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problematic if you’re also faced with other wildlife which is nocturnal. In that case, youmay want to train the cats to come eat during a limited window of time during daylighthours. When the time’s up, remove any uneaten food.Your feeding station can also help deterpigeons and other birds. Most pigeons willbe reluctant to enter a confined space, sousing a Rubbermaid bin as a feeding stationwith the openings cut in the narrow sides(see Figure 5-2) will deter them from goingFigure 5-5after the food. For an extra safeguardagainst pigeons entering the feeding station,use a piece of thick plastic a couple of incheslarger than the doorway on all sides. Cut theplastic length-wise into inch-wide strips,leaving a two inch border uncut at the top.With duct tape, attach the plastic over theentrance(s) to your feeding stations (Figure 5-5). Birds will be unwilling to push throughthe dangling strips but the cats will quickly learn to navigate past them. Preventing water from freezingA common problem in cold weather climates is preventing the cats’ water fromfreezing during the winter. While cats usually drink very little water, they do need some.This is especially true when they’re being fed mostly dry food, as is often the case inwintertime when wet food can quickly freeze. There are a number of ways to keep thewater unfrozen or at least slow down the freezing process. Which method you choosewill greatly depend on the conditions at your colony’s site. If you’re feeding the cats inyour own backyard, then an electrically heated water bowl is an option. But if you travelto a vacant lot and feed behind a pile of old tires, putting the water inside a Styrofoamcooler in a deep, thick plastic bowl may be your best choice.One common myth is that it’s better to put out hot water than cold because the hotwater supposedly will take longer to freeze. The reverse is true. Warm water evaporatesquickly in cold temperatures, leaving less water in the bowl. The lesser quantity willfreeze faster than if colder water had initially been used. In other words, don’t heat upthe water!Here are some ideas to keep the tap flowing:• Electrically heated water bowlThis is the ideal solution when feasible. The bowl can be purchased in plastic orstainless steel, comes with a weather protected power cord and keeps the water heated atall times. The water will evaporate relatively fast, so the bowl should be able to hold atleast a gallon of water and will need to be re-filled daily. Wet food can be placed in thistype of bowl as well to prevent it from freezing, but will quickly dry up. KV Supplyoffers the plastic and stainless steel versions, both coming with 70 inch power cords – do34