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Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

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Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#131

Post by blunatic »

ezarowny wrote: post #130
blunatic wrote: post #129

I highly recommend the PetNet SmartFeeder. I've had two for both of my cats for the past year, and they work great. It allows you to setup automated timed feeds for several meals a day, then pings your phone each time a feed goes off (for peace of mind). The product design is about as nice looking as you can make a feeder, and the mobile app's UI has improved a lot over the past few months to a good state.

I have the PetNet and my cat has no problem detaching the bowl. Bane of my existence.

How? Do you have an older model? The entire feeder sits on the metal bowl and to remove it requires that I lift up the entire feeder.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#132

Post by bpicolo »

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?

An automated feeder has been actively better for my cat's health. She is eating the correct amount now. When I was feeding her by hand on a diet, she blamed me for it.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#133

Post by michael_h »

masklinn wrote: post #80
splatcollision wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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!

Did you even read the article? TFA's cat gets wet food in the morning, dry in the evening.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Under "In Comments", third paragraph.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#134

Post by ezarowny »

blunatic wrote: post #131
ezarowny wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have the PetNet and my cat has no problem detaching the bowl. Bane of my existence.

How? Do you have an older model? The entire feeder sits on the metal bowl and to remove it requires that I lift up the entire feeder.

The beta model and the production model are both quite easy to remove with a small amount of pressure. The production model takes a bit more work but not much.

This video is from when I had the beta feeder but the same principle applies: https://youtu.be/YHq1xHL8p2o

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#135

Post by ezarowny »

blunatic wrote: post #129

I highly recommend the PetNet SmartFeeder. I've had two for both of my cats for the past year, and they work great. It allows you to setup automated timed feeds for several meals a day, then pings your phone each time a feed goes off (for peace of mind). The product design is about as nice looking as you can make a feeder, and the mobile app's UI has improved a lot over the past few months to a good state.

There have also been some curious outages server-side that have caused the feeder to not actually feed.

You would think an IoT device like this would default to using a locally stored schedule or something.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#136

Post by silencio »

astral303 wrote: post #26
jevinskie wrote: post #4

I recently got a SureFeed RFID feeder. It can read your cat's microchip or an RFID collar tag. When an authorized kitty approaches, a flap raises and lets the cat eat. I got it to prevent other family pets from stealing my cat's food. It works well for that purpose and seems well designed. The feeder has clear side "walls" and the flap itself acts as a wall on the rear of the feeder, helping prevent food theft during…

Don't feed your cat until 7am no matter what. Ignore all foot rubs and meows. He'll eventually learn and give up. Operant conditioning. Watch out though for that extra-hard last ditch effort he will put out before giving up. Stay strong.

How long is "eventually"?

My cat is almost 5 years old. She is the type to overeat to obesity, probably because she was abandoned at ~1yr by her previous owner. For half her life my partner and I have been feeding her like clockwork 3 times a day, minus all of 2-3 weeks of vacations where our roommate took over.

I have to exert a constant effort to maintain our bedroom door and the rubber that I lined on the jamb to prevent her from rattling the door at 5am to ask for food - the paint is a lost cause. We have a white noise machine. We ignore her cries for food. We ignore her pawing things off our desks. We have a system to keep track of food we give her so she can't "trick" the other person. She knows exactly when we feed her (the meows get cranked up a notch about an hour before food time) but despite not giving in, she keeps acting like meowing at us is going to go anywhere.

No luck. And we know we're not underfeeding her - she's getting the calories appropriate for her (currently normal) weight, is being fed wet food, has fresh water, lots of attention and toys, all that stuff.

Unfortunately we have to give this up because we've got a baby on the way, and it's just so frustrating to lose 2+ years of effort put into having her not weigh 18lbs...

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#137

Post by vacri »

WildUtah wrote: post #66
wlesieutre wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

The eustachian tube is sealed, unless you have a hole in your eardrum.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#138

Post by Coincoin »

Wait until you get children. Those bastards have the same brain as yours and tiny tiny hands.

Preventing them from opening closets, garbage cans and cabinets is an arms race. You know you will eventually lose, the only thing you can do is slow them down.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#139

Post by nommm-nommm »

extra88 wrote: post #76
skizm wrote: post #70

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?

Depends on the cat. Some will self-regulate and maintain a healthy weight but many will over-eat.

Different cats have different histories with food security too, which probably plays a role.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#140

Post by grzm »

pinkrooftop wrote: post #103
oniMaker wrote: post #42

The fact that you're downvoted for common sense is alarming. HN is supposed to be a place for smart people.

its turning into reddit //waiting for this to be flagged and silenced just for suggesting HN quality has declined

If you're down-voted, I would suggest it's because your comment doesn't add anything substantive (which would actually improve the quality of HN), makes a common, uncharitable complaint while doing so, and mentions you expect downvotes, which is counter to the guidelines.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

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