How to feed wild cats (feral cats) without feeding ants

Yes, those dots floating in the water are dead ants
But dozens of ants found a way to get into the food.

Note how the edge of the smaller bowl touches
the edge of the larger bowl.
I did not make a good innovation

How can we keep ants away from the food that we put out for feral cats?   Sweet stray cats like Cheinha, Cara Meia Branca and Rosie have to fight ants when they eat the food that we put out for them.

One way is to take two bowls.   The larger bowl is filled with water.  The other bowl sits in the water and we hope the ants stay away.   The results from the experiment were not good.  See the photos at the top of this review.
Look at this REMARKABLE "wiki how" article


The other way is to buy a bowl with a "water moat" around it.  Here is an image from an Amazon product.

Here is a question and answer from the review of this product 

Question:

how much food does each side hold?

Answer:

Hi - I am glad to answer. Each side holds either 1 cup of dry or 1 5oz can of wet food. I hope that helps. I really love this bowl. I actually am going to buy two more for the two feral cats I feed outside.

By Carolyn Williams on June 7, 2016

This is an interesting tip:

ByDolores Brennemanon February 1, 2018

Color: pink

I had a bowl like this before. Years ago. I put a small amount of dish soap 

in the moat and them put the water in the moat and filled it to the top. 

Yes, in hot weather it dries up fast so you just keep an eye on it 

and put more water, but it's still soapy in the moat. 

Cleans up pretty good also with the dish soap on the bottom.

GOOD TIP!  Add liquid soap

Here is another review

starsGreat for keeping ants out

September 6, 2017

Color: Blue Pet Bowl|

This bowl has been great so far for keeping ants out of the cat food. 

We are caring for a feral cat and need to leave food out overnight. 

Other bowls were full of ants the next morning, but not this one. 

Can't really tell from the picture but it does have some water in it. 

We fill it all the way in the evening.

Here is another tip

when the moat has an appropriate deterrent such as dish ...

BySallie H. Jaroson October 24, 2017

Color: Pink|

when the moat has an appropriate deterrent such as dish soap 

or vegetable oil or even a bit of diatomaceous earth with a 5% Sevin garden dust 

included this dish is very helpful. For my needs however the size is small