Lets see your boat pets

[Captainmeme]

Is it true that when a cat goes swimming in salt water one must rinse them in fresh water so the salt doesn't damage their kidneys? Not sure we are going to take our Siamese with
us.

[Jane.Joy]

Originally Posted by Captainmeme

Is it true that when a cat goes swimming in salt water one must rinse them in fresh water so the salt doesn't damage their kidneys? Not sure we are going to take our Siamese with
us.

Isabel's "swim" was in the Chesapeake - we didn't rinse her off but towel-dried her as much as she would let us. Later, Percy took a "swim" in the Sea of Abaco. I locked us both into one of the heads and used a warm soaking-wet washcloth to give him a fresh water "sponge bath" - he was thrilled as you might imagine! - I think I got most of the salt off. I hadn't heard about the potential for kidney damage, but figured all the salt probably wouldn't be good for him, or at least it wouldn't taste very good. (They both spent over an hour grooming after their respective dunkings.)

There's no doubt that bringing the cats has caused us a lot of bother and aggravation (speaking on behalf of ALL crewmembers, feline and human). But for us, it would have been akin to leaving children behind (and I've heard THEY're quite bothersome, as well!).

[jrd22]

Med- Bingo! Newcastle Is./Nanaimo

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by JoeDiver

CruisingDad - I see you're in Florida....how does Fatty handle the heat spending the day on the boat?

My brother had bulldogs...during the worst of our Texas summers they stayed inside unless going out to do their business.

I'm considering a bulldog myself, but the heat is a concern.

I was in Texas with Fatty too. Short story is we keep her in the A/C or cool. Lots of water. She loves to swim so that helps also. But when it is really hot, we crank the generator if not at the dock.

Brian

[rikhall]

Originally Posted by ImASonOfaSailor

Ok I have to know where does the cats go to litter box at??

He has a litter box he uses and it does not smell at all. If we have no guests on board the box resides in the port quarter berth. The expression "clean as a cat" is true!

Rik, Linda and Capt. Hook

[KIVALO]

This is Moriarty, my Chocolate Lab and1st mate of KIVALO. Best $400 I have ever spent.

[zeehag]

my bubba

he stays onboat, goes where i sail--has 10,000 miles under tail sailing.

[MedSailor]

Originally Posted by Captainmeme

Is it true that when a cat goes swimming in salt water one must rinse them in fresh water so the salt doesn't damage their kidneys? Not sure we are going to take our Siamese with
us.

I've heard this, but I don't believe it anymore. Cats in the wild hunt for fish in salt water, and occasionally fall in. I don't think they all died.

For the 6 years I had my first boat my cat Demon had her own cat door that was never locked. She came and went as she pleased, and she went overboard at least once a year. Problem was, because I was working 12-48hr ambulance shifts all the time, I don't actually know how often she went overboard. The once a year was only as often as I knew of because I was home.

Twice I took her into the shower and rinsed her off because of fear of salt ruined kidneys. Twice, I replaced my shower curtain (not a coincidence).

Now that I work in medicine I now know that salt DOES NOT harm the kidneys. Indirectly, high salt intake, over years, with untreated high blood pressure can harm the kidneys and heart, but salt in and of itself does not hurt the kidneys one bit. Since the kidneys are arguably THE most complex organ in the body you might have to just trust me on this one, but if you're a sucker for punishment and want to see how really, really, high concentrations of salt are actually essential for kidney fuction, just Google "loop of henle".

MedSailor

[latitudes]

We have not had any dunking incidents but we do strap Patrick into his self inflating vest when we're at sea. Critter's Inflatable® - Index

[Jane.Joy]

Originally Posted by latitudes

We have not had any dunking incidents but we do strap Patrick into his self inflating vest when we're at sea. Critter's Inflatable® - Index

Cannot even IMAGINE what my cats would do to me if I tried to put them in a PFD. Blood dripping everywhere, eyeballs hanging out of sockets...