We bought a heated water bowl a few years ago for our rabbit (RB,
2002), who lived in our enclosed, but unheated porch. It cost about
$35, was quite large, and had a steel wrapped cord. It worked great.

Rene

I was thinking the same thing--wow, if the water is frozen, how about
the cats? Like us they are 90-some percent water. Good suggestion.

I put one of those into the doghouse I fixed up for the ferals in my
back yard.  That and a bunch of old cushions.  

Priscilla

I did look for the heated bowls and they are about $25 - $30 at Petco / PetSmart / etc.  I'll pick
one up tomorrow.

As for their house,  it's not drafty and there's at least 5 cats int here so I'm sure they can keep
relatively warm with their body heat and the blankets.  Their parents made it through last winter
without a house at all so it's an improvement at least. :)

I am also temporarily in an apartment and faced a similar issue with
regard to bird water. I found I could crack a window open and sneak an
extension cord through the crack, under the screen, and to the balcony
deck. I used some wonderful old "duct" tape to seal the window. I'm up
on the third floor, so have little concern about getting broke into.
But I think you could drop a stick in the window so it could not be
opened any furthere. Additionally everything I own is in storage at
Allied Van Lines anyway. This apartment living really sucks. I'm
afraid after 50+ years of living in houses I am ill equipped for
apartment living. It's not that I'm not used to kids running up and
down the hallway upstairs, it's just that I used to be able to yell at
them because they were mine, now I can't.

They do make Solar Powered things for Bird Baths.  No idea about prices or anything,  Also, use a
Black water bowl since dark colors get hotter all by themselves in the sun.  Might want to check
some specialty Gardening Stores that would sell solar power heated birdbaths or something like that

Here's one possible thing I found...

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/duncraft/unsolsip.html

Just a stray thought. . .what about those disposable foot and hand
warmers? The orange ones that deer hunters use. I haven't priced them,
but would imagine you could use one per day during only the really
cold days--think they last 8 hours or more.  You could put a smaller
bowl inside a bigger bowl and put the warmer under the smaller bowl.

Rene

I saw those bowls at Petsmart, too; Wal Mart has something similar for about
$20.
Christine