Conference misery::feline

    Sure, water for birds, etc. is very important.  You can even
    get little inexpensive heating rods designed to keep the water
    in bird baths from freezing.  I actually have the shallow bowl
    part of a concrete birdbath resting directly n the ground, as
    this makes it more accessible to neighborhood cats, squirrels,
    etc. and because when it was on the usual pedestal it once fell
    off and killed a kitten who was apparently trying to drink out of it.
    :-( :-(
    

    I have a feral cat -- been feeding him for just about a year now.  He's
    gone from skin and bones to fat and fluffy.  I am finding with the
    frigid temps we've been having that it is impossible to put water out
    for him or canned food because it freezes almost instantly!!  He's
    eating the dry, but I worry about where he is getting his liquid
    supply.  Hopefully there are some attainable sources outdoors.
    
    Kelsey dances around the water bowls and tips them over.  Even with
    tip-proof bowls he still manages to do this!
    

    I put water out for my cat every morning.  I know other cats/animals
    drink out of it because some days it is all gone (she can't be drinking
    that much).  Sure it freezes, but I give them enought credit to know 
    when it is availaible.
    
    Michele & Nippa
    
    p.s.
    
    Nippa has access to water inside too, ut she seems to prefer licking
    the dew off my truck or drinking from the public water supply
    
    

    I spend time every morning and evening making sure there
    is water available for the horses, rabbit and cats.
    
    Nothing better than kicking ice out of buckets and banging
    ice out of bowls in this kind of weather....Burrrrr (: 

    I also stopped leaving water out...because it does freeze
    within 5 minutes.  But what I do is if I see my feral comming
    or sitting on my porch waiting...I give him water then...
    but I also add water to the can food...so atleast I know he
    is getting some liquid.
    
    Question...I have this fear...that a cat can get his tongue stuck in 
    a frozen water bowl.   Is this true...or is the cat smart enough
    not to go near the frozen water?   Ever since I watched the
    Christmas story where the little boy got his tongue stuck on
    the telephone pole...I worry about his for the outside furfaces.
    
    Sandy

    
    
       I too have wondered about their little tongue's getting stuck to
       water bowls outside, as i'm also feeding two little furry babes at
       my door.

    If you fill the outside bowl with warm water, it might last a tad bit
    longer before freezing.
    
    I don't think that cats would lick frozen water, but I could be wrong. 
    I read in a book called The Cat by Muriel Beadle that cats noses can
    detect temperatures better than any other species, and I would think
    that when they got their noses down close enough, they would realize
    how cold that frozen water was and not try it.  I would hope anyway. On
    the other hand, I have known some of my Birmans to be completely
    clueless at times. :')
    
    Jo

    My barncat, Nique, licks the frozen water in her dish.
    I haven't found her stuck yet! (:  She seems to have a
    thing for ice.  She licks it whenever she gets a chance.
    However, she does like milk......so she gets some warmed
    up at night, kind of like that warm cup of tea/cocoa you
    have, before going to sleep.  It helps me get liquid into
    her.....I also refill all the small animal dishes with
    warm water....

    I have yet to see a cat run around with the clump of ice stuck to their
    little noses or toungues (did anyone see home improvement last nite?)
    but I think they must sence the ice vs. water.

    Re: .3
    
    The state of the outside water dish in the morning tells me who's been
    there overnight, based on random observations:
    
    Some clean water left: my cat nephews.
    Some dirty water left: the racoons.
    No water left: the opossum.
    

    Karen-
    
    Where do you put your water dish?  I have mine on the front stoop
    near the spiket.  This way I easily remember to fill it am and pm
    when I walk by.  Do you think raccons or opossums would come out in the 
    day to a stoop for water?  Well maybe if they were thirsty enough.  I
    figured the neighborhood kitties were stopping by for sips.
    
    Michele 

    Karen...how right you are with your water theory!!  Michele...the
    only time I ever see my racoons/opposums is either early AM (before
    it gets light) or after dark.   They may make a rare appearance during
    the day...but I have never seen one.
    
    
    Sandy

    I've never seen the racoons or opossum except at night.  I have the
    water dish on the back steps, which are the ones I use most of the
    time, and they open into the kitchen, so it's easy to fill the
    dish.
    

    Actually, I should add that the back steps of course face the back
    yard.  My front steps face the street, and I'm not certain the
    animals go out there since it's more likely to have disturbances such
    as people and cars.
    

    Re: .10  Oh, you're so right!!!  Those little piggy racoons and those
    opposums are so dumb, they just knock everything over!!  My momcat
    is always thirsty, so I put water out for her all year 'round.  The
    other strays don't seem overly interested, but she'll drink before
    eating if she's really thirsty.  Her 4 kids are the same way; they've
    all got water fetishes.
    
    I've seen electric heaters for birdbaths, but I just put water out
    when she's around and it seems to be OK.
    
    Mary
    

    My oppossums like to put their front paws on the edge of the bowl to
    steady it while they eat.  All I can hear while in bed trying to sleep
    is thunk, thunk, thunk.  It is scarey sometimes!  I always think an
    intruder is trying to get in.
    
    Kelsey, Taja and Herbie think the opposums are giant mice.  They get
    all wide eyed and practically try to jump through the slider at them!
    

    
      My two opposums (Oscar & Fred) are so cute and big, they put their
    feet on the paper plate and tip it so they get every last crumb, they
    are the only ones from the outside eaters that lick their plates
    clean..
    Domino loves to sit on the bay window and watch all this take place, so
    we usually sit together and watch them eat..My little one (Tykey) doesn't
    really care.
    
    
    Diana Tykey & Domino