TNR Handbook - Neighborhood Cats

The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook
pieces of dry food on top of the turned-over lid. The lid, even upside down, will keep the
rain out of the food. When the cats come by after the rain stops, they’ll smell the food in
the container and push the lid off to get at it.
Fences
If you feed through a fence, keep the food and water out of arm’s reach of anyone
walking by. To do this, fill the food and water containers and place them by hand on the
other side of the fence. Then use an “arm extender” to push the food and water as far
back as possible. It’s even better if you can push the dishes behind a bush or pile of rocks
and hide them at least partially from view. Arm extenders are what stores use to reach
items on high shelves, are inexpensive (approximately $8) and can be found at most
hardware stores.
Pigeons
Pigeons nest and sleep after the sun goes down. Avoid having them eat the cats’ food
by feeding after dark.
Raccoons
Raccoons sleep during the day and are primarily nocturnal creatures. To avoid
attracting them, cat food should be placed out during daylight and removed by dark.
• Preventing water from freezing
A common problem during the winter in cold weather climates is how to prevent the
cats’ water from freezing. While cats usually drink very little water, they do need some.
This is especially true when they’re being fed mostly dry food, as is often the case in
wintertime when wet food freezing is also a problem. There are a number of ways to
either keep the water unfrozen or at least slow down the freezing process. Which method
you choose will greatly depend on your colony’s circumstances. If you’re feeding them
in your own backyard, then an electrically heated water bowl is an option. But if you
travel to a vacant lot and feed behind a pile of old tires, a small Styrofoam box or just a
deep, wide dish may be your best choice.
One common myth is that it’s better to put out hot water than cold because the hot
water supposedly will take longer to freeze. The reverse is true. Warm water evaporates
quickly in cold temperatures, leaving less water in the bowl. This lesser quantity will
freeze faster than if colder water had initially been used. In other words, don’t heat up
the water.
Here are some ideas to keep the tap flowing:
1. Electrically heated water bowl
This is the ideal solution when circumstances allow. A cord supplies electricity to the
bowl, which remains heated at all times. The water will evaporate relatively quickly, so
the bowl needs to be large and re-filled everyday with a gallon of water. Wet food can be
placed in one of these bowls as well, but will quickly dry up. One product you can try:
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