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MARIADZ · 03-05-2011, 08:17

My 2 9 month old ragdoll cats are gradually being introduced to our DUFOUR 455 Sailing yacht. So far so good but i am so scared they will fall overboard although i have harnesses. They are absolutely mesmerised by water.
What are the best life jackets to use and should we consider a scramble net for them to climb up in the event they do go overboard. This was suggested by someone.

**GordMay** · 03-05-2011, 08:50

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, MARIADZ.

You might be interested in some earlier (relevant) CF discussions:

➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ket-22249.html

➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...lly-36677.html

➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ard-59507.html

and perhaps more ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/sitemap/f-53.html

MsActiveCaptain · 04-05-2011, 05:14

We don't have cats but I hope that our philosophy for our dogs might be useful....

We have two really good life vests for our two Labs (Ruff Wear is the brand but I think they only do dogs). If we ever feel that we need to be wearing a life vest, then so do they. But wearing them all the time would be hot and uncomfortable in most situations. So we also have harnesses, the kind that has a strap running down their backs, so that we have something to grab if - when - they end up in the water. They wear these whenever a boat is under way - the dinghy, the "mother ship", a water taxi, etc.

**Hud3** · 04-05-2011, 05:34

Our cat absolutely wouldn't tolerate a life jacket. We gave up trying.

Some hang a length of carpet hanging off the sugar scoop as a means of climbing back on board.

svHyLyte · 04-05-2011, 06:26

Trojan Beer Cozy?

Captain Bill · 04-05-2011, 06:41

We never found one we could keep on our cat. Ends up that she swims quite well, though is not happy about it. She went overboard one day after unexpectedly coming face to face with a duck bigger than she was on the stern step. She wanted no part of it and attempted a mach 9 exit, but cat claws don't grip well on Gel coat and she failed to navigate the turn around the cockpit. The look in her eyes as she went over was perhaps the best "Oh Sh*t" face I've ever seen. In anycase she bobbed to the surface and quckly got control of her swimming direction and headed to my wife at the stern step. Of course as soon as she hit the deck she took off to sit on our bed. She got a new nickname as a result now she's aka "shark bait". She tends to stay in the cabin while we're underway so she has not been a problem except at anchor. Some netting on the life lines would have prevented her from going over, so that will be installed before we take off on long term cruises.

Curmudgeon · 12-05-2011, 20:34

Where do you folks put the litter box?

Ironhorse74 · 12-05-2011, 21:48

The best cat life jackets are made of cast iron. Very durable

MARIADZ · 13-05-2011, 05:37

Thanks all for your replies, we keep our litter box in the cabin but we are going to start trying putting it inbetween the chart table and seat a tip someone told us to try.

Maria

**s/v Jedi** · 13-05-2011, 13:26

We're sailing with 3 cats for over 8 years now. While underway they are kept inside the boat. While at anchor they can roam around at will without any lifejackets. While a good idea for dogs, these would endanger your cats if you can keep them on them at all.

Every cat can swim, no worries. We have done swimming to teach them how/where to get back aboard and had something they could use to claw back on top the swimming platform, but they prefer the engine exhaust so we removed that too.

he litterbox is shared by all three so we need very good litter. We use Fresh Step; never found anything better. The litterbox can't move from heeling.

ciao!
Nick.

perchance · 13-05-2011, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironhorse74

The best cat life jackets are made of cast iron. Very durable

Oh you cruel and wicked man.

HopCar · 13-05-2011, 20:39

Ironhorse, When Seymour Gelber was mayor of Miami Beach he had a run in with the local cat people. He later told another mayor, "There's one absolute rule in politics: Don't mess with cat people." That's a good rule to follow in all things cat related.

High Heels · 14-05-2011, 05:06

Our little feline men have grown up sailing and have adapted very well. We do not live aboard yet but have taken them on week long trips.

They stay down below so far while underway and have roaming rights on deck when at anchor although we do watch over them because they have not had their swimming lessons yet.

We keep their litter box in the head which gets scooped 2x a day. We use SwheatScoop so far but I think it may be difficult to find everywhere once we start cruising. We have a top loading cat litter box called "Clever Cat" Amazon.com: Clevercat Top Entry Litter Box: Kitchen & Dining Ridiculously expensive but it sure cuts down on tracking of litter and gives kitty a little privacy.