Automated Cat Feeder

Automated Cat Feeder

Looking to buy an automated cat feeder? If you have cat, there a few good reasons why you would want to look into getting an automated feeder for your favorite feline companion. Given the busy lifestyles of many pet owners these days, there will be times when you will probably have to leave your kitty home alone for an extended period of time, at least longer than you would like to. Your cat will have to fend for himself and the automated cat feeder along with a water dispenser can be the perfect solution to this dilemma, giving your cat the right portions along the way at just the right times throughout the day. Some other situations in which your cat might find herself alone include times when you are away from home unexpectedly. If you have to leave town for days or more, you could look into getting someone to stay with your cat like a pet sitter but that is not always possible, especially on short notice. What about times when there is a family emergency or you find yourself having to stay at work longer than you normally would and you will not be home to feed your cat at the usual time. A cat food feeder that is automated to dispense the right amount of food to your furry friend will be just the thing to make sure your cat gets fed on time and in the right amount so that his nutritional needs are met daily. Another benefit of the automated cat feeder, provided you get the right type with the programmable feature, is that you can generally set it so that your cat gets the amount of food you want him to eat. This will help in terms of portion control and help prevent your cat from getting overweight from over eating. Obesity in cats and dogs is a common problem these days, just like it is for people, and keeping your cat from getting obese will go a long way to keeping her healthy.

Your cat will more likely stay at the correct weight as long as you do not overfeed him. So when it comes to automated cat feeders, there are two main types, but only one will be smart enough to dole out the right amounts of kibble. if you want to help your cat from packing on the pounds, then do not opt for a gravity fed machine as this will keep the bowl at a constant level of cat food and always be accessible to your cat. Thus, she can graze throughout the day and end up eating even when she normally does not. Constant overeating will result in her getting fat. So, you really should consider the other type of automated cat feeder. Such devices are equipped with a timer and are electronically programmable via an LCD screen so you can have it dispense food two, three, four times a day, however many times per day your cat eats. If your take is on medication, this programming feature that dispenses food at certain specific set times can make it possible to put your cat's medicine in as well so they get that at the proper time. These machines are highly recommended by veterinarians and scores of cat owners. They come in a variety of prices ranging from about $50 all the way up to about $200. If you shop around both in box stores like Petco and Petsmart, or online at these same retailer's websites and other sites like Ebay and Amazon, you will not have to pay full price necessarily. You can often find and buy at discount prices so you can get the right automated cat feeder at the right price so you do not end up spending extra money.

The automated cat feeder will normally run on electricity and become operable by plugging them into a wall outlet, but it is important of course to have one with a battery backup, usually D size alkaline batteries, for times when the power goes out. If that happens while you are gone, then your cat will not be fed and that's the last thing you want. Different sizes are available as well, small, medium, and large, allowing them to hold up to five pounds (and some even 10 lbs.) of dry food, and many units are able to dispense food in different amounts with volumes ranging from a quarter cup to as much as two cups, pouring right into the bowl. These units are easy to unpack and set up, usually requiring no tools.

There are several major, reputable brands and makes of automated cat feeders. The top brands and models include the Cat Mate, both the C20 and C50 models, Perfect Pet Feeder, the Petmate Le Bistro, and Ergo Systems. You want a quality machine made from durable parts. This is quite an important device we're talking about here with a critical function, so be sure to pay to get quality and a feeder you can get years of use from, not a shoddy piece of equipment you will end up returning in a month or so. Look for a solid money back guarantee so that you can be protected if the machine malfunctions and cannot be repaired. But speaking of that, it is a mechanical item with moving parts and over time, they may get worn out so you want to be able to order and get replacement parts if need be. Another thing that not everyone takes into account with an automated cat feeder is to consider just how cat proof the feeder is. As smart animals, their intelligence has given them the ability to sometimes figure out how to get the food out of the receptacle with their paws. Make sure you can easily operate and program the feeder; it should not be difficult to use. And the timer programming should be flexible enough so that the feeder opens when you want it to at your own set intervals, not at factory pre-determined and unchangeable times. The feeder should be solid and sturdy enough and be well balanced so that no matter how much food is in the air-tight container, the automated cat feeder will not topple over. It should also be simple to clean with removable food bins, ideally. And on that note, check to see if the bowl and bin are dishwasher safe. Finally, for those units that can accommodate wet cat food, check that the feeder comes with ice packs built in to help maintain freshness.

A happy cat is a healthy and well fed cat, but not to the point of being overweight, or even underweight by not eating enough. If your personal schedule is interrupted or simply does not lend itself to some sort of regularity throughout the week, months, or year, or if you find yourself away from home more than usual and cannot get some to come to your home reliably to look after your cat or other pets, then by all means keep your cat properly fed in a timely manner with right sized portions of food with an automated cat feeder.