K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Cafe Stainless 30W

Details

Feeding a barn cat or a colony outside in winter means two problems at once: the water skins over and the wet food turns into a puck. This station heats both dishes from a single base, so a cat that comes in at dusk finds something it can actually eat and drink. Two 302-grade stainless steel bowls drop into the moulded base. The smaller holds 355 mL (12 oz) and is about 12 cm across and 4.5 cm deep; the larger holds 710 mL (24 oz) at about 16 cm across and 5.5 cm deep. Total draw is 30 watts, managed by an internal thermostat that fires only when the contents approach freezing. The cord is 1.7 m (5.5 ft) and abrasion-resistant wrapped, the electronics are sealed inside the base, and the unit is MET listed with a one-year limited warranty. The stainless bowls lift out and go in the dishwasher, which is the practical advantage over a one-piece plastic dish, since cat food residue does not survive a hot cycle. The base itself is wiped clean by hand and should never be submerged. Empty and wash the food side daily, because leftovers held at just above freezing still spoil. Site it under cover, on a porch or in a lean-to or shed with a cat door, rather than in open weather. Use a grounded, outdoor-rated circuit with GFCI protection, and route the cord where it cannot be chewed by cats, dogs or rodents. Ask your veterinarian about feeding routines for outdoor cats through a prairie winter.