Automatic Feeder - Looking for advice

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Doug N Libby

Doug N Libby

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Hershey is almost 10 years old and was diagnosed in Nov, 2010. He eats (1/4 of 5.5-oz can) 4 times a day and if he's extra hungry a snack (or even two once in awhile, which is 1/8 can). We also have a 5-year old, non-diabetic cat, Oreo. I have just heard about automatic feeders, so started my search for one (two) to help out when I am not home. Hershey does not like to eat out of deep containers or ones with the corners - he leaves food in the corners (even rounded ones). Currently, he eats from a very shallow dish - tried a plate but he pushed the food off the plate and onto the floor. I've mostly seen automatic feeders that have triangular openings and I don't know that he could get the food from the "point" end. And, I've read so many conflicting reviews that I thought I'd ask here.

Do you have an automatic feeder that you love - or at least really like? :-) And, what are the pro's and con's? Do you wash it after each use - dishwasher safe? or do you just wipe it out when necessary? I love the idea of being able to freeze a serving and leave it for them!

Thanks for letting me pick your brains!

Libby
 
I really liked the 5 section Petsafe. I washed it out in the sink after each use by hand, they were a bit awkward for the dishwasher.

I also used the 2 tray Petsafe with the op-up doors, but didn't like them as much because once in a while the doors caught and didn't open.

Mine often didn't get the food out of the pointed corners of the feeder unless it was a flavor the really liked :lol: How big are your dishes? If you can find some small enough, many people just slip a smaller dish into the slots of the feeders and as long as they are clear enough to not catch when the feeder moves it should be ok. Then you wouldn't need to wash the tray to the feeder all that often, just the dishes and do a more thourough wipedown of the feeder tray once in a while.
 
We've had the 5 compartment PetSafe for about a month & really love it. My 2 (soon to be 3) kitties also eat 4 times/day: 6 am, 12 pm, 6 pm & midnight. I thought my skittish civvie might be freaked out by the noise, so I tried it out w/no food in another room, at a non-food time & she just looked at it like "Huh, that's kinda' loud." The next day, when it replaced the metal bowls, made noise & food came out, both kitties looked at me as if to say, "OMG!! MAGIC FOOD BOX!!" We don't really have any problems w/food getting stuck in the corner b/c I typically put refrigerated or frozen food in it, so I have more control over where it goes, and when MAGIC FOOD BOX opens, kitties tend to sprint right over & eat...if they weren't already camped out in front of it. (Ours have some scratches on the top from the first week or so, when Stinky-my diabetic-thought he was going to pry it open. No such luck.)
 
I use the 2 compartment feeder.
I have two cats, so probably leave out more than I need to, but always want to make sure my diabetic has something to eat if he needs it, while I away at work all day.
I set my feeder for +5 and +7 (but my cat's nadir if around +8.5, as he is on Levemir).
I also freeze Fancy Feast with water in 1/2 cup rubbermaid containers and set out some of these to slowly thaw while I'm at work, too.
 
We also have the 5 pet safe compartment auto feeder. It really worked well for us during the night, when we kept mocha separated from twix (they eat different food)
 
Thanks, y'all. It looks like the Petsafe 5 meal will do our business. I think we'll order two (1 for each cat) this week.

Thanks, again!

Libby
 
Our feeders came in yesterday - YAY - like a kid at Christmas, can't wait to try them out! And, in reading the reviews they said sometimes they stick and don't turn all the way to the next meal because of instruction sticker on the underside peeling up and getting stuck. They must've updated the design because no sticker on these and the instructions are on a separate paper. :smile:

Thanks, again!

Libby
 
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