Comments on: 3 months of Smurfy! https://www.pitufa.at/2024/11/3-months-of-smurfy/ Towards the Horizon Sun, 22 Feb 2026 17:39:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dejan https://www.pitufa.at/2024/11/3-months-of-smurfy/#comment-910553 Dejan Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:15:20 +0000 https://www.pitufa.at/?p=8555#comment-910553 I had two cats in my life, a mother and a daughter, both calicos, from 2010 up to 2022. They’ve both passed away. I’ve learned so much from them and I consider a cat the ultimate companion. I've also realized what a magnificent animal each feline indeed is, particularly in terms of biology and behavioral ecology. As a former dog person, I don’t envision myself with any pet other than a cat nowadays. Not that I foresee myself having another one, though; the sorrow is still quite fresh. I’ve raised two litters, ten kittens in total if that's of any relevance. And no, I haven’t taken any of them sailing. In fact, I never sailed in my life. I got a sea bug as a kid; we had a small motorboat in the Adriatic Sea, way back in the 1980s. My passion transferred to reading Cruising World, Sailing World, and other magazines, as well as passionately following Volvo Ocean Race and Vendee Globe since 2000. In time, I got interested enough to start reading books and to try learning everything related to sailing, cruising, boating, sailboat design, onboard systems, engineering, weather patterns, geography—pretty much anything relating to the ocean, the seafaring cultures, long-term liveaboard, and long-distance sailing explorations both in the tropics and high-latitudes as much as I could. But I've set foot on a sailboat only once actually. My experiences are exclusively vicarious. Thus, to an extent, I don’t know what I’m talking about. Very best, --Dejan I had two cats in my life, a mother and a daughter, both calicos, from 2010 up to 2022. They’ve both passed away. I’ve learned so much from them and I consider a cat the ultimate companion. I’ve also realized what a magnificent animal each feline indeed is, particularly in terms of biology and behavioral ecology. As a former dog person, I don’t envision myself with any pet other than a cat nowadays. Not that I foresee myself having another one, though; the sorrow is still quite fresh. I’ve raised two litters, ten kittens in total if that’s of any relevance. And no, I haven’t taken any of them sailing.

In fact, I never sailed in my life.

I got a sea bug as a kid; we had a small motorboat in the Adriatic Sea, way back in the 1980s. My passion transferred to reading Cruising World, Sailing World, and other magazines, as well as passionately following Volvo Ocean Race and Vendee Globe since 2000. In time, I got interested enough to start reading books and to try learning everything related to sailing, cruising, boating, sailboat design, onboard systems, engineering, weather patterns, geography—pretty much anything relating to the ocean, the seafaring cultures, long-term liveaboard, and long-distance sailing explorations both in the tropics and high-latitudes as much as I could.

But I’ve set foot on a sailboat only once actually. My experiences are exclusively vicarious. Thus, to an extent, I don’t know what I’m talking about.

Very best,
–Dejan

]]> By: Christian https://www.pitufa.at/2024/11/3-months-of-smurfy/#comment-910479 Christian Wed, 04 Dec 2024 04:16:36 +0000 https://www.pitufa.at/?p=8555#comment-910479 Hi, how many cats rule your life? Do you take them sailing as well? Yes, we had Smurfy microchipped along with his vaccinations when he was 8 weeks old... Birgit Hi,
how many cats rule your life? Do you take them sailing as well?
Yes, we had Smurfy microchipped along with his vaccinations when he was 8 weeks old…
Birgit

]]> By: Dejan https://www.pitufa.at/2024/11/3-months-of-smurfy/#comment-910453 Dejan Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:20:08 +0000 https://www.pitufa.at/?p=8555#comment-910453 Of course you felt horrible immediately afterward, Birgit, even though I have zero doubt about Smurfy’s safety—both during his “ordeal” and in general. That’s the thing with cats: They intransigently remain focused on their misbehaviors, all the while simultaneously ignoring a myriad of our gentle warnings, only to trigger our more intense response, which, by default, always makes us feel remorseful about our reaction in the first place. That’s a remarkable feline talent—borderline passive-aggressive behavior, if you will—to make us, their owners, feel bad for their misdeeds. :) I guess Smurfy will remain in check after your “shock treatment” for a while, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see him checking your garden limits in the future. Cats have a remarkable memory. Furthermore, it’s somewhat expected that in due time—if not already, and to a certain extent—Smurfy will have considered all of the Pitufa as his territory that he’s only willing to lend to the two of you for a while. :) All kidding aside, you’re quite right about being reassured that he can get back aboard; that’s paramount. Speaking of Smurfy's safety, have you considered microchipping him? I've read several articles about cats lost from sailboats only to be returned to their owners for having a microchip. (Cats in conjunction with sailboats is an unbelievable topic in general.) Either way, I feel like Smurfy has brought joy into your and Christian’s lives, just as the two of you have done for his own. Stay safe, very best, --Dejan Of course you felt horrible immediately afterward, Birgit, even though I have zero doubt about Smurfy’s safety—both during his “ordeal” and in general.

That’s the thing with cats: They intransigently remain focused on their misbehaviors, all the while simultaneously ignoring a myriad of our gentle warnings, only to trigger our more intense response, which, by default, always makes us feel remorseful about our reaction in the first place. That’s a remarkable feline talent—borderline passive-aggressive behavior, if you will—to make us, their owners, feel bad for their misdeeds. :)

I guess Smurfy will remain in check after your “shock treatment” for a while, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see him checking your garden limits in the future. Cats have a remarkable memory. Furthermore, it’s somewhat expected that in due time—if not already, and to a certain extent—Smurfy will have considered all of the Pitufa as his territory that he’s only willing to lend to the two of you for a while. :)

All kidding aside, you’re quite right about being reassured that he can get back aboard; that’s paramount. Speaking of Smurfy’s safety, have you considered microchipping him? I’ve read several articles about cats lost from sailboats only to be returned to their owners for having a microchip. (Cats in conjunction with sailboats is an unbelievable topic in general.)

Either way, I feel like Smurfy has brought joy into your and Christian’s lives, just as the two of you have done for his own.

Stay safe, very best,
–Dejan

]]> By: Birgit https://www.pitufa.at/2024/11/3-months-of-smurfy/#comment-910278 Birgit Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:12:14 +0000 https://www.pitufa.at/?p=8555#comment-910278 Thanks for your kind comment! It really shows that you understand us and our lifestyle, the challenges and joys aboard like few other people do :-) Smurfy was never in danger of drowning after I threw him in the water, I felt horrible about the whole thing right away and was ready to jump after him to rescue him (and get thoroughly scratched and bitten while doing so probably). But at least we are reassured now that he knows how to get back aboard! BTW the effect of the shock-treatment still lasts ;-) Thanks for your kind comment! It really shows that you understand us and our lifestyle, the challenges and joys aboard like few other people do :-)
Smurfy was never in danger of drowning after I threw him in the water, I felt horrible about the whole thing right away and was ready to jump after him to rescue him (and get thoroughly scratched and bitten while doing so probably). But at least we are reassured now that he knows how to get back aboard!
BTW the effect of the shock-treatment still lasts ;-)

]]> By: Dejan https://www.pitufa.at/2024/11/3-months-of-smurfy/#comment-909842 Dejan Fri, 29 Nov 2024 21:53:05 +0000 https://www.pitufa.at/?p=8555#comment-909842 Smurfy’s adventures add another dimension to the myriad reasons that make your website and blog such a great place. Being a cat person, I thoroughly enjoy your feline storytelling dimension (aside from knowledgeable tips on sailing, adventurous lifestyle, and environmental consciousness). It’s also funny to observe the ups and downs in building your relationship with Smurfy (something all the cat owners can relate to). November 20, 2024: “Falling overboard and drowning is the biggest danger for a ship’s cat.” November 29, 2024: “[...] I grabbed him and threw him overboard.” Priceless! :))) Fair winds and following seas, --Dejan P.S. Smurfy looks great, an ocean tiger so to speak. :) I think you two have given him the heaven to live in, and your and Christian's efforts around Smurfy are amazing. Smurfy’s adventures add another dimension to the myriad reasons that make your website and blog such a great place. Being a cat person, I thoroughly enjoy your feline storytelling dimension (aside from knowledgeable tips on sailing, adventurous lifestyle, and environmental consciousness). It’s also funny to observe the ups and downs in building your relationship with Smurfy (something all the cat owners can relate to).
November 20, 2024: “Falling overboard and drowning is the biggest danger for a ship’s cat.”
November 29, 2024: “[...] I grabbed him and threw him overboard.”
Priceless! :) ))
Fair winds and following seas,
–Dejan
P.S. Smurfy looks great, an ocean tiger so to speak. :) I think you two have given him the heaven to live in, and your and Christian’s efforts around Smurfy are amazing.

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