An intrepid feline known as Miss Rigby has spent her entire life sailing the ocean with her family.
Known to be the most ‘dog-like’ of all cat breeds, this American Burnese has lived on a boat with her owners Shane and Maryvonne since she was a kitten.
Also known as Rigs, Riggles, or Chicken, she was offered to Maryvonne by a breeder in Connecticut.
“They are extremely loving and loyal and also trainable—well, as much as you can train a cat,” she added. “But the boat is her home and she loves it.”
53-year-old Shane and 52-year-old Maryvonne previously ran their own architecture business before finally deciding ten years ago to abandon the company and pursue their passion for sailing.
They now live on their boat and travel full time. Together, they have explored the coastal waters of the United States and the Caribbean seas.
“Rigs joined us on the boat in Long Island, New York and since then, we have sailed up and down the East Coast and across into the Bahamas numerous times,” says Maryvonne. “We have been through the Caribbean with her down to Grenada, stopping at most islands.’
She has travelled well on the 50-foot sailboat and proven herself to be a natural sailor.
Maryvonne says that the fearless feline is usually confined to the lower cabin. Otherwise, she is only allowed on deck or in the cockpit during calm weather when she can be closely supervised.
“Our main concern always is her safety,” says Maryvonne. “We are often asked about why she doesn’t wear a life jacket. We tried one on her but it just made her more clumsy. She can swim well and we would pick her up quickly if she fell in.
“Our safety and the cat’s is very important and we have a lot of strategies in place in case of emergencies,” she added. “We also have a net hanging from the back of the boat in case she slipped off the boat whilst at anchor—but this has never happened, thankfully. She is very sure-footed and aware of the water around her.
“Our walks/hikes are also a lot of fun and watching her do crazy runs chasing Shane makes life better. We have trained her to be like a dog and she hasn’t let us down.
“We can be in terrible sea conditions, but she makes it bearable with her purring and cuteness. I can’t imagine not having her onboard,” Maryvonne concluded. “We have so many memories, but the main one is how happy she makes us and how much we laugh at her and love her.”
Since Maryvonne created an Instagram account for Miss Rigby back in 2017, she has racked up more than 40,000 followers—and it’s not hard to see why.
This was such a cool and inspiring story. What a joy to see such a happy feline :). Godspeed to Miss Rigby, Shane, and Maryvonne. My wife and I plan on doing the same sort of thing one day!