Re: 4/26 SCRABBLE Juicy Fruit Day 2 AMBG 72
Wow! Excitement galore! A great number to start the day and the prospect of a timed feeder. I have two of them, now. The Petsafe 5 compartment and the CatMate C 20 (2 compartment). Advantages and disadvantages to both. The Petsafe has to be completely in-sync or else it will stop between compartments and Scrabble won't be able to get his head in to get the food (this happened to Stu twice, even when I tried to take precautions). The instructions say to push the "manual advance" button to advance the tray into place. You have to push it multiple times to make sure that the first compartment is completely lined up with the opening in the cover. I suggest setting the electronic timer for 5 different times, getting the compartments lined up with the "manual advance" (don't try to do it by pushing it around by hand--this definitely does not work all the time!). Then do a trial run by putting something in the next compartment (I use a walnut). If the compartment wheel rotates the way it should, the walnut should be in the opening when the next set time arrives.
The CatMate C 20 works on two 48-hour mechanical timers. Each compartment has its own timer. You set the timers for anywhere from 1 to 48 hours and the tops of the food compartments spring open when the timer hits zero. One great advantage to the CatMate is that it comes with a freeze block, which fits under the food trays. It really works to keep the food cool. Also, it is not so huge (the Petsafe is gigantic!). The feeding trays are closer to the floor than the Petsafe and thus closer to what cats who eat out of bowls on the floor are used to. A disadvantage that I have read about is that a persistent cat can pry open the lids. Stu hasn't attempted this.
Anyway, Stu has accepted both feeders and is not afraid of either of them. The Petsafe makes a whirring noise when the food compartment turns. The CatMate makes a snapping sound when the lids open.
I think, after all is said and done, that I prefer the CatMate.
Treatise ended! Good luck!
Ella
P.S. Another advantage of the CatMate is that the lid of the first compartment stays open, so even if Scrabble doesn't eat all of the food before the second compartment opens, the food in the first will still be available. In the Petsafe, when the time for the next compartment to spin into place arrives, the present compartment spins underneath the cover. Too bad if all the uneaten food goes with it!
