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Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

quinndunki.com

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Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#61

Post by astrodust »

dominotw wrote: post #59
astrodust wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having a feeding machine that operates on a regular schedule when your schedule is anything but does not mean you're being a delinquent pet owner. It doesn't mean you're oblivious to your pet's health. Some people have automatic coffee makers that run on a timer. Does that make them indifferent to their own health?

>Some people have automatic coffee makers that run on a timer. Does that make them indifferent to their own health? This analogy is very far off from feeding your cat from a machine. Feeding a cat is 1. giving it food 2. bonding and establishing a relationship 3. chance to check on cat's well being. People can talk and tell someone if they are unwell.

Having an automatic thermostat is being indifferent to the climate.

In the old days we'd shovel coal into the furnace. We were in tune with nature.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#62

Post by nommm-nommm »

oniMaker wrote: post #38
dominotw wrote: post #27

do not feed cats from a machine. Even if you are super busy, give her food in the morning and after you get home from work, that's more than enough. Perhaps at the same time as your breakfast and your dinner. Despite the common perception of cats as 'loners' , they still want to be part of your 'gang' not a lonely creature feeding from a machine. Ideally you would want to play with the cat before feeding her so she a…

Unfortunately your common sense is in the minority of opinion here. HN is plagued by overeager engineers who endlessly discuss the how without addressing the much more important why . Why bother having a pet at all if you're not going to personally care for it?

Give me a break.

The author was giving two meals a day and often got home late in the evenings. Only the evening meal was from a machine. Don't act like the cat is being abused. The author looks like she is providing the cat with a very nice life.

"Whys?" It helps prevent tripping incidents when the cat knows its food time and is rubbing on your feet as you walk. It helps with anxiety associated with irregular feedings. That's just two reasons I thought of off the top of my head.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#63

Post by jdcarter »

run4yourlives2 wrote: post #33

This seems like a classic case of over-engineering the wrong problem. The problem isn't that the cat is getting into the machine, the problem is that the human is neglecting to feed the cat. Solve the right problem.

There was no neglect. Quinn bought a fancy feeder because nerds love stuff like that, right? Cat figured out how to defeat the feeder. By the time she's welding a steel enclosure for the feeder, the story has clearly moved from "solving a problem" to "I'm not going to be beaten by a cat."

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#66

Post by WildUtah »

wlesieutre wrote: post #60
ianai wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's topologically equivalent to what OP did.

And OP is topologically equivalent to a bagel (disregarding nostrils)

OP is topologically equivalent to a bagel (disregarding nostrils)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustachian_tube

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#67

Post by rconti »

dsr_ wrote: post #19
goda90 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some pets might eat themselves to obesity given the chance. I'm not sure the amount of effort the cat puts into trying to get more food is a perfect determinate of how much food the cat needs to be healthy.

Yeah, you need to raise the cat from first weaning with unlimited access to food to prevent this. If they never experience a moment of food anxiety in their lives, most cats will only eat when they are actually hungry. The majority of cats, however, have a built-in desire to eat whenever food is available, because they have not learned that it will continue to be available in the future. It's really hard to teach the…

I think cats that do NOT overeat is the majority. At least among domestic cats.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#68

Post by splatcollision »

dominotw wrote: post #27

do not feed cats from a machine. Even if you are super busy, give her food in the morning and after you get home from work, that's more than enough. Perhaps at the same time as your breakfast and your dinner. Despite the common perception of cats as 'loners' , they still want to be part of your 'gang' not a lonely creature feeding from a machine. Ideally you would want to play with the cat before feeding her so she a…

Great points. Also feeding cats only dry food can lead to kidney problems in old age - they do not naturally drink much water, instead relying on moisture from their food sources. Feed good quality canned food!

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#69

Post by [deleted] »

astrodust wrote: post #52
dangrossman wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an owner of multiple cats, and fiance to a licensed veterinary technician, this sounds like good and sensible advice for maintaining a cat's health and well-being. We've caught many health issues by noticing changes in feeding, drinking, poo and litter box use. I don't know why you've gotten so many downvotes.

Having a feeding machine that operates on a regular schedule when your schedule is anything but does not mean you're being a delinquent pet owner. It doesn't mean you're oblivious to your pet's health. Some people have automatic coffee makers that run on a timer. Does that make them indifferent to their own health?

[deleted]

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#70

Post by skizm »

Wonder what would happen if you just gave the cat unlimited access to a large bowl of unguarded food all day every day. Would the cat eventually self-regulate the amount it ate? Or would you just end up with a really fat cat? Or both to some degree?
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