Feeding strays in the winter... suggestions?

Question

I have a few stray cats in my neighborhood that I leave food out for.  Most of the year I leave out a very big dish of wet food in the evening and pick it up in the morning and all the food is gone.  

Now with the cold weather, the wet food froze once so I did some reading and switched to dry food but with the dry food I have to leave out water as well, unfortunately, I live in New York City and we don't have a lot of spots to put food out so where I am able to place the food there are no outlets if I wanted to get a heated water bowl and it seems that all of them have to be plugged in.  I added some sugar to the water which was supposed to keep it from freezing but that didn't help.  I put a hot water bottle against the large tupperware container today with the water hoping that helps but I won't know until morning, I do also already start off with warm water in the container as well to slow down the freezing process but I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can keep the water from freezing.  I was even thinking of getting 2 hot water bottles and tying them around the tupperware container to see if that works.  

Unfortunately, they also won't eat with me around, they are quite scared of humans so I will often see them eating but from a distance so I can't bring the water down hoping they eat and drink while I'm there so I leave the food at like 8pm and by 6am it's gone.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!  Thanks!

Michele the Louis Wain cat · Accepted Answer

This article has lots of suggestions on ways to prevent the water and food from freezing which you may find helpful.

http://www.petfinder.com/how-to-help-pets/prevent-freezing-water.html

sunshine10 · Answer

I have the same problem but i am a little luckier because the strays are out front of my house so around dinner time i start putting wet food out 2 or 3 cans at a time and in minutes it's gone..i continue to do this till i go to bed.  I know at least some of the cats are getting the wet food.  When i go to bed i put the cans of wet food out but i "bury" it in dry food hoping it will keep it a little wet for the cats that come at that time.
  I live in pa and even if i can't get water out one night most times after a few nights it will go above freezing so i put out a huge bowl of it then.
  It makes me feel good that i know someone else is helping the way you are..i always say what you do in life comes back to you.  
   Have a great new year!

theshadowknows · Answer

It's really not a good idea to put a lot of food out at once and hope that the cats will get it. 
Cats are creatures of habit, and will look for food at the same time every day. They tend to look for food at dawn and dusk. You should try to establish a set time every day to feed the cats. Once they get the hang of it, they will come every day at the same time. You should only put out enough food that they will eat right away. 
The problem with leaving a lot of food out all night is that many other animals are active during the night and they will get the food. I know, all animals have to eat, but you can't feed every animal in your area. Also, when you start attracting other animals, that is when people begin to complain which usually results in animal control being called. And we all know what they do to cats that they trap them.
You can try to keep water from freezing by wrapping styrofoam around the water dish.

blackham · Answer

i might supply them some form of guard the place the get entry to/go out is shielded from the path of the incoming climate. undecided approximately your winters in Indiana. i'm in Canada and seventy 5% of the time, our poor climate is presented in from the northwest so for my section i might placed a guard for them dealing with southeast. placed foam or another resource of insulation (devoid of it being that fibreglass insulation stuff) on the floor and partitions, and then beds/quilts/canines pillows, even if you have in there. they are going to might desire to be taken out and washed, possibly many times. with the aid of fact you're managing unneutered/unspayed cats, there may be some territorial spraying, marking, etc. interior the guard. there is not any assure that they are going to use it even if yet right for you for no less than attempting! The trick is to offer them a water supply that doesn't freeze.

Peanut Butter · Answer

I don't put water out in winter. (We get raccoons, too, and they always dump out the water bowl. I'd be worried they'd electrocute themselves with an electric bowl.) The cats don't seem to be suffering from it.

There's a small stream and several large drainage ditches nearby that they can drink out of.

Because the water is running, it doesn't freeze.

And we get enough rain and snow (and I'm outside of Philly, so our climates are similar) that there's always some ice or snow somewhere that they can lick if they're desperate.

Trevor · Answer

God bless you for taking care of these poor animals. Try finding a neighbor who is willing to help out when you are not around. 

You also should think about TNR, or trap neuter, release. It will help the cats live longer, better lives. Set up humane traps, contact the ASPCA because a lot of times they know how to find a place that neuters for free, then release the cats back to their area.

mtwaites · Answer

You could see if there is any battery powered water things that would allow for some warmth to occur. or you could get something that has steam in the top part of it, and then when it comes down it keeps warm.  I hope that this helps you. I am sure that you would probably be able to find something at your local pet store, and get something like that.

Anonymous · Answer

I think it is so nice of you to go out of your way to do this :)  how kind of you.  your kindness will be rewarded.

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Feeding strays in the winter... suggestions?

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