Cat named Maverick gains attention for his impressive surfing skills
Maverick, a cat known as Mavi, has gained recognition for his surfing abilities, featured in a video posted by The Dodo last Sunday. Mavi's owners, Kayla and Nick, regularly include the feline in their various water activities.
Mavi participates in paddle boarding, pool activities, wake surfing and longboarding alongside his owners. Kayla, one of Mavi's owners, noted the cat developed an early interest in water. “Ever since he was little he was fascinated with all things water,” Kayla said.
The video highlights Mavi's water skills and focuses on his first time surfing, where he demonstrated “walking the nose.” Mavi also maintains an Instagram account, which features a post titled “Water Training for Cats.”
Training tips from Mavi's owners advise allowing a cat to willingly jump on and off a board, floaty or kayak while at a lake or river. They recommend introducing the board gradually by having a picnic on the shore over several hours. Setting up the board or kayak inside the house for advance training can help acclimate the cat. Owners should use food and treats at the shore to encourage the cat to move onto and off the float. It is important not to rush the on-and-off training to avoid negative experiences. The most crucial tip is ensuring the cat willingly goes on the float before leaving the shore.
This article was written by Jade, who grew up surfing Isaac Hale “Pohoiki” Beach Park on the Big Island of Hawai'i and resided on Oahu's North Shore for more than 10 years. Jade covers topics such as travel, surfing, social justice, culture and the outdoors. SURFER magazine actively seeks engaging surf-related videos for its channels and invites both professional and amateur surfers to submit their footage for potential features.