Feeding Outside

My two boy both eat out of big mixing bowls (They're super messy and love to get food everywhere) and as the weather gets warmer, I'm wondering whether I should move their food bowls outside. They are currently in the porch which is always considerably warmer than outside when it's sunny, this room is considered 'their' room but I fear I may have to start throwing food away if it gets any warmer but don't know if it will attract other cats. We haven't had much problem with other cats though there are a few around. I think my boys have their territory pretty well established by this point.

I'm new here and learning as well because of my strays I'm wanting to adopt but I just witnessed a possum getting to their food and ran him/her off. I do need to find a way of getting a timed feeder for them though. So I'm glad you posted that instead of me bring up my thread from the other day every 5 minutes.

I wouldn't move them outside if I were you. You are pretty much inviting any wildlife, or strays/ferals, that might be around to come eat.

When my neighbor had two abandoned cats in her yard, even though it was in a fenced-in yard, and no other cats hang around that area, all of a sudden an outdoor cat in the neighborhood figured out there was food available and regularly came to eat it. Now that the abandoned cats have been trapped and are being taken care of, the other cat has disappeared.

Maybe you could use a bowl something like this one?

https://www.chewy.com/kh-pet-produc...4584894771012219&utm_content=Dog Bowls Diners

Also, you need to be careful regardless of what you do to try to keep the food cooler. Wet foods just shouldn't be left sitting out for very long. I use the 'no more than 4 hours' rule, but I know other members are comfortable leaving it out for 8 hours. However, given yours are in a place that is typical warmer than inside the house, I think the 4 hours would be a wise limitation for you.

FeebysOwner said:

I wouldn't move them outside if I were you. You are pretty much inviting any wildlife, or strays/ferals, that might be around to come eat.

When my neighbor had two abandoned cats in her yard, even though it was in a fenced-in yard, and no other cats hang around that area, all of a sudden an outdoor cat in the neighborhood figured out there was food available and regularly came to eat it. Now that the abandoned cats have been trapped and are being taken care of, the other cat has disappeared.

Maybe you could use a bowl something like this one?

https://www.chewy.com/kh-pet-products-coolin-bowl-dog-cat/dp/140991?utm_id=272259755&msclkid=0ac86535a5c31531b5f139f52585322a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping-Product Targets-Hard Goods-NB&utm_term=4584894771012219&utm_content=Dog Bowls Diners

Also, you need to be careful regardless of what you do to try to keep the food cooler. Wet foods just shouldn't be left sitting out for very long. I use the 'no more than 4 hours' rule, but I know other members are comfortable leaving it out for 8 hours. However, given yours are in a place that is typical warmer than inside the house, I think the 4 hours would be a wise limitation for you.

Click to expand...

It’s never normally still there after two hours max. I think I will keep it inside and maybe invest in one of those bowls or one similar

To add to what FeebysOwner wrote: there's also the insect factor. One of our cats likes to eat on the screened veranda and if she leaves any food, it usually attracts bugs pretty quickly. Not the worst thing in the world but not pleasant, either!

I see you're likely going to keep the food inside -- I think that's a good thing! (We have so many animals in our suburban yard -- woodchucks, other cats, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, chipmunks, mice, shrews, birds, and who knows what all else that I can't even begin to imagine leaving food outside! )