Automatic feeders

[BuddhaofSuburbia]

Can anyone recommend an easy to use automatic feeder for a three to four day trip? I have had one before but found The programming bewildering.

I agree that it's best that a real life person checks in each day but someone was worried about a cat needing water which is why I suggested the fountain. We have one as well as a water bowl.

One of our cats went AWOL for five weeks after a house move. He looked very healthy when we eventually found him. He had a very feral yowl but was otherwise fine. He had evidently lived off mice and possibly rabbits ! Cats will manage for a few days if their water is knocked over . It’s never happened to mine yet but they are capable of finding water somewhere if need be .

However it is possible that accidents can happen and a human who checks them once a day is useful

It's not just about food or water though - it's also about noticing if they're sick or injured and getting them the appropriate care.

This is why I put mine in the cattery every time. A daily sitter wouldn't even realise CatOfHate was missing until she came back to replace the food and realised he hadn't touched it, at which point it might be too late.

At the cattery, he's visited several times per day and, importantly, can't be hit by a car or get into a delivery van or any of the other nasty things that can happen to a cat that a sitter might not spot until it was too late to help him.

I’ve just ordered two double feeders. One much more expensive than the other but now I’m worried they won’t take the large kibble which I ordered by accident and need to use.

We use a PETLIBRO. It has a camera so you can see the cat is ok and that feeding is working. We then give our neighbours a key so if anything goes wrong we can contact them and they can pop in. I think this is ok for a 3-4 days max. Anything more and I'd want someone coming in. I wouldn't feel comfortable without the camera and I'd want someone to come in and keep an eye.

There's no way I'd put my cat in a cattery. She'd hate it and be so stressed.

CatOfHate hates it, cries all the way there. He's safe and that's more important to me. I'm not never going on holiday just because he doesn't like the cattery.

We have the Petlibro one too which we use for dry food all the time. We've had it for years and it's very reliable and easy to use. Helps to make sure our greedy cat gets consistent portions and doesn't get overfed. We also have a water fountain, which he loves. It's a great solution for supplementing cat sitters.

@selffellatingouroborosofhate you don't need to use a cattery though, just keep them inside while you're away - that's what we do.

We go this one, a CatMate but she won't go near it! She likes a wide bowl and she couldn't manoeuvre her whiskers properly. And this is a cat who will eat bread and crisps! Wouldn't touch her food in this thing.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mate-C500-Automatic-Pet-Digital/dp/B01AUYLVU8/ref=asc_df_B01AUYLVU8?mcid=4d8c581d5c19376485db9a5cb0b2cfc1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697226066763&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17226546041909445692&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9198013&hvtargid=pla-325302789730&gad_source=1&th=1

I'd rather he went to a cattery where they have proper airlock doors to keep the furry escape artist inside.

I go on holiday. I just have someone coming in and/or use a feeder. Personally I don’t think a cat is “safe” when they are stressed, which my cat would be for the entire time. I wouldn’t be able to relax knowing how stressed she was. Cats are different though and some would be ok once they are there. My cat is incredibly skittish and stressy and nervous and very territorial. She’s definitely happier in her own environment.

Oh yes we got a water fountain also for the same reason. She then has fresh water for the whole time we are away. When we first got it though she was terrified of it! 😂 We got her used to it by turning it off and placing dreamies around the edge.

Fair enough, our house has a double door system at the front so they can't bolt out luckily.

But it’s just recycled water. It isn’t fresh.

The water fountain has a filter in it which keeps it clean enough. Obviously it does need cleaning out and refilling but once a week seems to be fine.

We have the same large PetLibro one and it works very well. Meant we could go away and get a once a day cat sitter who checked they were OK, gave some fuss and topped up as needed. Look at cat in a flat.com which has reviews and distance from your house.

Some of my jaw drop moments wrt the little hairy critters. Water bowls cleaned and refilled daily. Only to see the little monsters saunter outside on the lookout for a dirty, stagnant puddle to drink from instead.

Litters tray use is another gift. If they are outside in the garden, they saunter indoors to relieve themselves in the litter box I have to clean. Or if they are outside and the door is shut, they hammer like heck as if I should know they are bursting to relieve themselves. I’ll give them this, they can sure hold it in. I’d have thought their pungent wee was a valuable marking commodity. They obviously think I should be the one to have all the enjoyment of it. Gobsh*tes!

(disclaimer: I love them to bits really)

It goes through a filter. Obviously you have to change it every few days or so, but it’s “fresh” for a few days whereas water in a bowl needs changing every day or twice a day.

Yes cats seem to love a dirty bowl of stagnant water with a few leaves and twigs in. 🤦‍♀️