leaving water bowl outside?

Question

my cats are mostly indoor but i do let them out for a few hours each evening. when doing so i fill a water bowl but sometimes a local possum drinks from the bowl. should i stop leaving the water bowl outside or let it go?

Answer 1

I would keep them inside. I know it's tough...I have three cats and inevitably they sneak out a couple times a week.
I don't like it though. We live in a rural area, so although there is less risk from traffic there is more risk from stray/feral cats and dogs, wildlife (coyotes!), etc.
Possums carry fleas, ticks, parasites, and (very rarely) rabies. If you have possums around, you probably have other wildlife such as mice and other rodents, skunks, and raccoons. Coons and skunks carry rabies. They all may carry a bacteria called leptospirosis. Mice transmit parasites.
All in all...it's a kinder world inside your house.

Answer 2

I've had a water bowl outside year round (it's heated in the winter) for the stray cats. Raccoons, squirrels and possums drink from it and our outdoor strays are fine with sharing.

I change the water three times a week, washing the bowls out with soap and water. I don't consider it a spreader of disease. Local wildlife has a hard time in the city finding a reliable water source so I've only considered it a benefit. Actually the only downside I find is that the raccoons are filthy and put mud in the thing when they come by. It gets washed out by me every time I see it in that condition.

Answer 3

I have a better idea. Send your cats out when they are dehydrated. Put water outside. When the possum comes, let the cats roam free outside and give em a drink. When they look at the possum, theyll kill it.

Answer 4

With a possum visiting, you shouldn't leave your dogs out long unattended.
I had a possum get into the dog run and it got very nasty - the dogs got the possum, but it was quite a fight.
Now I stay with the dogs while they were out.

Yes, of course, you need to leave water out for your dogs when they are outside - you just shouldn't be leaving your dogs out by themselves for so long.

Answer 5

You might want to mix it with some dog food and sprinkle a pinch of salt over it. It might want some rice to the side. NOT A JOKE aliens love Pet-rice cuisine. you could just leave a box-trap and out put a peace in the middle of a crop circle in a picture. If you want, go out and see if it will come with you, (shine the light on the ground) tell it it a sweet low voice (like would an animal) and talk very slow and relaxing the first couple minutes and you might be able to coax it to come with you. Good luck!

Answer 6

definately do not let your pets drink from anything that may come in contact with a wild animal due to parasites, disease, etc..... I would just amke sure that they have plenty to drink when in the home and if they're out for a brief time then there is not a risk of dehydration