DIY Outdoor Feeding Station for Community Cats

Community cat advocate Jenny German from SNiP Now shows how to make an inexpensive and effective outdoor feeding station to help community cats. Jenny shares tips on how to keep food and water safe from the elements all year round.

#communitycats #feralcat #feedingstraycats

[nancybryson]

Great advice about not making a feeding station an eyesore. That very carelessness has ruined two feral cat colonies in this area, much to the hurt of the poor cats. I always do everything under the radar. Thanks too for the great design for a protected feeding station. Blessings upon you.

[terrigarner]

Glad I came across this, I care for about 10 cats in our area who have been tossed to fend for themselves for whatever reasons. I too disinfect all eating and water bowls everyday and they know when the dinner bell time is each day. Appreciate all you do and for helping us with great information 🥰.

[satchel]

Great tips! Thanks for the how to video!

[angryadrien]

I bought a couple of 25$ heated water bowls and set them on a thick piece of styrofoam. One for the stray cats and one for the birds.
The ice forms near the edges but never covers the water surface.
We get 6 months of winter and the temp drops to -45 Celcius.

[marsukarhu]

Lovely work with these videos. Very good and informative! Thanks!

[se]

Hot hands I place them under the straw and under the feeding dish's and water bowls they stay warm for about 8 hours.

[N.Sardone]

I’m glad I found this. I’m in Maine and have a stray cat that calls our back yard home. She(?) is super timid. But she knows what time I get home from work to replenish the food and water bowls. I will definitely need to find o few different dishes though cuz what I’m currently using is stainless.
Thanks for the tips!!!

[mugekolukisa]

Your obvious understanding & experience of the needs of outdoor cats & carefully- thought out & adapted efforts to meet those needs, has given me hope that I'm not some woman gone mad - doing exactly the same things. 😔❤️ I care for around 100 cats in different parts of our town (on the small Mediterranean island of Cyprus). I was overwhelmed to learn from you, that thousands of miles apart, some kind woman is finding & implementing the same solutions - all for the love of & compassion for these beautiful animals.😔❤️ I was especially touched that you disinfect your bowls every day - others think I'm mad for going to such lengths. They don't understand how important it is to limit the transmission a whole host of possible infectious ailments. When you're battling to care for around 100 cats, it's vital to minimise sickness. And your comment about being discrete. I've come across so many unkind opponents to the work I do, that I've had to develop many strategies to avoid their mean responses & actions. God bless you for all that you do & the great advice!🥰

[cjuliec]

Great ideas! And in summer, if ants are a problem, you can put a food bowl in a pie pan or other bowl that has a little bit of water in it and the ants can't get to the food.

[terriolvera]

I have learned you can also add Diatomaceous Earth (FOOD GRADE ONLY) sprinkle it inside the bottom of the tote, then put bowls on top of it.
It will keep bugs, ants, roaches etc away from the food & water.
As long as it is FOOD GRADE, it is safe for animals and humans if they ingest it.
I use it and have actually put it in juice to drink because it’s good for you.

[susanna]

I put a smaller plastic bowl with water inside a larger bowl with salt covered in a plastic bag so the salt doesn't get out. It helps keep the water from freezing.

[HighOnTheSound]

I make shelters out of similar materials! Just don’t keep the food and shelters close to each other, you do t want to attract any animals that may hurt the cats!
Thanks

[rondadennis]

Crazy question... how do you keep it from blowing away? I'd like to put one by my shed (unfortunately they cannot go in the shed) but no easy way to anchor it.

[mishmosh]

In florida this will not work the water bowls actually get so hot and the racoons steal all the cats food and the frogs and birds poor cats !! We don't have to worry about the cold though

[lovablelibra]

My feral cats are spoiled. They love wet food and treats 🤷🏽‍♀️

[dianerusso]

Thanks Jenny. I made this outdoor feeding station for feral cats and it looks just like yours. I didn't have a dremel tool, so I softened the plastic with a hairdryer and cut it with a utility knife. I hope that my little outdoor friend likes it! It will definitely keep the food protected from the elements.

[carinivesclark]

Thank you for your videos! Very informative and helpful! Thank you for what you do for the cats!🐈‍⬛🐈

[dgorgo]

I like your idea for a feeding station. Do you have to put the station on bricks or 2 x 4's in order to keep water from rain or snow from getting in, or will the fact that the opening is a little higher from the bottom keep the water out? In addition, I need to make this station less noticeable as possible, (even though I am putting it in a wooded area very close to where I live) since I have nosey neighbors and they are always looking to cause trouble. They don't want me feeding the cats, but I absolutely can not keep from feeding them. There are only three who come every evening about 5 or 5:30. I try to feed them before it gets dark so that possums, racoons, etc. do not get into the food. They are usually there faithfully. They eat and leave and do not hang around anyone's homes. Could I also cover the feeding station partially with a small brown tarp to make it less noticeable.

[elflingskitten]

Wow, ty for this. Here in Florida we obviously don't have to worry about stuff freezing but we battle constantly against FIRE ANTS! I hate them so much! I have to put the stray cats' food in a tray filled with soapy water or slather the sides of the dish in Vaseline, which melts off in our summer heat 😿

[johnellis]

All good. How about insulating the feeding station with straw and the other things done for the feral cat's sleeping home? Wouldn't that help keep the food and drinking water from freezing? Thanks again.