Any winter adjustment in the diet?

Phil P. wrote:

: Since you feed the cat on your porch, have you considered using
: heated food & water bowls?
:
: http://www.partipoodlepetsupplies.com/hewafobo.html

Now a days I prefer to feed inside, not because the cats are cold
outdoors but I am. One of them, the more regular one, readily comes
inside and hangs around for a while before leaving.

I open the can only when I see her, otherwise it would go stale. Do you
think I should use the heated bowl even with dry food (if I had to
leave it outdoors)?

The problem I am bracing myself for is, how do I know when she arrives?

I know the 1-2 hour window when she comes and I do check often during
it, but sometimes it could still be 5-10 minutes of wait for her. Right
now (50 deg) she is ok with it, but it may not be possible when it gets
bitter cold and windy.

I am brainstroming with the following ideas:

1. Rig up a bell she can learn to use.

2. Rig up a shelter where she could wait for 20-30 minutes. I have no
building skills but there was some discussion about using styrofoam
coolers for such a purpose.

3. Install a cat door, so she could just march in when she comes. Again
I have no skills, don't know the expense, or what it would mean for our
insulation and heating costs.

4. A low tech version of the cat door: just leave the door slightly
ajar so she could push her way in! The attraction of this solution is
that nothing has to be installed, and the insulation problem is only
for short time, once she is definitely in or out I can shut the door
as usual.

Your stray(s) should meow if you get tardy on the food. lol

Ajanta wrote:
Phil P. wrote:

: Since you feed the cat on your porch, have you considered using
: heated food & water bowls?
:
: http://www.partipoodlepetsupplies.com/hewafobo.html

Now a days I prefer to feed inside, not because the cats are cold
outdoors but I am. One of them, the more regular one, readily comes
inside and hangs around for a while before leaving.

I open the can only when I see her, otherwise it would go stale. Do you
think I should use the heated bowl even with dry food (if I had to
leave it outdoors)?

The problem I am bracing myself for is, how do I know when she arrives?

I know the 1-2 hour window when she comes and I do check often during
it, but sometimes it could still be 5-10 minutes of wait for her. Right
now (50 deg) she is ok with it, but it may not be possible when it gets
bitter cold and windy.

I am brainstroming with the following ideas:

1. Rig up a bell she can learn to use.

2. Rig up a shelter where she could wait for 20-30 minutes. I have no
building skills but there was some discussion about using styrofoam
coolers for such a purpose.

3. Install a cat door, so she could just march in when she comes. Again
I have no skills, don't know the expense, or what it would mean for our
insulation and heating costs.

4. A low tech version of the cat door: just leave the door slightly
ajar so she could push her way in! The attraction of this solution is
that nothing has to be installed, and the insulation problem is only
for short time, once she is definitely in or out I can shut the door
as usual.

whitershadeofpale wrote:

You misunderstood Phil. He wasn't saying it is incorrect to feed the
cats, but that a poster's opinion about nutritional content of kitten
food was incorrect. Whatever you think of Phil's personality or style,
his affection and compassion for cats is self-evident and he'd never
suggest not feeding a hungry cat.

: Are you thinking about some sort of hideout too? to block the wind?

I live in a 3rd floor apartment with an open drafty porch. The cats may
already have a much better shelter as they have access to 7-8
backyards, with garages, basements etc. I don't know where she slept
last winter, but she survived. The neighbor below me used to feed her,
when he returned to Europe I sort of stepped in.

As I replied to Phil, the practical problem I am bracing myself for is
as follows: In Summer I am in the porch a lot. Now a days, it is too
cold for me but not for her and she waits 5-10 minutes until I notice
her and bring her inside to feed her. I know the 1-2 hour window when
she comes and check often during it, but when it gets bitter cold and
windy even this may not be possible, how would I know when she
arrives?

Please see the post above for a few ideas I am brainstroming with.

"Ben" wrote in message
...
On 28 Oct 2005 08:16:20 -0700, "whitershadeofpale"
wrote:

Here is another classic example of your piousness
or rudeness I can't stand it!

I WON'T HAVE IT! NOT ON MY INTERNET!

Just his piety and rudeness or do you mean in general?

Either way, good luck with that, althout I'll have to do some research
before I know if his answer was bogus or not.

You should always do your own research. I always do.

Phil P. wrote:

Do everyone a favor: Stay out of nutrition, behavior and health threads-
You're dangerous because you're far too ignorant to give anyone advice about
anything concerning cats. You're even too dangerous to kill-file.

Oh shut up already.

You're problem is that you don't drink enough water to keep your poop
cycle going, therefor, you are full of it bud!

Yep!

Probably got a big ol' canker on your lip for it too!

I am even wondering if i could rig up a
bell she could be taught to ring? I don't
know how it will go, will just have to
see.

When I had Ike (RB) I rigged up a motion sensor aimed at the cat door.
This was connected to a flashing light and chime bell. This way I
always knew right away when Ike wanted to come in.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

Thank you Phil I will make a note of that will try it if it gets actually
cold here in Florida. Both our shelters are total indoors for the cats;
every cat has their own holding area , all kept temperature controlled
buildings. Only thing out side is some of the staffs horses and goats that
live at the shelter

Can't do all kitten food I really meant what I said there are some of the
cats that actually throw it back up if it is all kitten chow going to try
adding a little bit to see if they can tolerate it about 15 cats out of 85
permanet cats we have here at this given moment.
The average kitten is adopted in 10 days after quarantine and shots are
given at the other shelter the cat society only deals with older cats that
were going to be put to sleep for lack of county shelter space

Ajanta wrote:

The problem I am bracing myself for is,
how do I know when she arrives?

See my post about a motion sensor.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

Phil P. wrote:

Most vets aren't well educated in feline nutrition- especially the ones who
graduated 5 years ago. Most vets get their education from pet food company
reps.

What malarchy!

You think a man or woman qualified (unlike yourself) to do surgery on
an animal would rely on marketeers to educate themselves on the subject
of nutrition?

You're gonna have to give some kind of supporting evidence, ha! more
than just you're opinion. If I was a vet? I would be greatly offended
at your audacity and pure ignorance.

You must have no clue as to what a real vet has to go through in order
to become a vet. What? You think nutrition is not part of passing the
exam?

Joe Canuck wrote:

: Do they look overweight?
: Does it look like they have been losing weight over a period of time?

I don't think either is the case.

(1) One cat I feed regularly, almost everyday. She may sneak in some
extra food here and there but I view myself as her primary source of
food. Our "relationship" goes beyond food though, she started visiting
my porch while she was being fed by a neighbor. I think their son was
too much annoyance for her and she used to escape to my higher and
quieter porch immediately after eating. :-) When they moved back to
Europe I took over feeding her.

(2) The other one shows up only once or twice a week but does not have
a starved look and must have some other place(s) to eat.