Automatic Feeder Options?

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beclt

beclt

Member Since 2011
I am looking into possibly getting an automatic pet feeder for during the day. I think it may help Cali's numbers if she were able to snack throughout the day and I know with wet food that can be challenging. But could also be helpful while we are away.

I saw someone post this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2751315 but the reviews aren't that great. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this or others?

Lastly, how do you best keep wet food over a period of time? I saw some people say wet it, others say freeze it.

Thanks@
 
I usually freeze food before I put it in the feeder, if the feeding is 3 hours or more from the time I'm setting it (and it usually is). My auto feeder also has a space to put a cold pack, so if the feeding is less than 3 hours away I add a little water and use the cold pack instead.

This is the feeder I have and I love it: http://www.amazon.com/Petself-Elect...rder/dp/B003T7UH22/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20 I used to have two cats (only Bandit now), so I bought one for each cat and they worked great. The voice recording option is very cool because I always signaled the cats for dinner with a specific call, so I was able to record that so they would both come eat at the same time and Bandit wouldn't eat Gabby's food.

Bandit is like a raccoon when it comes to food, and destroyed two other auto feeders apart before I got this one (the PetSafe 5 and the Lentek). I've had this one for 4 years now, and apart from him breaking off the retractable sliding door that covers the 4th compartment (which you don't need anyway), it's Bandit-proof.

The only complaint I've heard about it (from my boyfriend) is that it can be a little hard to learn how to program. I had no problem figuring it out (if you could figure out how to program a VCR back in the day, you can figure this out no problem), and it comes with clear instructions, but I would never ask my Mom (who isn't very technically inclined) to try and set this feeder.
 
The PetSafe 5 compartment feeder works really well. It's quiet and easy to use. Some strong cats can rotate the bowl to the next compartment. I haven't seen any mention of that happening to anyone here on FDMB. FDMB users who do use the PetSafe 5 compartment feeder give it thumbs up :thumbup I personally have 2 of these feeders and they work well for my civies. My now GA diabetic used it as well and there were no issues.

PetSafe makes a 2 compartment feeder which isn't great. Cats can easily pry the lids open, the manual timer dial can only be set in 2 hour icrements and makes a constant annoyingly loud ticking noise and the battery is impossible to put in or take out. The feeder is also very lightweight meaning that some cats, like my GA, are able to flip and push the feeder around in attempt to get to the food.

Some people here use the Catmate brand of feeders.

You can add extra water to the food in the feeder to keep it moist longer. The feeder lid keeps the food fry drying out too much anyways.
 
squeem3 said:
The PetSafe 5 compartment feeder works really well. It's quiet and easy to use. Some strong cats can rotate the bowl to the next compartment. I haven't seen any mention of that happening to anyone here on FDMB. FDMB users who do use the PetSafe 5 compartment feeder give it thumbs up :thumbup I personally have 2 of these feeders and they work well for my civies. My now GA diabetic used it as well and there were no issues.
Click to expand...

Bandit not only rotated the bowl on the PetSafe 5 and kept getting into the food, but when I tried to outsmart him by putting it in the second compartment instead and having it go through the last turn close to his feeding time, he also somehow ripped up the top and broke off the plastic latch in the front. No clue how he did it, because I was at work. I think I'm the only one on FDMB that has ever seemed to have that problem with it, though, everyone else seems to love it. But I think I also have the only diabetic cat on the planet that will rip open a sealed box of Matzos and devour an entire package of them. Like I said, I live with a raccoon.

One thing I do have to say about the PetSafe, is that it was certainly quieter than the Q-Pet one, if that's a concern.
 
I have the petsafe 5 as well. I love it. I have heard some cats can get into it, so if your cat is prone to this maybe not the best one, but I've had no problems. 2 years and haven't changed the batteries. I have it set for 4 times a day. Put fresh food in the morning, cold food in the next two with some water, and frozen food in the fourth one with some water. Works like a charm.
 
I have the Cat Mate 20 (I actually have 2, but the new cat hasn't started using it yet). I bought it from PetMountain.com as I thought the price was the best. It's got 2 compartments and an ice pack. I put a cold portion in the left side and set it to open between 10 - 11 am; the frozen portion I put in to open between 3-4pm. It has a dial & is not digital, to the timing is not exact. I feel giving Cedric 4 small meals a day versus 2 larger ones has helped get him into remission.
 
I have the Petsafe 5 too and seldom have a problem. Some have said it can get stuck, you just have to really make sure the tray is seated well. I push the rotate button to advance it to make sure it is in. The only problem is that it is so deep and I solve that by using small ceramic dishes in it. Plus I like that it has enough compartments so it can rotate to an empty one 2 hours before preshot. (I have one if you want it! :roll: )

I didn't like the Catmate 5 as it couldn't be precisely set. It's like those old lamp timers w/ the plastic pins.
 
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