Being a sailor....and man servant to the Ship's Cat, I can assure you all you would want to do is get unattached from said Cat.
Once freed from the warm loving embrace of a panic stricken feline....most folks just wish to remain a safe distance from the furry little rascal with four paws full of switch blades and try to get the flow of blood stopped.
I do not wish to think of how a Cat would take to being winched from a sinking vessel...onto a helicopter....somehow I think he would be rather un-amused and more than a bit testy!
The SAR Crew that accomplishes that deserves an award for Bravery....and probably Wound Medals!