Bosun

Ship's Cat

Bosun has been the ship's cat on Stella Maris since the outset of her current ownership. He accompanied the Captain and Donal, the Engineer, when they took over Stella Maris in Den Oever harbour in the middle of winter.

Bosun took to life as a ship's cat like a duck to water (more literally than you may think- he's fallen in twice!). He patrols the ship as master of all he surveys - until that is, a big, horrible sea gull appears in the sky, then he bolts for cover.

Like all cats, he sleeps most of the day and likes to patrol at night. Most of the time, this is OK, but on the eve of sailings, he's confined to his cabin to make sure he doesn't end up awol when we have to cast off.

When we arrive at a new port, Bosun tends to stay on board. The longer we are there, the further afield he gradually ventures - but only when it's dark. Bravery isn't one of his traits.

Generally, he's allowed to go anywhere on the ship - except the engine room. Normally, he's quite happy to stay away, but if the Captain or Engineer are down there, he's always trying to get down along with them.

Bosun is spoiled rotten by Julie, who will, against the Captain's strict orders, buy him fancy food. The Captain's instructions are based on the practicalities of life aboard Stella Maris:

Don't feed the ship's cat on soft juicy foods -cat farts in enclosed spaces, e.g. the Bridge, can seriously affect the crew's abilities to execute their duties. Neither can they be considered fun anywhere else on the ship either, as it happens.

 

 

 

 

 

Bosun - MIA. Believed Dead

We regret to announce. Bosun went missing on 22nd September 2008.

He went out as usual that late evening, but uncharacteristically, he didn't call back during the night. Normally, he popped back every hour or two, nuzzled up, said hello with a meow, and then went off again into the night, always returning between 0430 and 0500.

He wasn't too keen to be far from the ship during daylight hours, and occasionally he would get caught out on his last session of the night. In these circumstances, he would hide out somewhere and come back as soon as it was dark the next evening. After one of these "extended" excursions, he wouldn't venture far from the ship next night or two.

On this occasion however, it rained heavily all the following night. Knowing that Bosun was not keen on rain, we weren't unduly concerned that he didn't return that night, but we definitely expected him the next evening.

Alas, no. Not the the next night. Not the one after that. Indeed, not any night after that.

Once in the past, in another marina, he went missing for five days, but that was in a residential area and he returned clean but starving, so we think he was shut up in someone's shed or garage. This time, his territory did not include any residential areas or populated areas, so we do not believe he is with anyone.

Two weeks later, we have reconciled ourselves to the fact that he is gone.

 

Goodbye old friend. Julie and the Captain miss you.

 

PS ....

           . . . . . . we're keeping a small amount of food and litter on the ship just in case. . . .