I'm getting my service dog on February 1st (yay!!!). I still haven't figured out where to move the cat food to. I assumed (and have been told by dog people) that I'll need to put the cat food somewhere that the dog isn't going to help himself. But I just can't come up with anyplace good. Any suggestions?
Right now, it's on the floor in the dining room by the window (behind the table, next to the cat tower). I want to keep it somewhere on the first floor, so that I actually remember to feed them. I'm afraid that if I move their food to the basement, I'll forget to feed them in the morning when I'm running late. I've considered the kitchen counter, but I really don't have much counter space to begin with, so that wouldn't work out very well for me. He's a big dog, so I need to really put it somewhere out of the way.
Do you have a bin you keep it in, or just the bag, I cannot see if you do or not....
I got a container at WalMart in the pet department that holds a 20 pound bag of cat food very nicely, and the lid snap locks tight...this is a container that even Callie has not figured out...and she has figured out our water cooler and answering machine!!
Congrats on the service dog....what is he going to be used to help you with?
I have a friend who's husband, oldest daughter and son all have service dogs for seizure disorders....plus her son us autistic and the dog helps tremendously in keeping him "out of his shell"
I agree with Tambrey. I got a container at Walmart for dog food which would probably hold a whole bag of dry cat food. It is actually a cereal container and was cheap...and you can even flip up the top lid to pour out the food.
Found a picture of it... http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/3 ... AA250_.jpg
You could probably either put the whole opened bag into the container or pour the cat food into it. Would fit right on the end of your counter or in a cupboard away from the pup. Nice place.
PS - just looked at the container...actually it is a sugar container which is wider than the cereal one..holds a 5 lb bag of cat food.
I thought kehorner meant where to put the feeder(s)? [Bags of cat chow etc can be stored anywhere?] If I get to go home to my Lakeview, New Orleans house, I will be facing this problem, as I definitely intend to have a dog again. I fed my cats on the kitchen counter, and my big dog was trained not to "counter surf"... but the layout of the kitchen will be different now, with probably no room for feeders - as kehorner describes.
What I am considering is a rolling "island" cart, like those displayed at Lowe's, Sam's and other places - either wood or metal. That way, if it didn't work one place, i.e. by the window in k's dining area, it could be rolled to another place - such as the end of the kitchen. But here again, the dog is going to have to be trained not to "counter surf" the cart. Other wise, a shelf unit with the feeder(s) on a shelf high enough so the dog can't reach it, could also be switched from in front of the window to the far wall of the kitchen.
Dot B
Austin
Are you talking about kitties' dishes or the bulk of the food (bag, container, etc) itself? If the former, be careful, if you move their dishes, they could get stressed and start acting out in numerous ways. Their food/dishes are their security blanket, so if you have to move the dishes, try to only move them to an area that is very close to where the dishes were already. Then, teach the dog to stay out of the dishes (I know, easier said than done)
Their food/dishes are their security blanket, so if you have to move the dishes, try to only move them to an area that is very close to where the dishes were already.
I agree - that's why it seems a cart or a shelf unit which would fit beside the cat tree by the dining area window would work best. That is where k says she is feeding the cats. However, I switched my cats back and forth between the kitchens in the two separate apartments of my New Orleans house for years and it never bothered them - Xanth and Q seemed to understand any arrangement was fine as long as that overgrown pup they had helped raise wouldn't snarf up their dinner!
Sorry - this thread brought back so many memories, couldn't resist showing this pic again... taken circa 1997, `Eowyn (Winnie) the GSD, black cat Q and white cat Xanth... only Q and I survive
I like E's idea of a small cart or table near the area where there are fed now. But, before you go all out, check with the group who is supplying/training your new dog. Most service dogs have been trained to basically ignore all distractions in their environment - including cats and cat food. I'm sure they knew about your cats, so I would think this would have been something they would have included in the dog's training.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
E's - you had posted that pic before, but it's still great! Q is truly a survivor after all he's been through. I know you miss the other 2 very much. They are all beautiful.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
E's...love that picture. And I bet you are right about the place to feed them...maybe she will tell us. We had 2 cats who ended up eating out of their bowls that were on top of the fridge when we got Honey. It just happened as one day my dau put them up there so the dog wouldn't get their food. The cats seemed to like it...being up high is something they like anyway. But bet you will figure out what works for you kehorner.
The cats were pretty funny. Honey used to try and herd them all the time...so to be up above her and look down was their sweet revenge.
