Automatic feeder question

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Arnoldsmama

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I'm researching an automatic feeder for my newly diagnosed boy. Since I'm away during the day at work I'm thinking I need something for when I am gone. Any good recommenations/suggestions for automatic feeders? I'm guessing it would need to have an option for a cold pack for the wet food? Thanks in advance.
-Laura (and Arnold)
 
Good morning, Laura -

We have two PetSafe 5 meal automatic feeders (one for each kitty). I researched a number of them before buying and really liked this one because the whole unit doesn't turn (only the divided tray inside) so I can put in in a corner or wherever. There is one open slot and four that are covered until 'told' to advance to the opening. I received a couple of recommendations from people here about this one and found the price was lower at Amazon, so purchased there. And, today, I see it has come down a few more dollars...I think I paid about $42 for each. http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Mea...WHNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336483380&sr=8-1

When we're going to be away, we mix the meal with a little water and freeze. It seems to work longer/better than using an ice pack. If the meal is less than a couple of hours away, we just put it in there, mixed with a little water. (We always mix a little water with their food anyway.) Several people told me they leave their wet food out as many as 12 hours without freezing.

The inner tray can be put in the dishwasher and I wipe down the exterior piece with an antibacterial wipe. I LIKE easy clean-up!

Oh! It takes D batteries...I forgot to buy those :oops:

Hope this helps -

Libby (and Hershey, too!)
 
I have this feeder and I like it alot. I've heard complaints that's it's hard to figure out to program, but if you're good with gadgets you shouldn't have a problem with it. It has a compartment for an ice pack, but I find it easier to freeze portions of food in little plastic baggies to put in it instead. It's also a pain to take apart and put back together, so I make little tin-foil bowls to put the food in so I don't have to wash it after every feeding.

It's also incredibly sturdy (hence it being a pain to take apart and put back together). I have a mischievous cat who likes to get into things, and we've had this feeder for 4 years and he has yet to break into it. I had bought two other different kinds of feeders before this one, and he ripped them both apart within weeks. And this was back when they were all $70-$80 bucks a pop, so it was no joke to find one he couldn't destroy! I paid $70 for this feeder 4 years ago and would have said it was well worth the price back then.
 
I just got the Lentek 6-day feeder. It can be set for 6hrs, 12hrs, or 24hrs. I just set it up this morning. Not sure how it will work, but I am going to give it a try. I picked this one because of the price, $37.05 on Amazon. Needed 2 of them and didn't have alot of $$$$. ;-) Read some of the reviews and saw that some of the Kitties could break into them. Don't think Goomer will be one of them. If any thing I think Momma Kitten (civilian) just might. :lol: Will let you know how it goes.
 
http://www.petmountain.com/product//114 ... eeder.html

This is the one I have - I actually have one for each of my cats. It comes with an ice pack for underneath the trays. I set them up every morning for the two of them to get their "snacks" late morning and mid-affternoon. I put a cold portion of canned food on the left side of the feeder, over an ice cube, to open between 10-11am. I put a frozen portion on the right side to open between 3-4pm. the timers are exact, but it does the job for me. The canned food stays fresh in the feeders, although you could put dry food in there also. It looks like Pet Mountain is having a sale, as I paid more for the 2 I bought from there last year.
 
I have a petsafe (kind of like the last post) that i am not using as I upgraded to the 5- reasons?

1- the lids flip up, great, but they don't close back down (petsafe 5 they rotate and so 'close' the last compartment so I can get a fasting reading)
2- timer... it is a dial timer rather than a digital timer, useful for 2 hr increments only
3- Sneakers easily moved it- so lightweight, petsafe 5 is heavy plastic and doesn't move that much (so if you have a 'cat burglar' or one with swift paws, go for heavy)
4- the cold packs I bough did not fit, so I used ice cubes... which dribbled out of the drain holes in the bottom (how did i miss?!) and onto the floor...

I like the petsafe 5 for many reasons!
 
So we have had a couple of days with our Lentek. Kitties not sure about it at first, but are getting more comfortable with it. It is ran on a timer, not a clock, so it needs to be turned on 6hr, 12 hr, or 24hr before next feed. Ice tray did not last 12hrs so I froze the food and that worked for the 12hr feed. We are planning a 2 day camping trip in a couple of months and I think the Lentek should work just fine. And as of right now they have not figured out how to brake into them :lol: . So all in all this feeder will fit our needs. :smile:
 
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