake, Michigan.
Prepare For The Car Ride
Before you get your cat on the boat, you’ll have to get him (or her) in the car. Most cat owners know what a trial this can be, with cats yowling all the way to the destination - usually the vet - in their distress. Taking your cat on short, frequent rides can help them to get used to the idea of transport, though, particularly if you let them sniff out the vehicle while it’s stationery first. Provide them with a carrier that’s large enough for them to stand and turn around in. Line it with blankets and towels that smell like home and provide water and litter. Give them food only when you stop driving so they aren’t making themselves sick while you drive.
Supplies
You’ll want to gather plenty of supplies on your boat to make your cat happy. Your cat needs a life vest that’s fitted to them -- small dog life vests can fit cats well. You can buy these at camping and adventure stores or buy online if you know your cat’s measurements and make sure that the vest doesn’t restrict shoulder movement so your cat can swim if it falls in. Bring your cat’s favorite bedding, water, food, litter box, scratching post, toys, leash with harness and carrier. Your cat should have a well-fitting harness it can’t escape from and be leashed at all times when your boat is docked to prevent him from running away. You’ll want to secure all your cat’s items to the boat if you can so that nothing slides around or spills. Keep your cat in the carrier when at dock if he or she isn’t leashed, and use the carrier to transport your cat between boat and car.
Acclimate Your Cat To Water
Get your cat used to wearing his life vest, and make sure that your cat is able to swim both with and without the vest. You may want to find a pet-friendly body of water, whether it’s a small pool in your backyard or a nearby shallow creek, where you can introduce your cat to water and see how he or she deals with it. If your cat is too frightened to swim or flounders, it may not be good to bring him on your boat. But if you can get him to wear the vest and he swims, then he may be ready for an adventure at sea after all!
Introducing Your Cat To Your Boat
Before you set sail or start your engine with your cat on board, you should let him get used to the confines of the space. With the engine off and the boat moored (or better still, in a trailer at your home), let your cat wander the boat’s deck and cabin so he can smell everything and become familiar with it. Provide him with some treats, play with him and pet him while you’re on the boat so he associates the boat with positive interactions. If you’re at the dock or out in public, you may want to keep him on a leash, and you should have him wear his life vest if you’re anywhere near water.
What To Do If Your Cat Goes Overboard
Your cat is a good natural swimmer, even if he isn’t the biggest fan of water. Some cats like water more than others, but most of them can still keep themselves afloat and paddle to safety if they have to. Having your cat wear his life vest is very important so that you can easily fish him out by the handle if you’re close enough, and it prevents him from overtaxing himself by trying to stay afloat. Have something that your cat is able to climb like a fishnet or ladder. If all else fails, you may just have to go in after your cat. Keeping your cat restrained while he’s on deck will help prevent a cry of “Cat overboard!” from sounding, though.
General Safety
Make sure before you set sail that you know where your cat is. Keep your cat secured in his carrier if you think there’s a risk of him running away when you’re on shore. Provide a quiet and well-ventilated place for him to retreat to and rest, particularly if he is nervous or seasick, which can happen to cats as well as people. You should also have his immunization and vet records on board with you, particularly if crossing state or national borders. Have your cat visit the vet before a long boat trip to ensure that they are in good health and safe to travel.
Do you and your cat need a new boat for your upcoming marine adventures? Visit our showroom in Houghton Lake to see our inventory of new and used boats for sale. Spicer’s Boat City proudly serves all of Michigan, including the cities of Bay City, Flint and Detroit.
