? Tips for Transitioning to Auto Feeder

[Jack the Cat]

Am breaking down and getting an auto feeder so I can sleep without the boys howling at 4:00 AM.

Was thinking I would only feed from the feeder and start today with their evening snack and late evening meal.

Does anyone have any tips on how to successfully transition them to eating out of the feeder instead of waking me up? Things not to do?

Anything insight is most appreciated.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

What kind of feeder did you get? Does it make a sound? I fed the PS meal from a bowl, but all other meals from the auto feeder. The first time it rotated and made a noise Neko ran away. I brought her over and showed her the food. Did that twice and “Otto” feeder became her best friend. She would run towards it whenever it rotated. The non diabetic cat figured it out by watching her, I had little bowls that fit inside the feeder, same ones as I could use for PS meal.

 

[Judy and Freckles]

“Otto” feeder

 

[Jack the Cat]

What kind of feeder did you get? Does it make a sound? I fed the PS meal from a bowl, but all other meals from the auto feeder. The first time it rotated and made a noise Neko ran away. I brought her over and showed her the food. Did that twice and “Otto” feeder became her best friend. She would run towards it whenever it rotated. The non diabetic cat figured it out by watching her, I had little bowls that fit inside the feeder, same ones as I could use for PS meal.

It is a Cat Mate C20 2 Bowl Pet Feeder with Ice Pack. Supposedly makes a pop sound when it opens which I hope will train them to stay by the bowl at 4 am. I love the "Otto" - may steal that from you!

I do have bowls to put inside. Hope they fit!

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I had the Petsafe 5, which rotates so makes a louder sound. I started out with the Qpet 5 which had a recorded voice, got tired of that very quickly!

 

[Si am cat mom]

My cats feeder also records a message- which he likes...although, I can't get it to play 1x instead of 3x.
When we first started using it, I would just use it as his food dish- without the rotating. Then, I set it to go off during the day around his normal feeding times. While I was getting his food ready, it would rotate and open to a treat - usually lunch meat at the time. Eventually, they just associate that sound with good stuff - as long as the reward outweighs sounds. I'd say start with more desirable food/ treats to up the ante at first.