The thought of cats in a boat makes me smile - Merlin is a girl, but she is not at all ladylike - she is clumsy and misjudges her leaps and jumps (she is stupid) - she would not have much fun on a boat. Her brother would probably love it though.
I looked on our local Cats Protection facebook page the other day - they have so many kittens at present. Though looking at the pictures makes me smile the thought that they have been abandoned makes me sad.
It must be heartbreaking (and rewarding) work.