The catamaran glides slowly across a mirror-calm sea. The sun is dropping and getting closer to the horizon; the air stays warm, and on deck everything could almost seem peaceful. Almost. Except for Bandit. Once again, my golden retriever is waiting. For hours, he’s pacing in circles, hesitating, refusing to settle. At sea, dogs often do this: they hold it in. Long enough - too long… And each time, the same question comes back - lightly awkward, but impossible to dodge: are we really doing the right thing by bringing our animals with us?
The Dream… and the Reality
Sailing with your pet is a dream many share. You picture sunsets, a dog by your side, a cat curled up in the cockpit, familiar company amid the immensity. But as often at sea, reality is a bit more… technical. In fact, the first thing you discover once you’ve cast off (and sometimes at our own cost) is that not all animals are made for life at sea. A boat, even a larger multihull that doesn’t heel, is not a home you can “live in.” It’s a space in motion, noisy, sometimes unstable, often constrained - and above all, for a length of time that doesn’t match being on land. For an animal, that changes everything. Weather and conditions also play an important role. A dog used to moderate temperatures can quickly suffer from the heat. Available space matters too: a big, energetic dog on a modest-size boat is a bit like locking a marathon runner in an elevator. The noise? A cat used to quiet could be frightened as soon as the engines start. Against these physical constraints comes the ability to adapt. Or not. Some animals seem to be born to discover new environments and adjust. Others… much less so.
Those that Adapt (and Those who Bargain)
Windy, Véro and Patrice’s dog, for example, came aboard at three months old. Meaning she grew up with the roll, the maneuvers, the smell of the sea. Today, she’s completely at ease. A real “sea dog.” By contrast, Bandit - our golden retriever - has never really accepted some of the “rules of the game,” since he has sometimes gone up to 35 hours without doing his business. Obviously, during passages, that situation created problems (for our dog and for us, his owners). Sometimes we couldn’t reach an anchorage quickly, or even get ashore with the dinghy. We therefore come to the big topic nobody talks about (but everyone lives with): going to the toilet on board. It’s probably the least glamorous part of this article, but also one of the most important.
Yvan and Fabian opted for a pragmatic solution: a fake-grass mat installed on the trampolines. “Winston and Elton are a bit sad, they point out - there’s nothing to sniff… but at least we don’t have to take them out when the boat’s moving.” Véro, meanwhile, chose a more gradual approach: a mat, then stones, then nothing; Windy got the kind of training you’d expect from a behavioral coach! As for Chimène and Chris’s cats, everything seems easier. A biodegradable litter tray, and it’s sorted. But Loulou and Trico’s independence brings other challenges. It can happen that the two cats don’t get back on board in time before departure. “It’s already happened that we had to delay our sailing… or even that a neighboring boat left with one of our cats,” Chimène laughs. Since then, you can imagine, habits have changed. The night before a departure, the cats stay on board. A GPS tracker can be fitted on their collar - especially during stops or veterinary appointments. A collar turns out to be essential: it prevents Loulou and Trico being mistaken for stray cats and allows Chimène and Chris to be contacted if there’s a problem.
And then there are the macaws - parrots with very colorful plumage. That’s a different story: “They do their business everywhere,” says the owner of Rigging Doctor with an almost unbelievable calm. “And they throw their food around, too!” So the boat very quickly becomes a kind of abstract artwork… constantly evolving.
Safety: Don’t Take Anything for Granted
The sea is beautiful - it is the stuff of dreams - but it doesn’t always forgive. And with an animal on board, vigilance must be even greater. Yvan and Fabian experienced this with a “dog overboard” situation. An incident they still talk about with emotion - everything ended well and the dog was recovered. Since then, they’ve reinforced the lifelines and, above all, changed their habits. The dogs have been trained not to run around on deck. A lifejacket, meanwhile, is obviously unanimous. Véro, who describes herself as a “hen mom,” leaves nothing to chance: her dog is secured during manoeuvres and clipped on as soon as there’s any sea state. Chouchou and Trico seem to sense the danger; underway, they stay calmly inside without being told. As for the macaws, they now wear a harness and a leash outside… and a cage inside, from which they can step out if they wish.
Caring for Them, Differently
Life at sea exposes you to elements you don’t always think about - like salt; Bandit developed a serious irritation under his collar because of seawater. Since then, the rule is simple: systematic rinsing with fresh water. The sun is also a factor not to neglect. A dog can suffer sunstroke like we do, and it can happen much faster than you think. Hydration is obviously essential. Especially with dogs: watch out for a fairly common reflex - drinking seawater after a swim, which is not a very good idea. On board, having a dedicated first-aid kit becomes quickly indispensable. A bit like for us humans… except with patients who may prove far less cooperative.
Feeding your Pet Properly
Changing diet while traveling, at stopovers or on passage, is not recommended. For her dog, Véro chose brands available almost everywhere in the world. Simple and effective. Yvan and Fabian, meanwhile, adopted a more… ambitious strategy: six months of food on board, no less. “We have boxes everywhere in the bilges,” Yvan jokes. A useful tip on top: remove the labels from the boxes and mark the contents with an indelible marker. Why? Because in a humid environment, labels are likely to peel off and could then end up clogging a bilge pump.
Pets and Paperwork…
Here we leave poetry behind for good and move into administration. Vaccinations, certificates, deadlines… Each country has its own rules, more or less strict. Véro advises planning each stop in advance. Some steps can be expensive; up to $700 for a simple veterinary check in some countries. And even if some people say they’ve never had to show their animals’ documents during their wanderings across seas and oceans, every one of my contacts agrees on one point: it’s better to be prepared administratively than to treat this side of cruising lightly -watch out for the consequences.
Are our Companions Welcome?
The sea gives us a real feeling of freedom… until we arrive in port. Because once we’re tied up, our animals aren’t always welcomed as crew members. Véro reminds us: some countries – for example, Australia, New Zealand, and the Cayman Islands - apply very strict rabies-related rules, so quarantine risks must be considered. A simple stop can complicate an entire itinerary - and even a whole blue-water cruising project. In Europe, legislation is more flexible… but the welcome for our animals can be mixed.
In the Balearics, I remember that Bandit was sometimes not accepted in outdoor restaurants, nor on public transport, and that people often forgot (until it was pointed out) to offer him water in on a hot day. At marinas and docks around the world, the cats that are so sweet in our cockpits can create some tension. “In port, Chouchou makes the rules,” Chimène says. Between fights with other cats and claw marks left on neighbors’ passerelles, the atmosphere between sailors can get heated. Sometimes the challenge comes from the outside; in Turkey, Chris reports that some stray dogs can be aggressive toward cats. Sailing with an animal also means learning to get along with others… both humans and animals.
Time to Choose
Your dog comes to lie down against you during a night watch; your cat stares at the horizon as if it understands everything. These precious, unforgettable moments add a very special flavor to this “shared” cruising. I can’t ignore all those improbable encounters on pontoons made easier by a curious nose or a parrot that’s a bit too talkative… An animal on board isn’t just a constraint. It’s a presence, a landmark. Some sailors even adapt their entire voyage just so they never have to part from it - like Guirec Soudée, who had preferred to give up a stop rather than leave his hen Monique behind; an adventure he tells with humor in his book (see Laura’s inset “Reading corner”). Some people loved sailing with their pet but wouldn’t do it again. Yvan and Fabian won’t get another dog again… but they keep cruising with theirs. Gerry and Charlie, despite their unconditional love for their two macaws, stay realistic: “We don’t recommend taking birds on board to anyone.” Others couldn’t leave without their animals, like Véro and Patrice, who adapt their itinerary for Windy. And they’re already imagining telling her adventures in children’s books. No problem for Chris: “Honestly, having cats on board… isn’t more complicated than having children.” The last group chose to leave their companion on land - that’s what I did with Bandit. A difficult choice, but the right one for him: at the age when an adventurer takes retirement, he can now enjoy a calmer life. In the end, the real question may not be “Is it a good idea to bring an animal on board?” But rather: “Are you ready to adapt your adventure to theirs?”
Sticky, An Ocean-going Cat
Jonathan Jagot, our correspondent in South Africa, crossed two oceans with Sticky, a street cat adopted in Bali. He shares his experience with us.
Cats and dogs aren’t necessarily incompatible with life at sea. Like us, our companions have their own personalities: some are made for the boat, others much less so. This lifestyle isn’t for everyone… and that applies to them too.
Sticky, a cat I adopted in Bali in 2019, grew up on the water and naturally adapted to this nomadic life. What has always fascinated me is that I never really needed to help him settle on board: he understood and found his bearings almost by himself - the only thing I taught him was to use the toilet - he simply never managed to flush it. At sea, even in the most uncomfortable conditions, Sticky remains surprisingly calm. Moreover, through our stops in more than 20 countries, between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic, Sticky has never caused the slightest problem with authorities and has never been subjected to quarantine.
I think cats are the easiest animals to manage while cruising. They’re independent, adapt quickly, and require less attention than you might imagine. So if you have a cat and you’re hesitating to cast off with it, try it… You might be surprised to see how much this new life appeals to your furball - sometimes even more than it appeals to you!
Learn More: Laura’s Reading Corner
Practical: Laura’s Tips
Regulations
Find out on www.pettravel.com/information/pet-passports and complete whatever steps are necessary before embaring on your cruise or passage.
Get your animal used to it early
Adapting to the lifestyle when young (if possible, of course) makes onboard life much easier.
Anticipate their needs
Mats, fake grass, or a dedicated area are set up to avoid risky situations at sea.
Secure your cats
When cruising, a collar is essential and a GPS tracker is recommended. Practical tip: don’t take them ashore the day before departure.
Manage feeding
Food supply must be sufficient and diet stable. Airtight containers are recommended.
Safety & health
Prepare lifejackets for dogs, ensure good hydration, and provide sun protection for animals that need it. After a swim, rinsing with fresh water is required.
Laura Zamarbide: Life Aboard a Multihull, Unfiltered!
Contributor to Multihulls World, Laura is first and foremost a sailor and a mother at sea, on board a catamaran. Offshore, her articles are based on hands-on experience combining sailing, technical decision-making, and everyday life. Through Seven Summits Sailing, she shares an authentic, no-filters vision of life on board - sometimes far from the ideas we have back on land.
