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• Type of feeding stationThe perfect feeding station shields the food and water from the elements and hasroom for a cat or two to be inside while eating. The type of station you set up willdepend on where it’s located and what the property owner will permit. If you feed in aspot open to the public, you might not be able to put out equipment that could be easilydamaged or removed. Or if the property owner won’t allow you to use a structure of anykind, your options are also limited. On the other hand, if you’re feeding in a privatelocation that you own and have complete say over what goes where, you can be aselaborate as you’d like. The goal is to get as close to the ideal as circumstances allow.Rubbermaid binYou can turn a Rubbermaid storagebin into a station by cutting out anopening in one of the longer sides ofthe bin with a box cutter, leaving a lipof about three inches off the ground tokeep out any ground water from rain(Figure 5-1). A large opening like thisis needed to prevent a dominant catfrom going in and keeping everyoneelse out.Rubbermaid brand bins arerecommended because, in ourFigure 5-1experience, they are better made for therigors of the outdoors, like freezing temperatures, and will last longer before cracking andneeding to be replaced. If you use a box cutter to make an opening, start by tracing thedoorway lightly with the edge of the blade, then keep re-tracing the same lines, cutting ina little deeper each time. Don’t try to slice all the way through at once.Instead of one large opening in the front,you can cut two smaller openings, one on eachof the bin’s narrower sides (Figure 5-2).Again, leave a lip of a few inches on thebottom. Having two doorways and not justone will help prevent one cat from taking overthe whole cafeteria.The bins in the photos are 55 gallons inFigure 5-2size. If more suitable to the location, asmaller bin, such as a 30 gallon, can be used.If even a 30 gallon bin is too large andnoticeable for your site, then try to use one thatwill at least protect the food and water from the elements and allow the cats to stick theirheads in to eat and drink. Feeding stations made from storage bins are easy to cleanbecause they’re plastic, have a removable top and are quick to assemble.29