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Colony Care
Stop Freezing Water
Your gift means food, shelter and veterinary care for cats in need.
Keep the tap on
If you're in a cold climate, a common problem is preventing the cats' water from freezing during the winter. A constant, daily supply is needed at all times and especially if more dry food than usual is being provided because wet food freezes too quickly. A range of solutions is available depending on the circumstances. You may be able to completely eliminate freezing by using an electrically heated water bowl or significantly slow the freezing process down by putting the bowl in a styrofoam cooler, for example. Choose an approach that works best for you. For shelter ideas, see Winter Shelter.
Heated water bowl
If you can place the bowl on your porch, in your garage or somewhere you can plug in, an electrically heated bowl will prevent frozen water. Evaporation can be an issue, but can be minimized by having a large bowl and placing it outside direct wind and sun. Bowls which automatically turn off when the water is the correct temperature will help, too. Look also for safety features like a well-wrapped cord. One option is the 1.5 gallon K&H Pet Products Thermal-Bowl (photo).
Snuggle Safe Microwave Heat Pad
These microwavable discs radiate heat in indoor conditions for up to 10 hours. While the discs retain and emit heat considerably less in chilly outdoor conditions, they can slow down freezing by placing one under the water bowl. If you buy two, you can bring a fresh one to the colony site and swap it for the one put out on your last trip. This product can also be slipped into its faux fur cover and placed inside a winter shelter for added warmth. Available on Amazon and other online retailers.
Hot Hands
You'll need two bowls the same size. Activate two Hot Hands hand warmers by shaking them well. Place the pair in the bottom bowl and stack the other bowl on and fill with water. The hand warmers heat up within 15 to 30 minutes and work for hours. Other products include reusable warmers (by boiling water) and rechargeable lithium battery warmers. A good trick for warming wet food, too!
Styrofoam station
Get a small (24 can) Styrofoam picnic cooler or box a similar size (17"L x 12W" x 12"H.) Cut a doorway about 6" x 6" in one of the narrow sides, leaving a lip of a few inches at the bottom to prevent flooding. Place the water bowl inside at the farthest end from the door and put the lid back on. Weigh down or wedge into a space to keep it in place. Avoid using a container that's too big and might tempt a cat to use it as a shelter.
Vaccine shipping container
A small Styrofoam shipping box can be turned into a well insulated water bowl. Line the interior with an open food-grade plastic bag, then cut a circular hole in the lid large enough for a cat to drink out of (approximately 2.5 inches in diameter). Attach the lid and fill with water up to the edge of the plastic. Boxes are available from Foy's Pet Supplies (photo) or ask your local vet to save one for you.
The right kind of bowl
The type of bowl you use can make a big difference in how fast water freezes. Containers with thick, well-insulated walls are better than those with thin walls. Deeper and wider bowls will delay freezing longer than shallow ones with narrow openings. Darker bowls will absorb more heat from the sun. It also helps to keep the bowl out of the wind, but still exposed to sunlight. A large plastic bowl (photo) or trough-style bowl are options.
Old tire & a bucket
A trick known to horse owners is using old tires to keep water from freezing. Get an old tire off its rim, stuff the inside with straw and wedge a large bucket in the tire's opening (see Tik Tok video). If there's space between the bucket and straw, fill with more straw. Another method is to put rocks inside the tire and then place the tire with its bucket of water in a sunny spot. The tire heats up in the sun with the rocks absorbing the heat and warming the water.
Wet food
Do your cats come running over as soon as you show up to feed? Take advantage by dishing out some wet food right away with a little extra water mixed in. Cats don't usually need much water so, between the moisture in the food and the extra you add, this can go a long way towards keeping them hydrated.