Hello all,
I am getting a little concerned about birds eating the feral cat food. I feed about 7 cats every morning. They don't all come out at the same time (some not until 11 am or later) so there is a plate of dry food and a bowl of water out for most of the morning/early afternoon.
I do see birds eating from the food during the time it is out. I can't think of any way to make sure all the cats eat and drink without having the birds get to it. I'm not worried about transmitting bird flu to myself or my indoor cat because I don't touch anything (ungloved) the cats have touched or eaten out of and I always try to keep shoes separate and not walk in house. I also never touch any of the food I feed them which I keep indoors with anything that has been in contact with the ferals (I put on new paper plate every morning, etc).
Like I said I can't think of any way around this. I'm not going to stop feeding or limiting their food to avoid a (slight at this point) chance they get sick from the birds. I'm in NY and it's in the teens and single digits here now so they need regular food and water to keep healthy and survive. Are others getting concerned with the same issue?
I do have boxes with straw for them in a shed to which I leave the door open about 8 inches I suppose I could move the food in there (it is currently in the yard about 20 ft from the shed). I'd have to move it slowly towards the shed over a week or so so they know where it is. I don't think the birds would go into the shed. It's not my first choice of spots to feed them since it's somewhat confined. Looking forward to see if anyone has other suggestions or solutions they are thinking about.
I am getting a little concerned about birds eating the feral cat food. I feed about 7 cats every morning. They don't all come out at the same time (some not until 11 am or later) so there is a plate of dry food and a bowl of water out for most of the morning/early afternoon.
I do see birds eating from the food during the time it is out. I can't think of any way to make sure all the cats eat and drink without having the birds get to it. I'm not worried about transmitting bird flu to myself or my indoor cat because I don't touch anything (ungloved) the cats have touched or eaten out of and I always try to keep shoes separate and not walk in house. I also never touch any of the food I feed them which I keep indoors with anything that has been in contact with the ferals (I put on new paper plate every morning, etc).
Like I said I can't think of any way around this. I'm not going to stop feeding or limiting their food to avoid a (slight at this point) chance they get sick from the birds. I'm in NY and it's in the teens and single digits here now so they need regular food and water to keep healthy and survive. Are others getting concerned with the same issue?
I do have boxes with straw for them in a shed to which I leave the door open about 8 inches I suppose I could move the food in there (it is currently in the yard about 20 ft from the shed). I'd have to move it slowly towards the shed over a week or so so they know where it is. I don't think the birds would go into the shed. It's not my first choice of spots to feed them since it's somewhat confined. Looking forward to see if anyone has other suggestions or solutions they are thinking about.
