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The <strong>Neighborhood</strong> <strong>Cats</strong> <strong>TNR</strong> <strong>Handbook</strong><br />
6. An old tire and rocks<br />
Find an old car tire that’s been removed from its rim and stuff it full of rocks. In the<br />
center hole of the tire, wedge a container like a bucket and fill it with water. Use more<br />
than one tire if necessary to completely surround the container. The tire absorbs sunlight<br />
and warms the rocks, which then radiate heat, slowing down the freezing process. This<br />
method is used to provide water to horses in pastures.<br />
7. The drain from an indoor heating system<br />
Place a large, deep water dish filled with small rocks beneath the drain from an indoor<br />
heating system. The water coming out of the pipe will be warm plus the rocks will absorb<br />
and radiate heat from the sun.<br />
8. Thick plastic containers that are deep and wide<br />
Freezing is slowed if the water bowl used is made of thick plastic. Likewise, a dish<br />
that is deep and wide is better than one that is shallow or narrow.<br />
9. Add water to the wet food<br />
If the cats come when you’re there and will eat right away, add a little extra water to<br />
their wet food to help them get the moisture they need.<br />
• Preventing food from freezing<br />
Because of its high moisture content, wet food left sitting out in cold weather will<br />
freeze and become impossible for the cats to eat. Freezing can be avoided if the cats have<br />
insulated winter shelter as described in Chapter 6. Insulated shelters trap body heat and<br />
keep the interior warm enough to prevent or reverse freezing of food while the cats are in<br />
them.<br />
First make sure there are no cats inside, then place a bowl of wet food in a corner of<br />
the shelter away from the door. Often you’ll later find the food eaten. But only place<br />
food in the shelters, NEVER put water inside them. For the cats to stay healthy over the<br />
winter, their shelter must be both warm and dry. Water could easily spill, dampening the<br />
interior and getting the cats wet.<br />
Some of the products for preventing water from freezing may also assist with<br />
stopping wet food from becoming frozen, though not as well. The problem is that as the<br />
wet food is warmed by a microdisc underneath the food bowl or an electrically heated<br />
dish, the moisture in the food evaporates and the food dries out.<br />
If you’re unable to place food in the shelters or otherwise keep wet food from<br />
freezing, then rely on dry food as the staple during cold weather. It may be a good idea<br />
to make dry food available anyway as a backup in frigid temperatures.<br />
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