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Do the cats ever fall in
the water?
“It’s a shame Hoa is not here to answer that one”, Jim says as he
tries not to smile too wide, “when we were home (aboard), he was always
fishing. He was forever
leaning into the water trying to catch the small bait fish that constantly
swim around the boat. Then
“SPLASH”, he never got the fish, but always climbed out OK.
Yes, they can swim alright. Minx, very rarely ever gets wet, whereas C.P, will occasionally
swim over to another boat or yacht, and we have to walk around and get her
back. Most of the time they get out of the water before swimming becomes a
necessity.”
So how do they get out of
the water?
“We used to have a piece of carpet dangling down into the water.
But they never used it. Instead
they just stuck their claws into the board surround on the pier and climb
up, like it’s something they do every day.”
There are no gardens or
lawn on a yacht, where do they go to the toilet?
“Up on deck in their own private “cat toilet”.
The cat toilet’s got more room in it than the human toilet (based
on body mass), being
a large plastic cat carry cage with one end removed providing a quaint
view across the harbour. The kitty litter and “bits” are emptied with household
rubbish, so nothing is disposed of in the harbour.
About sailing, how far
afield, or should that be, to sea have Minx and C.P, been? “Mainly around the Hauraki Gulf Islands and on
occasion to Wellington and back.”
But aren’t domestic pets
banned from most Islands in the Gulf?
“Yep! They sure are and
that’s why you will never see us moored any closer than 400 metres from
the nearest shore - we know they cannot swim that far!”
How about exercise?
What do they do all day and how do you exercise them?
“When along side (tied up at Auckland), the cats can come and go as they
please along the pier and ashore. And
they do like to come for walks with us occasionally along the foreshore.
But usually we come home to find them asleep on deck or down below if
it’s too warm topside.”
Back to sailing.
What do they think of sailing?
Do they get sick?
“Sick? no. They both love to ride up in the cockpit and look around to
see where we are going. After a couple of hours they will climb down onto
the seat and have a snooze.” Jim recalls one night sailing back from the Bay of Islands.
It was a slight sea (that means it’s starting to get rough).
Tori was asleep below, while Jim, C.P. and Minx were on watch
together. Problem was, as the
sea added a bit more “slight” to the slope and pitch of the yachts
deck, the cats took turn to keep watch up forward (that's the sharp pointy bit at the
front!), where Jim could not see them.
As he went forward to rescue one cat, the other would scoot up the
other side to take watch. Then
as he retrieved that one the other moved forward and took it’s place.
“Ever tried steering a yacht at 2am with a freshening wind, one
hand on each cat and a foot on the wheel, while trying to read your
position on a chart?!” Maybe
this is Jim’s training for the next Single Handed Round Alone Race!
When you are away as Master
on Spirit of New Zealand, you are gone for a few days at a time.
How do the cats react?
“Well Minx being Tori’s cat, is quiet happy about that as he prefers
to be alone anyway and really only comes to Tori.
C.P is also quite relaxed. I
think they both like me being away, because when I’m home I’ve usually
got power tools out working on or fixing something and making a lot of
noise.”
So why cats as a ship mate,
why not dogs?
“Quite simply dogs need a lot more room.
It just wouldn’t be right to try and keep a dog in such a
confined space. At least with
cats you can let them alone to roam around.”
Have you ever had anyone
say anything untoward about you keeping cats on a boat?
“To be honest……you are the very first person to ever ask me that
question. No I have never had
anyone ever ask me that!” Sorry
Jim. I had to ask didn’t I,
oops!
Are there many boaties
(yachties hate that word), who keep cats or any pets on board?
“There are a few. Not a lot
by any means, but we know of one or two others in New Zealand who have a
cat.”
What would your advice be
to any person who lives aboard and is contemplating getting a cat for a
pet?
“Boaties (he said it this time not me), are pretty house proud creatures
and don’t like dirt or mess. But
if they can go without cleaning and tidying their boat up for 2 weeks and
be comfortable with it, then they are on the right track.
Not that cats are dirty, it’s just you have to put every free
minute into looking after and getting to know your cat.
Giving it the best start to a new life and it’s new environment
as you possibly can. If you
can’t spend this much time with your new pet, then maybe you just
shouldn’t have one at all.” Good
advice for anyone!!
Do you ever take then to
work with you?
Jim says the opportunity is there, but he thinks 40 raging teenagers, not
to mention 9 adult crew who like to think they’re still teenagers would
probably be a bit too much for them.
So what is C.P. short for?
I guess it's just a bit much to expect a
ships captain to walk around a working wharf or marina calling out
“Cream Puff, Cream Puff. Daddy’s
home, where are you...?!”
Some of our teenage and
“senior teenage” visitors may know Jim Dilly. His full time occupation
is Master, aboard Spirit of New Zealand.
The black tall sailing ship run by The Spirit of Adventure Trust
for 10 day youth development voyages around New Zealand. Visitors are
welcome aboard, you just may get to meet Cream Puff’s Dad!
If you would like to find out
more about voyages on Spirit of New Zealand and the Spirit of Adventure
Trust, click here to go to their website. http://www.spiritofadventure.org.nz
By Gavin Buchanan
Pets on the Net
If you have story to be told
about a pet or animal email Gavin Buchanan:
gavinb@petsonthenet.co.nz
Copyright Pets on the Net Ltd 2003.
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