GL: Cats for the Loop

[Lawrence Zeitlin]

Now that we have thoroughly discussed the problems of the optimum size  
of boats for the Loop, it seems appropriate to consider what other  
creature comforts, or more appropriately, comforting creatures, we  
might bring aboard. For the purposed of family peace, I restrict my  
discussion to four legged creatures.

Many of us have boat dogs but since most Loop boats will have limited  
living space, a cat might make a more reasonable boat pet. Cats are  
generally quiet, self tending, chase away rats and roosting gulls,  
and, if you are lucky, are warm and cozy. We have had dogs and cats  
aboard. While I admit that dogs are admirable creatures and certainly  
more intelligent than cats, they can't be trained to use a litter box.  
Better for a house and yard than a boat.

We have fond memories of our Norwegian Fishing Cat. It loved to swim  
and was hard to keep out of the water. These cats were bred in Norway  
and Iceland and were trained to help fishermen capture the "one that  
got away." When a fish slipped off the hook, the cat would leap off  
the boat and with its webbed feet, "pounce" on the escaped cod or  
mackerel and bring it back. As a reward, the cat would get to eat an  
occasional fish.

Olaf, our Norwegian Water Cat, spent his younger years aboard a  
fishing smack, diving in to retrieve the one that "almost" got away.  
In a typical day he would catch a dozen or more large fish, bringing  
them back to the boat. He more than earned his keep. But the cold  
water takes its toll. Cat fishing is a young feline's game.

Our cat was retired after ten years of honorable service.  My wife's  
uncle sent Olaf to us to live out his remaining years. He had  
developed arthritis and was retired to the balmy climes of upstate New  
York. Most of the fish he ate came out of cans. Olaf spent his summers  
paddling around our pond with an occasional jump into the Hudson River  
from our boat. Every few days we would throw him a couple of herring  
so he would feel at home.

Olaf passed away quietly in has sleep, aged 21, after consuming 6 cans  
of brisling sardines. He had a smile on his whiskers and his breath  
smelled like a cannery. I can picture him today in Feline Valhalla  
attended by 70 nubile female kitties, gorging on smoked salmon with a  
cream cheese chaser. It would be hard to find a more suitable boat pet.

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For those that doubt the story of the Norwegian Fishing Cat, here is a  
passage from the Encyclopedia of Cats. Lumpkin, Susan and  
Seidensticker, John. 1991. Great Cats Majestic Creatures of the Wild.  
Rodale Press, Pa. Pgs 40, 172, and 173.


THE  FISHING  CAT:  A  MOST  UNUSUAL  FELINE

APPEARANCE / SIZE:
This cat has a deep-chested body and comparatively short legs.
The front toes are partially webbed and the claws protrude slightly,  
even when fully retracted. Small rounded ears are set well back on the  
large, broad head. The fur is short and course with gray or olive- 
brown background, covered with small black spots. A male weighs 24 to  
27 pounds, while the females are smaller and weigh 13 to 16 pounds.  
The tail is unusually thick and muscular near the base, and is less  
then one-third of the animal's head and body length.

HABITAT / DISTRIBUTION:
This cat is usually associated with areas of thick cover near water,  
in marshes, mangroves, and densely vegetated areas along rivers and  
streams. It has a discontinuous distribution in Asia. It is found in  
Southwest India, Sri Lanka, countries of the southern Himalayas,  
Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, China, and the islands of  
Sumatra and Java. Despite this broad range, the real distribution of  
this animal is quite limited as the species is strongly tied to areas  
of suitable wetland habitat.

DIET:
These cats have been seen in the wild crouching on rocks and sand  
banks using a paw to scoop out fish. They have also been observed  
seizing fish with their mouths. They have also been reported to dive  
deeply for prey. Their powerful build and strong swimming ability  
enable it to take a wide range of prey. They are said to be able to  
kill calves, dogs, birds, small mammals, snakes, snails, and of course  
fish.

The Fishing Cat belongs to the Panthera lineage within the Feline  
Felidae family. It is classified under the scientific name Felis  
Viverrina.

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Here is a quote from the Norsk Skovkattering, Danmark, a Danish cat  
fanciers magazine.

"There are many similarities between the Forest Cat and the Norwegian  
lynx. The most apparent of these is that they are both big cats with  
large ruffs, and tufts at the tips of their ears. Moreover they both  
like water, and the stories of swimming Forest cats who catch their  
own fish in lakes and rivers are innumerable. Locals often refer to  
them as "Water Cats" or "Fishing Cats." The Forest cat evidently  
utilizes the same methods as the Norwegian lynx when it goes fishing."

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So there are two theories about the origin of the Norwegian Fishing  
Cat. The first is that some cat loving Norwegian sailors brought a few  
breeding pairs of the fishing cats home from trips to Asia during the  
1800s. Over the years the cats acclimated themselves to Norwegian  
weather but retained their fishing instincts. Although Norway is quite  
far north, the West coast is washed by the Gulf Stream and the winter  
weather is surprisingly mild. This is especially true of the Lofoten  
Islands, the prime fishing area. The second theory is that the Fishing  
Cat is simply a variation of the Norwegian Forest Cat or Norwegian  
Lynx who adapted to a more marine environment. Or perhaps they are  
both the same species. I'm sure DNA testing could tell. Do a Google  
search for Fishing Cats for more information.

Larry Z