Water troughs

**Range** · 06-27-2008, 12:23 PM

What do you put in your horse water bins so your barn cats can get out? I thought something like a board, but I don't want to put something in there the horses will get hurt on.

oveywon · 06-27-2008, 12:27 PM

I thought cats hated water. My troughs are fairly low so a cat wouldn't have a problem holding his head up in a full one. I'm sure any form of ladder would be adequate though...they're great climbers.

Crookedblaze · 06-27-2008, 12:30 PM

My barn cats steer clear of the water troughs, Mac likes to play in his...they got soaked once and now they steer clear.

I generally only fill mine up about 1/2 of the way because my horses get the water filthy in a few days...then also, if anything falls in it's head will be above the water.

**Range** · 06-27-2008, 12:32 PM

In the last three days, I've lost three 6 week old kittens in one 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full in a stall with a horse in it. Last night, I lost an adolescent kitten in another 5 gallon bucket 3/4 full in a stall with a horse in it.

Don't know how to fix that, but since I seem to be having a problem and I have a 100 gallon waterer...I want to make sure if a cat gets in it on purpose or by accident, they can get out.

Horse poor · 06-27-2008, 12:34 PM

I use 150 gallon Rubbermaid troughs. They have a couple rims in them so that if a cat fell in it could grab the lip to get out. They rarely bother though because the horses will bug them and I keep water in a 6 gallon tub for all the little critters.

oveywon · 06-27-2008, 12:35 PM

Awww, Range, I'm sorry. I would've never dreamed such a thing would happen with barn cats. Maybe any fat rope type thing would do. Anything they could get a grip on.....

pvf · 06-27-2008, 01:37 PM

Range show your kittys where there water is and keep theres full maybe then they will leave the other buckets alone. We had one kitty that did that once.

Freedomnchrist · 06-27-2008, 01:46 PM

All of my kitties drink out of the water trough. But they have been doing really well to not fall in. They are the first ones to drink out of it when I fill it up!

BarnBum · 06-27-2008, 01:55 PM

My cats have their own seperate bucket, just for them.

Maybe that is whay your cats need.

What about getting the flat back buckets and hang them.

This will keep the cats out.

However, you will need to make sure they have thier own
water bucket.

Kelly1277 · 06-27-2008, 01:56 PM

My friend had the same prob so in her big water buckets she puts a big block in the middle .so if the cats do fall in they can get out

mlh619 · 06-27-2008, 02:45 PM

I usually just wedge a 2x4 in on a diagonal so the cats can get out. My horses have never hurt themselves on it, even the ones who like to pull it out every once in a while.

Raaslita · 06-27-2008, 06:55 PM

How about for your bigger water troughs put couple on empty milk crates weighted down with bricks...

Or just put some cinder blocks in there so the cats can stand on them to get out...

I have never had this problem, but these were my first thoughs...

As for the five gallon buckets. I dont have a clue..Can you hang your buckets on the walls of the stall???

So sorry for the loss of the kittys though.. thats terrible..who would've thought 5 gallon buckets only 3/4 full could so many problems

**Range** · 06-27-2008, 11:00 PM

Just so you all know, the barn cats have several of their own waterers...just their size, filled with fresh water every day.

Some good ideas, thanks!

Mav2007 · 06-27-2008, 11:24 PM

We lost a couple cats in water tanks when I was a kid. I think we put a board across the top, that way if the cat wanted to drink out of the tank they had a platform to stand on. Then, if they fell in, they could hopefully get their claws up and over that board, grab on and pull themselves out. This only works if your water tank is always full. If it's too low, they will be too far from the platform to grab it with their paws.

We had one cat drown in a plastic rubbermaid tub because I set it next to the fence. Apparently the cat was playing on the 5 rail fence, lost her grip and fell into the barrel. Very sad to find a floating kitty

breburtch · 06-29-2008, 07:34 AM

what about a large rock or one of those grooming stools you can get that open to put brushes in? you could put a few rocks or something in it to weigh it down so it wont float up.

Anywhere I've ever worked that had barn cats and when we had out door cats they usually steered clear of the large water tubs because water was put out for them. Was generally the little kittens that got nosey and fell in and they always got out except for one and it was because the tub was half empty so it couldn't grab anything to pull itself out but luckily my mom was home and heard it crying and got it out before it could drown.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
how much water?	donna	General Horse Advice	2	05-23-2007 10:51 AM
Water, water, everywhere!	Littonian	Boarding / Farm Upkeep & Real Estate	23	11-25-2006 09:34 AM
Self Feeders or Troughs	Range	General Horse Advice	1	11-20-2005 10:05 AM

06-27-2008, 12:23 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,685	Water troughs What do you put in your horse water bins so your barn cats can get out? I thought something like a board, but I don't want to put something in there the horses will get hurt on. __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

06-27-2008, 12:27 PM
oveywon Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,005	I thought cats hated water. My troughs are fairly low so a cat wouldn't have a problem holding his head up in a full one. I'm sure any form of ladder would be adequate though...they're great climbers. __________________ This Holiday Season remember ... That the place God chose for the birth of His only son was not a church, or a palace, but the home of animals - a stable.

06-27-2008, 12:30 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,360	My barn cats steer clear of the water troughs, Mac likes to play in his...they got soaked once and now they steer clear. I generally only fill mine up about 1/2 of the way because my horses get the water filthy in a few days...then also, if anything falls in it's head will be above the water. __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

06-27-2008, 12:32 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,685	In the last three days, I've lost three 6 week old kittens in one 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full in a stall with a horse in it. Last night, I lost an adolescent kitten in another 5 gallon bucket 3/4 full in a stall with a horse in it. Don't know how to fix that, but since I seem to be having a problem and I have a 100 gallon waterer...I want to make sure if a cat gets in it on purpose or by accident, they can get out. __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

06-27-2008, 12:34 PM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,102	I use 150 gallon Rubbermaid troughs. They have a couple rims in them so that if a cat fell in it could grab the lip to get out. They rarely bother though because the horses will bug them and I keep water in a 6 gallon tub for all the little critters. __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

06-27-2008, 12:35 PM
oveywon Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,005	Awww, Range, I'm sorry. I would've never dreamed such a thing would happen with barn cats. Maybe any fat rope type thing would do. Anything they could get a grip on..... __________________ This Holiday Season remember ... That the place God chose for the birth of His only son was not a church, or a palace, but the home of animals - a stable.

06-27-2008, 01:37 PM
pvf Regional Forums Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 6,420	Range show your kittys where there water is and keep theres full maybe then they will leave the other buckets alone. We had one kitty that did that once. __________________ www.prairieviewfarms.net Raising Reg. Paints and Quarter horses

06-27-2008, 01:46 PM
Freedomnchrist Greenbroke Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,312	All of my kitties drink out of the water trough. But they have been doing really well to not fall in. They are the first ones to drink out of it when I fill it up!

06-27-2008, 01:55 PM
BarnBum Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 3,542	My cats have their own seperate bucket, just for them. Maybe that is whay your cats need. What about getting the flat back buckets and hang them. This will keep the cats out. However, you will need to make sure they have thier own water bucket. __________________ Murphys Horse Law - A horse's misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching !! Last edited by BarnBum : 06-27-2008 at 01:59 PM.

06-27-2008, 01:56 PM
Kelly1277 Newborn Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: PA Posts: 39	My friend had the same prob so in her big water buckets she puts a big block in the middle .so if the cats do fall in they can get out

06-27-2008, 02:45 PM
mlh619 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sask, Canada Posts: 489	I usually just wedge a 2x4 in on a diagonal so the cats can get out. My horses have never hurt themselves on it, even the ones who like to pull it out every once in a while.

06-27-2008, 06:55 PM
Raaslita Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Moreno Valley, CA Posts: 349	How about for your bigger water troughs put couple on empty milk crates weighted down with bricks... Or just put some cinder blocks in there so the cats can stand on them to get out... I have never had this problem, but these were my first thoughs... As for the five gallon buckets. I dont have a clue..Can you hang your buckets on the walls of the stall??? So sorry for the loss of the kittys though.. thats terrible..who would've thought 5 gallon buckets only 3/4 full could so many problems __________________ Life with out a horse, is not having a life.. RIP Littlebit 1997-2008,life without you will never be the same

06-27-2008, 11:00 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,685	Just so you all know, the barn cats have several of their own waterers...just their size, filled with fresh water every day. Some good ideas, thanks! __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

06-27-2008, 11:24 PM
Mav2007 Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,448	We lost a couple cats in water tanks when I was a kid. I think we put a board across the top, that way if the cat wanted to drink out of the tank they had a platform to stand on. Then, if they fell in, they could hopefully get their claws up and over that board, grab on and pull themselves out. This only works if your water tank is always full. If it's too low, they will be too far from the platform to grab it with their paws. We had one cat drown in a plastic rubbermaid tub because I set it next to the fence. Apparently the cat was playing on the 5 rail fence, lost her grip and fell into the barrel. Very sad to find a floating kitty

06-29-2008, 07:34 AM
breburtch Coming two Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ennismore, Ontario Posts: 1,863	what about a large rock or one of those grooming stools you can get that open to put brushes in? you could put a few rocks or something in it to weigh it down so it wont float up. Anywhere I've ever worked that had barn cats and when we had out door cats they usually steered clear of the large water tubs because water was put out for them. Was generally the little kittens that got nosey and fell in and they always got out except for one and it was because the tub was half empty so it couldn't grab anything to pull itself out but luckily my mom was home and heard it crying and got it out before it could drown.