Published Apr 24, 2025
Ronnie the cat almost wasn’t adopted by his family, because they were unsure whether they should have cats while living on a boat. However, he and his companion, Smidge, love life on the water!
Rainbow baby cats
Ronnie and Smidge’s mom says that they were both adopted after lost pregnancies, which were difficult on the family. She considers them kind of like her rainbow babies, which are babies born after the loss of a pregnancy.
They met Ronnie first while visiting Cyprus. They were staying in a bungalow at the time, but they lived on a boat in Greece. Ronnie cried at their window during a rainstorm, and they couldn’t help but let him in.
However, they had no plans to keep him. They assumed he’d go back home, but after six weeks of trying to find his owner, they realized he must not have one. By the time they were ready to go back to Greece, he was part of the family.
They took him to the veterinarian to be vaccinated and got him a passport so that he could fly back home with them.
A year and a half later, Smidge came into their lives.
A cat for Christmas
They found Smidge around Christmastime. She was under a garbage bin, crying for help! Her mom knew she had to rescue her, so she stuck her in her jumper and brought her to the boat.
Smidge cried the whole way home, but stopped once they arrived. It was like she knew she was home at last.
She was incredibly sick at the time with gastroenteritis. Her mom says she would’ve died outside if she hadn’t been rescued in time. She believes that her son’s fierce love and Ronnie’s parenting helped Smidge survive.
She’s been happy to stay on the boat ever since. Unlike Ronnie, she doesn’t like going outside and wants nothing to do with the water.
Smidge also has another funny quirk–when she’s sleeping, they can pile things right on top of her and she won’t move!
Only ⅓ cat
Ronnie’s mom jokes that he’s ⅓ human, ⅓ cat, and ⅓ dog. He loves paddle boarding and even swimming in the water. He sits on the deck of the boat while they sail.
When the family talks to him, he meows back as though he understands. He also loves to join them on walks, and cries if they go anywhere without him. He’s the total opposite of Smidge, who’s a complete homebody.
Providing inspiration, love, and hope
These cats have found a special place in their family’s hearts. Their mom says that while she’s more of a cat person and her husband more of a dog person, their sons love all animals. They volunteer at an animal sanctuary in the winter when they’re not as busy sailing.
After adopting Ronnie and Smidge, the boys became even more passionate about animal welfare. The oldest wants to open a cat sanctuary when he’s older. Currently, the family raises money for stray animals in Greece.
The cats have helped them to heal from their grief. They’ve found love in the present day and hope for the future. Their mom also says that cats bring a feminine energy that was much-needed while living with three boys!
You can find more of their family on Instagram.
