[sentimentalgirl]

How do they work? Are they any good? Are they worth it?

I wish I could go camping for a weekend and I don't know anyone who could come and feed our cats. What automatic feeder be good for me? Or should I keep looking for some "cat sitter"?

thanks!

 

[AngelZoo]

I personally prefer a cat sitter.

I'm about to go away myself. For this short time I am simply leaving a regular feeder out for them.

 

[Gabreilla Moushigo]

Automatic feeders are great! ^_^ I use them if we have to go out of town for a little while and my cat needs to be fed.

It depends on what kind of feeder you get - some feeders are operated by batteries or electricity - and when the time for feeding comes - the food pops out for a certain amount of time - and then pop - the door shuts.

I personally prefer just the normal-everyday feeder that looks like this:

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... 8964995987

That way I don't have to worry about a feeder breaking - and my cat can always get something to eat when he wants while I'm gone.

 

[sentimentalgirl]

Thanks! I still have more questions:

What if I have 3 cats? Would there be enough food for all of them? How does it manage the amount? And what is the max of days it works for?

 

[fbodgrl]

I'm glad you asked this question. I was wondering myself. Since I will be moving soon and I won't have my sister and mom to watch mine. How in the heck do you manage it for a wet food diet?

 

[sentimentalgirl]

I don't think you can use it for wet food - which is sad because I feed our cats wet food 90%.

 

[Gabreilla Moushigo]

The one I showed you really only works for dried food. There are a few other feeders that feed wet food that keep it refrigerated, some of them hold up to 5 meals I believe.

If you have 3 cats I would sugest getting a BIG feeder, if not maybe 2 if your worried. They come in all sizes and if you just want to go out for a weekend I'm sure they will be well fed.

If you decide to go with the wet cat food feeder that despenses meals - you might want to try it out while you are there - so the cats get the idea, and so you don't have to worry if they'll figure it out or not. You might also have to keep one kitty per room if you are doing the wet feeder - since there will only be 5 portions and if one gets greedy - they could go up and eat the other kitties food. You'd probably have to buy 3 feeders - and that's not cheap!

I'd just go with the dry feeder - 2 or 3 days eatting dry food probably won't hurt them and it would be much easier on you fiancialy and mentally.

 

[Gabreilla Moushigo]

Stupid me! I forgot to give you a link to a wet catfood feeder - here you go!

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... 9008025285

It says ice packs - so I'm not sure if these packs are cooled by the machine or if you have to toss them in the fridge for a while. I'd take a look at something "like this" if this particular machine is not what your looking for. If it keeps the food cool though - you should be able to keep your wet food nice and fresh.

 

[sentimentalgirl]

Thank you so much! I will check it out and discuss it with my hubby. The dry food feeder should be fine - I think they can have the dry food for 2-3 days.

What about the litter box? I have just a regular one. I don't have the self cleaning one and I can't afford it right one.

 

[Gabreilla Moushigo]

Litter box, huh? Do you have to clean out the litter box at least once a day? You could probably just buy another to add to your existing litter box or boxes depending on how many you have right now. Just get another regular one - it'll be fine - and way cheaper than the self cleaning ones. ^_^

 

[sentimentalgirl]

I have two "roofed" litter boxes (and 3 cats). I could get those litter maid boxes from Wall Mart - someone wrote here about them. They cost just few bucks and I can use them as litter box.

Maybe I could buy 2 and it would make total of 4 litter boxes - that should be fine, right?

I clean the litter box 1-2 times a day.

Thank you so much for the ideas. I will definatelly look for the automatic feeders for dry food.

 

[sentimentalgirl]

Oh, one more question.... How much food falls from the automated feeder? Can you control the amount?

 

[Gabreilla Moushigo]

You can't control how much food comes out of the dry automatic feeder I'm afraid - at least not the first one I mentioned. =/ It's just sort of sitting out there waiting for your cats to eat - and falls down when your cats eat enough.

I've always free fed my cat dry food - so I've never had to worry about him over eatting too much from the automatic feeder. Since you feed your cats wet food I'm guessing that you have meals planned out and given at a certain time - do you think that they will overeat if they are given the chance to?

 

[sentimentalgirl]

I've always free fed my cat dry food - so I've never had to worry about him over eatting too much from the automatic feeder. Since you feed your cats wet food I'm guessing that you have meals planned out and given at a certain time - do you think that they will overeat if they are given the chance to?

Yes, I feed them 2 times a day. I think that they would keep on eating.....they would probably eat non stop the whole 3 days!!! LOL

Seriously, I"m not sure what would happen. I give them dry food only as a treat and they love dry food!!! If I free feed them with dry food, they will eat and eat and eat.... I think. They wouldn't know when to stop. I"m worried they could get upset stomach or something.

Hmmm....that's not very good. There isn't any aut. feeder which can control the amount?

 

[Gabreilla Moushigo]

Yup - they have automatic feeders that control the amount - but they are expensive. The wet feeder I showed you can double as a dry feeder. You can time that when their regular meals are planned. Again, they can get pricey - but if you want to make sure they only get the exact amount of food you feed them for meals - then you should definitly get the timed feeder.

 

[sentimentalgirl]

Thanks! I will keep looking... I guess I have to compare the prices and think what to do...