We keep a very long handled net handy at all times just in case we need to scoop the cat out of the water. It has only been used once for that purpose, when she fell into the water in a marina. We found her clinging to the oysters at the base of a piling two boats away from ours and managed to get that net under her enough to pry her free and lift her. It wasn't easy, since it's impossible to convince a cat that the mysterious net attacking her bottom is a safer alternative than the smelly, slimy piling she's currently attached to. On the plus side, we learned that Angel has a very distinctive OMG I'M IN THE WATER cry that makes it fairly easy to find her. On the minus side, we learned that after you rescue a cat from dirty, salty marina water you are still faced with the prospect of rinsing her off in fresh water so she doesn't ingest all that dirt and salt. No matter how grateful the cat is from the former, there will be a period of resentment from the latter. Possibly also some blood shed. This whole episode (which also involved an unintended water entry by my husband) was documented here: http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/2015/01/splash-splash.html This cat (and her sister, who died 18 months ago) never showed any desire to jump overboard while at anchor or underway. But they both were tempted by docks. We now have a strict policy of not letting the cat out on deck unattended while docked. Angel is dark gray, and she was virtually invisible in the water with just her small dark head showing. We have since replaced her collar with a highly reflective one. It shines even in the sunlight, so I think that would help to find her in the water after dark. That and the yowling. Other traveling cat notes: If your cat has ongoing medical issues (such as kidney disease), consider using Petsmart's in-house vet, Banfield. We've been living a nomadic life for 12 years and it's very simple to transfer records from one Banfield to another. Both cats (and a previous dog) needed prescription food which was easier and less expensive to buy through Petsmart. We tried to use "better" vets but each one wanted to re-examine the animal before refilling the food prescription. Expensive, traumatic, and not necessary. In an emergency, you can always use the closest vet, obviously. Our cat seems to be happiest underway in a tight fitting basket in the pilot house. I suspect it keeps her from moving around as much by pressing against her sides. In calm seas she sleeps anywhere, but any other sea state sends her to that basket. She also has a distinctive OMG I'M SEA SICK RIGHT NOW cry. She gives just enough notice for me to find her and move her to a more appropriate place to toss her cookies. The sea sickness is usually short lived, then she settles down. It is also more prone to happen if we haven't been on passage for several weeks. I think like many of us, she loses and regains her sea legs. If we encounter our worst sea conditions after many hours, Angel is usually fine. But a brief nasty chop while leaving the inlet can make her sick briefly. Angel's tag reads "I belong on the boat Vector" and our cell phone numbers. She is also microchipped. "No spill" waterbowls work quite well. The kind with the removable, snap on top are easier to clean. The ones with the molded in top can get slimy up under the lip. Other than that, we don't do much different than we would on land with our kitty. -Louise