Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine • Hacker News Board

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#161

Post by warfangle » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 9:42 PM UTC

sofaofthedamned wrote: post #7

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…

I've got the same one and it doesn't stop cats tailgating other cats. It was however hilarious during the 'training' phase watching the stupidest of our two barrel towards the flap and go crunching into it. Did have a good idea for gamifying it though - a cat airlock with a camera, $5 a month, getting bored old ladies on Facebook to compare the cat in the airlock and making the decision to let it through or not...

Sounds like Reamde... :)

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#162

Post by pryelluw » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 9:53 PM UTC

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…

Im not a cat owner and this might seem a bit strange. Why not just out the cat in a cage with food/water/bed before going to sleep?

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#163

Post by PhasmaFelis » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 9:55 PM UTC

brazzledazzle wrote: post #159

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…

I know it sounds cruel and I didn't feel quite right doing it but this is why I walk around my cats like they're not there. After a couple close calls where I almost fell it seemed like it was worth a shot. I do slow down a bit so I carry/push them rather than kick when they're actually underfoot though. It only took a couple bonks to the nose and a time or two of being carried by my foot a few inches into the air to…

It does feel cruel, but it's probably safest for the cat as well as you--if they aren't afraid to get underfoot, they could be injured if you step wrong and can't stop in time.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#164

Post by Broken_Hippo » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 9:59 PM UTC

lolc wrote: post #114

When people talk about how their pets are acting funny, I always wonder whether they realize that it's because of the boring habitat their pets have been put in. Asking them about it is delicate because it implies that their pet might be unhappy about its situation.

I can personally just bring up that my cat does (xyz) when bored. If you don't have such a cat, "A cat I had once" or "a cat a friend had" works as well.

It is a great non-confrontational way to say the same thing - and one most folks are willing to try because it is cheaper than a vet visit.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#165

Post by akiselev » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 10:02 PM UTC

pryelluw wrote: post #162

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…

Im not a cat owner and this might seem a bit strange. Why not just out the cat in a cage with food/water/bed before going to sleep?

I think the vast majority of cat owners would consider that not only strange but cruel as well. Cats need quite a bit of room for mental well being, let alone general health, and locking them in cages at night is definitely harmful. Doing so at night, for a nocturnal animal, is doubly so. Cages are only broken out temporarily for transportation and health reasons.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#166

Post by Sharlin » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 10:02 PM UTC

Diederich wrote: post #149

civilian wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me Dungeon Master this for you: You're trapped in a few rooms all day, every day. You don't know how to read. Your best friend is gone or asleep for 17 hours a day. You're a little bored, but you're also not very smart, so it's kind of okay. But you do have a lot of time on your paws. There's a weird contraption that feeds you twice a day. And you can see food still up there, on the conveyor belt. How would you l…

Well said. My wife and I personally think it's borderline inhumane to keep a dog by itself all day, since they are extremely social. While we usually don't keep solitary cats, I don't think it's that uncomfortable for cats to be alone, though per your DM interpretation, they will commonly get into things. Which they will do in groups too.

Cats also have no problem whatsoever spending sixteen hours a day unconscious, merrily dreaming about whatever cats tend to have dreams about. Closer to twenty as they grow older.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#167

Post by run4yourlives2 » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 10:04 PM UTC

jdcarter wrote: post #63

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."

neglect as in "not doing" not neglect as in "not caring". I'm not suggesting he doesn't care for the cat, I'm suggesting he's solving a symptom instead of the core problem.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#168

Post by Broken_Hippo » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 10:05 PM UTC

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.

This is very true.

I have two cats, male and female. They are from the same litter, and have had the same upbringing. One is quite chubby, the other stays fairly thin. The chubby one is also naturally lazier.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#169

Post by run4yourlives2 » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 10:07 PM UTC

Yen wrote: post #50

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.

A) the human feeds the cat, with delicious wet food, every morning. Many cats are only fed once daily anyway, this cat is fed twice daily. B) When traveling, one is not at home to feed the cat, at all. If fed, cats are quite content to have the house to themselves for a few days. If a cat is disciplined about eating, you can just put a lot of food in the bowl and leave it alone while you travel. If not, you need to b…

I have a cat. I know how it works. Part of having a pet is dealing with the fact that you have to take care of it. Many people have pets and go on vacations.

>even if the final result is 'over' engineered.

This is a major issue though. It's why a lot of engineers can't translate ideas and solutions into elegant businesses...

Of course there is nothing wrong with this project, so long as you understand it completely misses solving the actual problem at hand.

Re: Cat-proofing a cat feeding machine

#170

Post by stephenboyd » Wed, Dec 21, 2016, 10:07 PM UTC

vacri wrote: post #137

WildUtah wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

There's also the nasolacrimal duct to consider. Other than those little details, one of my favorite insights from studying biology is that almost all animals are basically tubes with accessory organs attached, deuterostomes and protostomes.