Thanks for reply but there is no problem with shelter. I was just
asking about water.

As I said I have been feeding her for a couple years and she made it
through the last couple winters so she has managed without a ready
supply of water but I was just wanting to make it as easy as possible
for her / him.

To be honest one of my main worries is with me being in mid sixties
what if for some reason I can not comtinue to care for it through
winter?? I had open heart surgery this summer and could not drive for
about 7 weeks and could find no one willing to take time to help care
for it. I made sure it had lots of dry food and a large bowl of water
before I went in.

If something happened during winter it would be left alone all of a
sudden then what?!?!? People tell me I worry too much about these
animals whether they be cats, squirrils, etc but I do not see how
someone who would care about a pet can not care about others. I know
people that have indoor pets but yet could walk right by a stray that
is sick or dieing (SP) and not lift a finge to help them!!!

Thanks for all suggestions and for listening to me.


Actually there's quite a lot you can do, but I've forgotten most of it since
I now live in central TX where water almost never freezes. But I remember
Styrofoam and heat pack solutions and others. So, I advise you to join the
following Yahoo group. They have helped me a lot. They are incredibly
knowledgeable and supportive of people helping out strays/ferals/etc.:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/feral_cats/


: Morning all. It is 9:04 AM in Michigan and 22 degrees with a wind
: chill of 11 degrees.
:
: Was wondering if anyone else that feeds strays could help me out here.
:
: I have a couple strays that I feed and have been for a couple years.
: The one has shelter that he can use under a persons house and in a
: garage. I also leave dry food under this persons porch and try to
: make it there once a day to give it a can of food and some water. As
: long as he has shelter and I can feed him and it is in good health I
: would rather not catch him. The other one usually shows up to eat
: then leaves but judging by dry food use it and / or others eat when I
: am not there.
:
: Thing is I do not live there and this guy that does will not feed him
: nor will he let me use elecricity for heated bowls but says it is ok
: if it is there and I feed him. I can feed him PERIOD. In the middle
: of winter the canned food and water starts freezeing almost almost as
: soon as I put it out so if the cats are not right there to eat and
: drink it freezes solid. They still have their dry food but no water.
:
: Remember I do not live in the area but try to make it there daily
: weather permitting. Anything decent I leave there is stolen due to
: the type of area so can not use anything fancy for them. TV dinner
: dishes and old plastic bowls etc.
:
: Any reasonable suggestion or will they get enough water from snow and
: such.
:
: TIA
:
: