How to feed the ferals in my neighborhood?

There are two dogs in my house, so i cant put the food in my yard, plus im nervous about calling rats to my yard. How do you guys feed the neighborhood cats?

I have a rock wall that gives our us privacy. the ferals walk through there at night. i was thinking of placing dry food up there in plates or something.

i just need some ideas.

Hmm. I have a "cat house" (made from the Alley Cat Allies plans, but uninsulated) on the side of my garage, with an automatic dry food dispenser and a water bowl (a heated bowl in the winter) inside. That part of my yard isn't fenced so the dogs aren't an issue. If you don't have an unfenced area in your yard, that could get difficult. Are there any non-dog area s on your property? Sometimes it just takes a little creativity.

I don't know how bad the rat problem is in your area, but if you keep the stored food in a rodent-proof container and don't leave too much out, the rats shouldn't get any ideas. That's what cats are for, right?!? :tongue2: I did get a rat in my garage one winter but I don't believe that had anything to do with the cat food being outside the garage. Other than that I haven't had any rodent issues.

And, of course, if you're going to feed the ferals, make sure you have them altered! If you can't TNR, it's best not to feed them either .

You can have the cat food on a table. Make sure the legs are under the table, not in the corners.

Rats can surely climb a wood leg, but they cant climb further on, upside down, if the legs are UNDER the table´s surface.

Also, it the dogs happen to be outside as the cat is there, he can always take shelter on this table.

(depends of course on the dogs size and atletic).  Alternatively, make sure there is a suitable tree or  perhaps holes in a wall near the ground, so the cats have always somewhere to run to.

Willowy said:

And, of course, if you're going to feed the ferals, make sure you have them altered! If you can't TNR, it's best not to feed them either

.

Click to expand...

I second this.  Very true.

Good luck!

Willowy said:

And, of course, if you're going to feed the ferals, make sure you have them altered! If you can't TNR, it's best not to feed them either

.

Click to expand...

The thing is there is this lady a few houses down that always has cats in her yard, most of them are hers, and others are ones shes adopted from the neighborhood. I dont feel comfortable neutering/spaying a cat that could belong to her.

Maybe you can talk to her and coordinate your efforts? It's important to spay/neuter free-roaming cats if you're going to feed them, as a steady food source increases their reproductive rate substantially. Maybe she's already had them fixed, you never know until you ask!