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.
►Subscribe to MPA on KZbin: www.youtube.co...
►Website: www.michiganpe...
#communitycats #feralcat #feedingstraycats

[@mugekolukisa783]

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!🥰

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for your kind words. Keep up the great work to help the kitties!

[@tee3219]

❤❤❤❤

[@lucyinthesky4682]

Thank you for what you do. I do a lot of things for cats in shelters and ferals. I live in NYC and have a cabin in upstate NY. I have a career that lets me do more than most so if I spend a month in upstate, I send funds to a caretaker in NYC so she can reach out to everyone and they can feed my colonies. When I'm home in NYC, I do the opposite and send funds to the person who makes sure my pipes don't freeze because it gets so cold up there and he feeds the cats that people dump on my property. There are cat shelters and feeding stations discreetly placed because I can't zone my cabin as a cat shelter but people keep dumping cats and kittens on my land. But I'm thankful because I have a pond and a creek and they could do so much worse. I TNR the cats, I have 4 blind cats of my own, I really can't handle any other cats. I donate to other charities and put care packages together for the homeless in the winter and summer, not just holidays. I try to help those society has forgotten. But I help whom I choose to and boy do I get comments of how awful I am. How I could be helping deserving people if I left the animals alone and the people that don't contribute to society. It's the homeless that would sacrifice a meal so their cat or dog could eat. Keep up what you do. You only have yourself to answer to. And saving a sweet street cat from a horrible existence is the best thing I could do with my time.

[@tee3219]

@@lucyinthesky4682 I am shocked to hear that you have received negative feedback for your philanthropy! Animals need help too! God gave them to us as a gift and we have a responsibility to them. I love your story!!! I love that you care for the cats and have a make shift santuary and that you understand the importance of TNR. The creator sees and appreciates your efforts. Who knows how he may be guiding your hand. Thank you for your selflessness in sharing your resources to both the homeless and to the felines. Hearts out to you

[@elly2154]

you're awesome, i wish you much health and success, be well

[@nancybryson5488]

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.

[@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.

[@cjuliec8549]

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.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Great tip!

[@elflingskitten]

Vaseline on the sides of the bowl works well too. We have fire ants here and they just float across the water so we add a little dawn dish soap

[@marsukarhu9477]

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

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for watching! Please subscribe for more.

[@737se]

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

[@terrigarner647]

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 🥰.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for caring for community cats!

[@dianerusso5433]

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.

[@elly2154]

One of the best diy cat shelter videos on yt i have watched many times, finally doing it today. Great idea with a covered food shelter. thank you

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

We are glad you found the video helpful. Every little effort counts when it comes to caring for community cats. Together, we can make a positive impact. Thank you for watching!

[@terriolvera9631]

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.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Great tip! Thank you for sharing and for watching. Keep up the great work!

[@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!!!

[@cjuliec8549]

It's so great that your feeding him or her. Hopefully you can borrow a trap from a feral cat coalition in your area and get kitty spay or neutered, it makes their lives so much better.

[@N.Sardone]

*Update!!* The timid gal is now my new friend. She’s also befriended my sister adopted cat Theo (who was actually a street cat in Oklahoma) but the ARL didn’t tell her that and Theo was able to open a sliding glass door to escape. He ran ran for a while but now he lives in the back yard too. Both Theo and Missy (I named her) get fed every day and get lots of love! I’ve made a few shelters for them and honed my technique and materials so this year they will be living it up!! Warm! I think she was someone’s cat at one point. I do believe she was spayed.

[@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 😿

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for watching. Sounds like you have come up with a good solution to keep those terrible fire ants at bay. Keep up the great work!

[@carinivesclark1887]

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

[@susanna5252]

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.

[@shavala2589]

We have been taking care of abused animals for over thirty years. I never thought about making them homes like this. But, I have made the outdoor ones homes. I just learned that blankets aren't the best and I can understand why. Good to know all this just incase I have to make more. I did make them there own shed and they did go in it for a while till the possums and raccoons found out about it. I finally started bringing in the ones that were outside for a while, it seems one goes on to heaven to make room for another. We just got a baby kitten from the neighbor who threw it into our back yard. Boy:( so I took it to the vet, it seems when one is to die we get another. I guess I am glad we got Tassy he has been a joy sends we lost Sweet Pea. Well I know we will have ours for another 20 years. All of ours are over 20 now and Sweet Pea was 20, we have Pretty she is her mom and she is 20. Thank you for all you do:)

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for watching our video and for caring for community cats!

[@satchel929]

Great tips! Thanks for the how to video!

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Thank you for watching!

[@Boogeyman1435]

Great tips. Thank you!

[@PatriceNarveza]

Great helpful video !!🎆🕊🕊

[@franceslynch8815]

Super tips thanks so much.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Happy to help!

[@hansfausak5692]

Thanks for the tips and pithy content.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

You're welcome!

[@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

[@cjohnson4342]

Good information to know

[@SomewhereInIndiana1816]

great idea!

[@johnellis5865]

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.

[@1dgorgo]

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.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

If you cut the opening a little higher from the bottom, that should keep out any snow or water. To camouflage it, you can purchase a darker tote or cover with a tarp or brown contact paper. Thanks for watching!

[@madeleindiedericks7020]

My only concern is ants?

[@mugekolukisa783]

We live in Cyprus, where the ants don't give up, even in January! To keep the ants (& slugs & snails) from climbing into the food bowls, I place the food bowls into slightly larger, but shallower trays, filled with water. These 'moats' work a treat to prevent the ants from reaching the food.

[@deed5811]

I bought planter drainage trays that are about an inch bigger in diameter than the food dishes and fill them with water. I put a food dish in the now water filled tray. Ants in my area can't swim. Problem solved.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

One way to prevent ants is to add a bit of water inside the tote and put the food in a dish ... creating something like a moat.

[@MsJaneSi]

Awesome idea!!!

[@rondadennis7336]

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.

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Great question! Our subject matter expert Jenny recommends placing the box in heavy brush where it is protected from the wind. You can also place bricks or pavers on top of the box. Thanks for watching and please hit the subscribe button for more!

[@scoopablecatlitter]

You can put a couple of bricks on both ends inside the box.

[@lagoryk]

How do you keep the birds out?

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Great question! Birds can be a problem at feeding stations, especially in the spring. You might try making the opening smaller to make it more challenging for the birds to access the cat food. You can also put the cat food toward the back of the feeding station to make it more of an effort to reach, which might discourage them. Normally, when natural food (berries, insects, etc.) are more readily available, the birds back away from feeding stations. Thanks for watching!

[@kimpozo3514]

I got 2 stray and 1 feral.i can't get them to go in totes,coolers,straw or stryophome they sleep on afgan blankets on lawn chair's and it got down 42 last night? I do have alot raccoons and opossums they're used of but jump up on picnic tables at night get away from them? My shelters are in closed shed but they won't go in shed ? Any suggestions?

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Opossums and raccoons are normally nocturnal, so you might try pulling the food in the early evening before they become visible. Cats are very savvy and will adjust to this schedule. Also, both opossums and raccoons are not the best at climbing pedestals and it might be worth it to build a pedestal feeding station at least 3-4 feet high since they will struggle to climb this. Some bird stores even make squirrel shields to prevent squirrels from climbing up feeder poles so you could add something like this as well. Most cats love shelters, so this is puzzling why they won't go inside. If the cats are well fed and cat get out of the wind, they will probably be okay, even in harsh weather conditions. Hope this helps!

[@noshrinkingviolet007]

I'm trying to figure out how to feed these cats without also feeding the birds, possums, and possible raccoons as well...

[@tee3219]

Yesssss! Fair point!

[@MichiganPetAlliance]

Here are a few ideas to deter these animals. It can often be difficult to keep birds out of the cat food since they are capable of getting into small spaces. For opossums and raccoons, these animals are normally nocturnal so you might try pulling the food in the early evening before they become visible. Cats are very savvy and will adjust to this schedule. Also, both opossums and raccoons are not the best at climbing pedestals and it might be worth it to build a pedestal feeding station at least 3-4 feet high since they will struggle to climb this. Some bird stores even make squirrel shields to prevent squirrels from climbing up feeder poles so you could add something like this as well. Hope this helps!

[@mishmosh578]

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 🤷🏽‍♀️