Water for strays in winter?

Ajanta wrote:
> I am brainstorming how to assist my stray during the holidays season
> when we would gone for about 10 days.
>
> A friend is willing to come every 1-2 days and put out dry food just
> outside the door.
>
> However, I can't figure out what to do about water if the temperatures
> are below freezing?

There are heating elements you can plug in and put into the water dish
for just this reason.
Search any feed supply store, pet store or the Drs. Smith and Foster
website and you should be able to find one.
-L.
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

whitershadeofpale wrote:

> don't worry, if it's below freezing there won't be any cat to even feed

just messing! I don't know how cold a cat can stand it, I figure
freezing is peaking.

do you know where the stray goes when it leaves each day?

If it hangs around, maybe there's a place where she can get warm,
I picked up a huge sturdy carboard box today...(Ill mail it to
you...lol)

You can live it in too if you need to
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

Tom has a good point. Where does the cat go at night? If it doesn't get
below freezing for long periods then the water should thaw enough for them
to get a drink during the day. We have chickens and put out a big water and
it melts some most days if the temp doesn't stay below freezing 24/7. Not
sure where you are at.

Also as long as they have been outdoor cats they have figured out a place to
sleep that is protected. I too would advise more than a cardboard box. If
the wind normally blows from one direction I would definitely put it
somewhere away from the direct wind.


"Ajanta" <ajanta RemoveThis @null.void> wrote in message
news:221120051223471022%ajanta@null.void...
> I am brainstorming how to assist my stray during the holidays season
> when we would gone for about 10 days.
>
> A friend is willing to come every 1-2 days and put out dry food just
> outside the door.
>
> However, I can't figure out what to do about water if the temperatures
> are below freezing?
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

<tomsmith.RemoveThis@____no____.com> wrote in message
> outdoors. One advantage for barn cats, they have livestock to keep
> them warm, and often find them sitting on the backs of cattle and
> horses.

I've love to see a picture or two of that.
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

tomsmith.TakeThisOut@____no____.com wrote:
> snip...One advantage for barn cats, they have livestock to keep
> them warm, and often find them sitting on the backs of cattle and
> horses.
>
> Thanks for caring for the strays.
>
> This message out to give all the goodie-goodie flamers something to
> flame..... My plonk button is ready !!!!


exactly how cold you reckon a cat can stand it

i gave her my honest opinion yo! I was the only who posted when you
made your post.

Soooo....

Zaire's sno way eh khat will live in freezing temperatchures.

vet of cooors he can findz a hol to heat but dham
chez vworry ah freezing watear, Im, Vwat aabout
thawing out the khat.
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

whitershadeofpale wrote:
> don't worry, if it's below freezing there won't be any cat to even feed
Wrong. That cat is still around despite the freezing temeperatures.

Look outside in the middle of February after a blizzard. You'll see
lots
of cat tracks in the snow. The cat is still around, it's probably
hiding
under the hood of a car (on a warm engine), in your garage, over a
heating grate, etc. Just like homeless humans, homeless cats don't
just disappear when the weather gets cold.
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

DW wrote:

> under the hood of a car (on a warm engine), in your garage, over a
> heating grate, etc. Just like homeless humans, homeless cats don't
> just disappear when the weather gets cold.

no...what you see are the survivors what you don't see are the cats
hunkered
down and frozen under some dank bitter cold house.

You wouldn't see that

could you live under a house in freezing temps...yeah for a couple of
days

why are we having this conversation
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

One thing I would point out about strays. It is dangerous for cats to
be outside when the temperature gets below zero and the winds kick
up (especially when you have a wind chill of 60 below zero).

At a minimum they need shelter from a biting howling wind out of the
North (a Montreal Express).
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

whitershadeofpale wrote:
> exactly how cold you reckon a cat can stand it
Around here when it gets into the single numbers or
below zero they warn people to keep their pets
inside.

When it gets below zero exposed flesh on a
person can suffer frostbite in a matter of
seconds. I would assume the same for your cat.
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

Karin Gillette wrote:
> Tom has a good point. Where does the cat go at night? If it doesn't get
> below freezing for long periods then the water should thaw enough for them
> to get a drink during the day.
It should be pointed out around here it can and does go below freezing
as early as the middle of November and sometimes will stay below
freezing for
4-12 weeks.

Last year we had close to two months where it never went above
ten degrees during the day.

[it was bad news for our cats but it is good news for our
Super Bowl winning Patriots.....you know what.....somehow that
label never gets old.]
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

"Ajanta" <ajanta RemoveThis @null.void> wrote in message
news:221120051223471022%ajanta@null.void...
> I am brainstorming how to assist my stray during the holidays season
> when we would gone for about 10 days.
>
> A friend is willing to come every 1-2 days and put out dry food just
> outside the door.
>
> However, I can't figure out what to do about water if the temperatures
> are below freezing?

Try a heated water bowl- some are thermostatically controlled to go on only
when the temp drops below 40F. http://tinyurl.com/8wltb

Just remember, heated water evaporates much more quickly in cold temps, so
be sure to get a large bowl- at least 1- 1.5 gallon.

Phil
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

Tom Smith wrote:
>
> You can buy heated pet bowls at pet stores and farm supply stores.
> They are around $20. It's a bowl with a cord on it. Just plug it in
> and fill with water. The heating element is built into the bowl.
> They draw about 40 watts so they wont run your electric bill way up.
> I recommend the larger ones intended for dogs, rather than the smaller
> cat ones, especially if there is more than one cat. The bigger ones
> dont get tipped...

This sounds like a great idea, and much safer than the bowls with
exposed heating elements. I wonder if there are any battery-powered
ones for places without electrical outlets?
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter? 

On 22 Nov 2005 21:33:55 +0100, "cybercat" <boagrrl DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>Tom Smith wrote:
>>
>> You can buy heated pet bowls at pet stores and farm supply stores.
>> They are around $20. It's a bowl with a cord on it. Just plug it in
>> and fill with water. The heating element is built into the bowl.
>> They draw about 40 watts so they wont run your electric bill way up.
>> I recommend the larger ones intended for dogs, rather than the smaller
>> cat ones, especially if there is more than one cat. The bigger ones
>> dont get tipped...
>
>This sounds like a great idea, and much safer than the bowls with
>exposed heating elements. I wonder if there are any battery-powered
>ones for places without electrical outlets?
>
>

Here's some info....

You can order the heated bowls online from ValleyVet.com

Here is the direct link to the bowls (below)
I have this first one on the list.
It's on sale right now for $19.95 and free shipping.
Durable, works well, and dont tip over
They are 50 watt.

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=2e87c291-7b6a-11d5-a192...b0d0204

Here's another one. Similar but stainless steel and costs more. I
think plastic is better since steel will lose heat faster, sitting on
the cold ground.

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e07c1a-7b6a-11d5-a192...b0d0204

I am not advertising for Valley Vet, but I have been a satisfied
customer. Just dont get on their email list unless you want ads
almost daily. They did remove my email address without any hassle
though. They ship quickly and have lots of other goods.

PS. They make smaller versions of these heated bowls but they are too
small if you ask me. They also make large ones (more like pails) for
horses.

No, I dont think you can get battery operated ones. Anything that
heats with electricity needs alot of power. You'd be changing
batteries several times a day.

Cost to operate: Running it 24 hours a day uses 1.2 KWH
If your electric cost per KWH is 10 cents (sort of an average), it
will cost you 12 cents a day to run this thing. ($3.60 per month).

I wish my livestock tanks were that cheap, they cost me 15 cents per
HOUR per heater and I run 6 of them, which would cost $21.60 per day
to run them all. (except I get an agriculture rate for electric, but
its still about $15 a day). Those January electric bills are a
killer.

Tom
 >> Stay informed about: Water for strays in winter?