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Angelheart
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 222 total posts
Name:
Cathy
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Advice on feeding cats
I have 2 indoor cats so I just want to start off that I can't take the 3 strays that I feed everyday. Then come to my door and meow,my heart breaks and I feed them. I feel sooo bad for them and there is a white one with blue eyes and just so sweet,but anyway.
I leave food for them but I get thousands of ants swarming around the food. I had it on my porch and ended up with ants in my house. Now I put it on the sidewalk but now I need a way to keep the ants away. I also need a way to keep the birds away from the food
. It is getting my DH angry and doesn't want me to feed them becaause of the ants but I just can't stop
Help me please!!!!!
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Posted 5/13/09 4:30 PM  |
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CallaLily
Thank you, Saint Gerard!
Member since 10/07 4937 total posts
Name:
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Do you feed them wet or dry food? The dry food probably won't attract ants like that.
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| Posted 5/13/09 7:20 PM |
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Angelheart
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 222 total posts
Name:
Cathy
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
I give them dry food and ants by the thousands are in the bowl. I would really be in the poor house if I gave them wet food.
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| Posted 5/13/09 7:43 PM |
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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Ok, try this:
Try putting the bowl of food inside of another (larger) bowl. In the outer bowl, put enough water so that it's filled up about halfway.
We used to have an ant problem in our old house on LI, and they would find their way to our cat's food in the kitchen. This was literally the only way we could find to stop it. The ants won't be able to get to the food because they'll drown. BUT, the cats will still be able to eat the food.
I hope it works for you! You are doing a wonderful thing 
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| Posted 5/17/09 10:04 PM |
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Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Start feeding the cats at specific times of the day for a certain amount of time. Soon the cats will know what time is feeding time and you won't need to leave the food out. This will also keep other animals from coming round (raccoons and opossums)
As an aside- please think about spaying/neutering these cats. They may be strays, but by feeding them you have essentially adopted them. Feeding them is not as helpful as most people think. Fixing them is truly the loving thng to do.
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| Posted 5/17/09 10:24 PM |
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Angelheart
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 222 total posts
Name:
Cathy
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Posted by MrsRivera
Ok, try this:
Try putting the bowl of food inside of another (larger) bowl. In the outer bowl, put enough water so that it's filled up about halfway.
We used to have an ant problem in our old house on LI, and they would find their way to our cat's food in the kitchen. This was literally the only way we could find to stop it. The ants won't be able to get to the food because they'll drown. BUT, the cats will still be able to eat the food.
I hope it works for you! You are doing a wonderful thing
I love this idea. That will work for the ants do you have any suggestions for the birds?
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| Posted 5/17/09 11:24 PM |
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Angelheart
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 222 total posts
Name:
Cathy
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Posted by Porrruss
Start feeding the cats at specific times of the day for a certain amount of time. Soon the cats will know what time is feeding time and you won't need to leave the food out. This will also keep other animals from coming round (raccoons and opossums)
As an aside- please think about spaying/neutering these cats. They may be strays, but by feeding them you have essentially adopted them. Feeding them is not as helpful as most people think. Fixing them is truly the loving thng to do.
I have a feeling someone may have done it already. Honestly if I had the money I would but we can barely meet our bills every month.
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| Posted 5/17/09 11:25 PM |
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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9923 total posts
Name:
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Ok....this may be the silliest thing i've ever written but......draw a chalk line around the food bowl. Apparently this is not an old wives tale....ants really will not cross a chalk line.
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| Posted 5/18/09 10:42 AM |
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Angelheart
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 222 total posts
Name:
Cathy
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Posted by Domino
Ok....this may be the silliest thing i've ever written but......draw a chalk line around the food bowl. Apparently this is not an old wives tale....ants really will not cross a chalk line.
THese ideas are great and I am going to try that and the water. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop the birds from eating it?
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| Posted 5/18/09 11:37 AM |
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ODonnell
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Member since 9/05 5983 total posts
Name:
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Posted by Angelheart
Posted by Domino
Ok....this may be the silliest thing i've ever written but......draw a chalk line around the food bowl. Apparently this is not an old wives tale....ants really will not cross a chalk line.
THese ideas are great and I am going to try that and the water. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop the birds from eating it?
We also feed outside cats. We have the food right by the side of the house and while we don't have a huge ant problem, the birds are terrible. They know better than the cats when feeding time is. There is bird sh!t everywhere too. We can't figure out what to do, but I did see a feeding device at the weekend where the cat (or dog) has to walk into the feeder. Even though it was a little expensive, I am thinking of getting it. One of my inside cats loves the birds. He talks and sings to them.
Message edited 5/19/2009 8:01:39 AM.
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| Posted 5/19/09 8:00 AM |
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Angelheart
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 222 total posts
Name:
Cathy
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Posted by ODonnell
Posted by Angelheart
Posted by Domino
Ok....this may be the silliest thing i've ever written but......draw a chalk line around the food bowl. Apparently this is not an old wives tale....ants really will not cross a chalk line.
THese ideas are great and I am going to try that and the water. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop the birds from eating it?
We also feed outside cats. We have the food right by the side of the house and while we don't have a huge ant problem, the birds are terrible. They know better than the cats when feeding time is. There is bird sh!t everywhere too. We can't figure out what to do, but I did see a feeding device at the weekend where the cat (or dog) has to walk into the feeder. Even though it was a little expensive, I am thinking of getting it. One of my inside cats loves the birds. He talks and sings to them.[/
Where did you see it? One of my indoor cats is the same way with the birds. My heart breaks for the strays and I wish I could take them in. There is a pure white on with blue eyes and a sweet personality. After I feed her(not sure what it is but I call her a she because she is so pretty) she sits right in front of my door and wants to come in. My 2 cats will freak as well as my husband. I also don't know if she has any diseases. I feel soooo bad.
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| Posted 5/19/09 8:18 AM |
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ODonnell
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Member since 9/05 5983 total posts
Name:
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Posted by Angelheart
Where did you see it? One of my indoor cats is the same way with the birds. My heart breaks for the strays and I wish I could take them in. There is a pure white on with blue eyes and a sweet personality. After I feed her(not sure what it is but I call her a she because she is so pretty) she sits right in front of my door and wants to come in. My 2 cats will freak as well as my husband. I also don't know if she has any diseases. I feel soooo bad.
We actually saw the feeder at a nursery near us - Papa's on Connetquot Avenue in Islip Terrace/North Great River. They only had one and it was all dusty, so it was obviously in stock a long time. I am pretty sure my DH said it was $49.99. He's going to go back today to look at it to see if it will work for us. I will let you know the make etc. if he buys it.
We have been feeding two strays for more than three years now. They are both gorgeous cats with the nicest temperment. It's so sad that they have to live rough. All our neighbours are cat lovers and one lady built a huge shelter for them to stay in in the winter. My indoor cats go wild when they see them too. Sometimes we are woken up in the middle of the night with howling and hissing. Too bad for them, they have a great life!
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| Posted 5/19/09 9:55 AM |
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Angelheart
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 222 total posts
Name:
Cathy
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Re: Advice on feeding cats
Posted by ODonnell
Posted by Angelheart
Where did you see it? One of my indoor cats is the same way with the birds. My heart breaks for the strays and I wish I could take them in. There is a pure white on with blue eyes and a sweet personality. After I feed her(not sure what it is but I call her a she because she is so pretty) she sits right in front of my door and wants to come in. My 2 cats will freak as well as my husband. I also don't know if she has any diseases. I feel soooo bad.
We actually saw the feeder at a nursery near us - Papa's on Connetquot Avenue in Islip Terrace/North Great River. They only had one and it was all dusty, so it was obviously in stock a long time. I am pretty sure my DH said it was $49.99. He's going to go back today to look at it to see if it will work for us. I will let you know the make etc. if he buys it.
We have been feeding two strays for more than three years now. They are both gorgeous cats with the nicest temperment. It's so sad that they have to live rough. All our neighbours are cat lovers and one lady built a huge shelter for them to stay in in the winter. My indoor cats go wild when they see them too. Sometimes we are woken up in the middle of the night with howling and hissing. Too bad for them, they have a great life!
Thank you I would really appreciate it. I bet I could find it on ebay even if it is used it would be good. The money you spend on it will definitely be worth it. Thanks I will wait for the information.
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| Posted 5/19/09 10:03 AM |
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