Above Ground Container Pond - Water Hazard :/

I woke up, and on my walk to the car this morning I saw a terrible
site in my (above ground) half whiskey barrel pond. After five
months, it finally happened: a bird, either a robin or mourning dove,
drowned in there. And if it wasn't already ill, if they're that
insistant to get water I might just have to finally get a bird bath.

Figured that this would happen eventually. My cat could be next, I
think. Does anyone have any ideas to make the thing safer? One
suggestion was to put wire on the top, so that it closes out the
surface. I was thinking more along the lines of making steps so that
any unsuspecting creature can climb out, including my cat. As it is,
the pot that the water lily is in looks as though it could hold kitty
half way submerged, still able to breath air. I was thinking of
possibly making some steps for an unsuspecting critter to climb out,
but I'd like to make it so that the the fish still have enough room to
swim around in.

Daniel Phillips

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