Best automatic cat feeders according to redditors
We found 188 Reddit comments discussing the best automatic cat feeders. We ranked the 36 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 188 Reddit comments discussing the best automatic cat feeders. We ranked the 36 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Not OP, but we have the PetSafe Smart Feed. Our little boy used to stomp across our bodies at 6 in the morning every day until we woke up and fed him. Getting the automatic feeder completely changed that and the only time he wakes us up anymore is by accident when he’s trying to snuggle up with us.
I love this one, but for 95% of people the price and feature set doesn’t really make any sense. Just search for automatic feeder and you’ll find a lot of options.
Consider the Super Feeder CSF-3. It's built like a tank and I haven't heard of any cat breaking in. To promote self-control, you can also connect it to a cycle repeat timer so it feeds tiny portions down to every few minutes. It's pricey, but I think it's worth it.
6.5L Pet Feeder,Automatic Cat... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MG12BP3?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I just bought that a couple of months ago for my own grumpy old man. I keep batteries in it for when I have to move it or incase of the occasional power outtage, so I don't have to reset it, but it's easy to use. You may want to put something heavy on top, though, if he's good at getting things open.
I made fun of my partner when she bought an automatic cat feeder, but that thing has been worth every cent. We always know they've had their food, and they don't wake us up in the morning wanting breakfast anymore!
But won't your cat get fat? If I gave my cat one of these she would eat 5 times a day, then finding any kind of cloth/carpet to throw up on.
Do they make machines that auto-drop food once a day? Maybe twice a day? I'd set it to drop food 10 minutes before I wake up, and 10 minutes before I get home from work.
Edit: Found one but it's $90...
I highly recommend one of these. We have been using them for 5 years and set them to go at around 2 am. It seems to be the optimal time, and it makes almost no noise! Plus the cats can’t figure out how to get into it.
We use this one. Has very carefully portion control, the cat isn’t able to stick a paw up it for more. It’s been going strong for about a year now. Would recommend putting some batteries in it so it doesn’t reset if it gets unplugged (or if you’re gone and the power goes out). It works great. Only issue is our cat can’t tell time and doesn’t realize 6:30 AM doesn’t correlate with sunrise with season change. But she doesn’t wake me up anymore to feed her, and she still loves us.
There's a feeder I got via Amazon, my cat is on wet food only. This feeder has 3 slots so 1 always empty and 2 meals in the others, comes with an ice pack that goes under the tray to keep wet food chilled! I feed my guy before bed and then split breakfast into 2 meals one for 3am and another for 5am so I'm not woken up :)
Edit: link to feeder
get a timed feeder like dis: PetSafe 2-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder, Dispenses Dog Food or Cat Food https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000241NRI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OmBPBbX2B4Q8E
changed my life! no more 5 am murder mittens, meows, OR buttholes in my face. :3
Mine learned to camp out at the dispenser and eventually learned how to put his paw inside the chute and push the food paddles and make more food come out. He ate weeks worth of food in a few days.
Stay the heck away from this dispenser or you'll have a disgustingly fat cat.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BVY2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Edit, look at the pics and comments and see what wacky solutions people have come up with to fix this broken dispenser. It's a collection of rube goldberg machines.
I have one of these. I have it set to feed them 4 times a day on a schedule, and I only have to refill it maybe once every couple weeks. But yeah, the nice ones are pricey.
There are cheaper alternatives, though. Just need to be refilled a bit more often and probably less granular schedules.
my cats did this and i got automated timed feeder to go off at 5 am (when they wanted food) and now they associate the feeder as "the hand who feeds" the first week of having it it was THROWN across the room by my cat trying to open it to get the food out. It works SO well. Programming it was a little annoying but https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AUYLVU8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 something like this.
We use this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Pros: doesn't jam, hides 4 meals so it lasts us 2 days when filled, clock etc. are pretty good, they haven't figured out how to break in.
Cons: the cats haven't disconnected us from the act of the food rotating so they think they need to tell us when it's almost food time.
So the Daughter took her beloved cat (she LOVES this cat) to the Roswell Cat Clinic and saw God.
This is her first solo pet, not one of the family pets (it's actually kinda cute)
She was so enamored with the Vet there and is taking his every word as if it were one of the 10 Commandments. He was really good. He spent almost 2 hours with her talking about cats and their behavior
Apparently, her cat is a "Barn Cat" because the Vet kept calling him a Barn Cat. He also said that it was a "proven fact that Red (orange) cats have the best personalities.
Because our 2 male cats are overweight lazy slobs, we now have to switch our feeding style.
They now have to "hunt for their food" and we have 6 of these little mouse feeders and the cats have to actively work to get the food to come out. Once they figure this out, we are supposed to hide the mouse in the house so the cats have to hunt for their food.
Lucy, our Mico Cat, doesn't need to do this as she is an indoor/outdoor cat and is svelt so we can still bowl feed her but we have to move her food bowl out into the garage to the boys don't take all her food.
Agreed - we’ve been using these since January with feeding 3x/day (5:30am, 3:30pm, 9:30pm) and the cats don’t harass us anymore for food since they don’t associate us as the meal givers. There are definitely nicer ones on the market but these have done fine. Awesome when we’re going out of town for a few days as well.
> Can you literally just leave a massive pile of food for it and leave it for the week?
We used a thing called an auto feeder. It's just a hopper of food that keeps the bowl full, no batteries required or anything. It's their usual food bowl anyway, and we knew from experience it only needed filling about once per week.
The bigger problem is litter. With two cats & two litter boxes, we hired someone to come every day to empty the boxes. Our cats would disclose their disdain for a used litter box by using the carpet if the boxes were not kept clean. Which sucked; when we sold the house, we had to replace the carpeting, scour the concrete, and it still did not get all the pet odor out...
(Husband)
PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder, Smartphone, 24-Cups, Wi-Fi Enabled App for iPhone and Android, Award Winning Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WYP317/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yIsTCbRAYS6XC
This one is <$100, highly configurable, and has been very reliable over the two years I’ve owned it.
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Automatic-Dispenses-Digital/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=mp_s_a_1_4
Not nearly as cool as OPs though!
Oh, I think I know the kind you have. I used to have that kind and I like the model I have now much more - not battery-operated and not in compartments so no risk of theft.
https://www.amazon.com/Homdox-Automatic-Dispenser-Programmable-Recording/dp/B0721DKLMZ/ref=zg_bs_2975260011_20?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=MQPBV7DMZVV4RPBVYVE7
As others have so tactfully said, to some extent you just have to ignore it. Having a timed feeder really can help though because your cat will raise hell with the feeder, rather than with you. I'm personally much happier having my cat attack the feeder in the living room than running in circles on the bed trying to get me up.
Others have linked high quality feeders. Personally, I just used this simple and cheap model. Unlike the others, you can only set the next meal, but I've had good luck feeding my cat a snack when I get home, a late dinner as I'm going to bed, and setting the timer to go off at 6am.
I've enjoyed reading through everyone's responses and have added a ton of things to my cart/wishlist...
Amazon is my go-to for pretty much everything --- phone cases, screen protectors, batteries, cat food, random household things. Off the top of my head, my favorites:
I have the same watering bowl, and this feeder and leave my cats alone for up to week sometimes.
They are cats. They don't care. When I get home they don't even to seem to have missed me. Assholes.
I had the same feeder as you, but my cats figured out how to reach their paw into the feeder and get a little bit of kibbles at a time. Eventually the electronics just died, so we bought this one and it's been much better. Plus it has a slow feed option which would probably help you as well.
I got one that has a conveyor belt dealy that has worked really well: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=zg_bs_2975260011_1
Its kinda pricy but it stores lots of food and my little bastards haven't figured out how to break into it yet (they did knock it over at first so I know have it sandwiched between two old computers for stability).
Just get one of those time release cat feeder type deals. Portion control solved.
I've had cats that have woken me up daily at 4am with incessant meowing for food. So she has this automatic feeder so she never learned to expect me to feed her. It makes me feel kind of weird to say that, but it's truly amazing. So when she wakes me up, it's just because she wants to play. Fortunately she doesn't get crazy!
There you go :)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000TZ7022
This is the feeder that each of my cats use. It's a little pricey at $60, but it was worth it to me. It lets you record your voice to call over the cat for meal times (up to four times a day you can schedule). It lets you pick meal sizes. It can run on batteries or outlet. It holds about two weeks of food at a time.
You need one of these. They work great. It portions their food automatically and they no longer bug the shit out of you every morning for food. It's a little tricky to set up, but once you get it set up all you have to do is dump food in it once a month or so. Oh and maybe tape the lid on if you have a smart cat that knows how to open things. That cat is fat, unhealthy, and needs to be on a diet.
That was a huge game changer for us. They were hella obnoxious in the mornings. Now they're still obnoxious but we know they're not starving! This is the one that we have and it's so wonderful and amazing. We can program different times for the feeder to go off and different amounts. Though we do have a giant sack of rice on it since the Fat One learned if she hits the feeder enough, it will give her extra food (not realizing she's stealing from her next meal), so it would be hours of bam bam bam tink bam bam tink bam bam bam tink
It's one of these.
$50 is a little pricey for something so simple, but I haven't had any problems with it. Only changed the batteries once in 2 years, it's easy to program, and there's a little latch on front that makes it hard to get into.
Best purchase I've ever made
Have you considered a timed feeder? We had to get one for our adopted cat, he lived with an elderly woman before and was spoiled rotten, he was 18 pounds and insistent that hunger was unbearable. He was a nightmare until we bought an auto feeder.
We found one on amazon and it feeds him five times a day. He’s much happier now. I can’t link pretty on mobile but it’s this one and it’s worth its weight in gold!!! Fairly quiet, you can hear when it goes off but it’s not in our bedroom so we don’t notice it when it goes off at night.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B000GEWHNS/ref=mh_s9_acsd_top_b6roDDX_c_x_1_w?pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&amp;pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-3&amp;pf_rd_r=KSJ18SSVQ7348FK53DWG&amp;pf_rd_t=30901&amp;pf_rd_p=868aa1b7-8387-5f06-9791-43f704a63542&amp;pf_rd_i=6291910011
Try this guy.
I know it's a bit spendy, but it is perfect! My cat is super smart, wants to get into everything, is a huge mischief maker, and she can't get into this one! I have it go off at 5am (so she doesn't wake me up) and at 1pm (while I'm at work, so she doesn't go hungry). You can program it to do a feeding up to 3 times a day, and it's pretty easy to set up.
My cat will throw up if she eats more than like 2-3 Tbs of dry food at a time, and this thing has a setting where it puts about that much out (you can have it dispense more than that, though). It also make a slight whirring sound when it lets out food, so my cat can hear it and know when food is ready.
Just make sure that your dry food is large enough. The feeder uses an auger, and if your food is too small, too much will come through when it's released. I use Evo, and it fits just fine. But, Fromm is too small. I haven't tried other brands in it.
http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS
just buy two of these, they are a lot cheaper.
It’s gone up $20 in the last 3 years since I bought it. But it’s so worth it.
Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Cat and Dog Feeder 2 Sizes Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TZ7022/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_V-1lDbS7DEQAX
Not sure the exact one we have as my brother was the one who purchased it, can look when I get home. Ours allows you to schedule 1-3 times per day (custom times for each) and customizable amounts in increments of a quarter of a cup per feeding. Its got a fairly big tank of food that probably holds 2-3 weeks worth. EDIT: looks like it might be this one: www.amazon.com/LeBistro-Portion-Control-Automatic-pounds/dp/B0016BVY2U.
We did have to super glue a small plastic cover to it to make the hole where the food comes thin enough that he couldn't stick his paw up it and force food out.
It's this one
I use this. they'll never be able to knock it over, and it'll never run dry. the water will get nasty and need to be replaced (about once a week) before your buns empty it
Is there a reason you want a weight based system vs a volume based one? Volume should be able to be tuned close enough for a cat and it already exists
My tabby is insanely pushy and vocal about getting food, and was really cutting into my slumber/sanity. I know it's possible to train cats to not do that, but good luck with that. The only real solution I know of is auto-feeders. Most of them suck and can easily be broken into by a smart/hungry cat, but there are a few good ones.
If you use dry food, get the Bistro. My girl is diabetic and can only do wet food, so I use the Qpets. Nearly every other feeder is defective in one way or another, but these two are great. Either way, just make sure the feeder itself is secured (I velcro to a wall).
After a while they'll learn that they get fed at precisely X o'clock by the robot, no matter how much they meow at the human, and mostly stop meowing.
Something like this may help. We started going off the bags recommendations on how much to feed them to lose weight. 1 cup a day - so we have it set to 2 servings with it dispersing it 4x a day. After a while his appetite got smaller and he has calmed down about being fed. I think he figures the machine is the feeder now and it always feeds him at the same time thru out the day.
6.5L Pet Feeder,Automatic Cat Feeder | Timed Programmable Auto Pet Dog Food Dispenser Feeder for Kitten Puppy - Portion Control Up to 4 Meals/Day,Voice Recording,Battery and Plug-in Power(Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MG12BP3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kxvyDbCVZ2KE8
I got these: Iseebiz Automatic Cat Feeder 3L Pet Food Dispenser Feeder for Medium & Large Cat Dog--4 Meal, Voice Recorder & Timer Programmable, Portion Control https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0772VBL12/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_K7SsDbFJYZJPN
I’ve had them for over a month now and I really like them! You can program up to 4 meals. The only trouble was figuring out just how much a “portion” was. I give mine 3 portions each 2x a day which is a little less than 1/4 cup with their small kibble. It’s really helped them control their appetites and they’ve all lost weight which was much needed! They also get wet food 2x a day.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&amp;field-keywords=automatic+cat+feeder
some are better than others for portion size control & ease of timer programming
I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1462122045&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=automatic+cat+feeder
Try getting an automatic feeder! I got one similar to this as a Christmas present a few years ago, and it changed my life! I was able to sleep in for the first time in years! (this has now changed since I got a second cat and they have different diets, so automatic feeder isn't really an option, but if both your cats eat the same food, you could just get one each)
I use this automatic feeder. It’s the best price (used to be cheaper, unfortunately it’s about $10 more now than when I bought it). It’s really easy to use. The rotator can be a little loud, but I don’t notice it at all anymore.
It goes without saying, but check anything you do with your vet first as you probably know if it's not neurological than restricting water access could be bad.
Maybe an easy cheap method would be ice cubes in a [bowl like this](Petmate Pet Cafe Pet Waterer, 3 Gal, Pearl Tan https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003EV7FA0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DAoOyb33Z8MFQ). It would be more of a slow release than a timed release. You'd have to play with it a bit to get the right amount/release. You would probably want to still put a regular bowl out after exercise and during meals.
You can check here for some popular cat toys for indoor cats.
Regarding the automatic feeder, are you considering only dry food for your cat? If so it looks a decent choice. For wet food you would need to look at tray type feeder like one below:
https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mate-Automatic-Feeder-Digital/dp/B01AUYLVU8
This is the one we have:
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Dispenses-Digital/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=timed+cat+feeder&amp;qid=1559070719&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-7
Gets the job done
this one, specifically the 5 meal feeder NOT the 2 meal which is garbage. extremely durable and well made, no way a cat would be able to break into it.
Some cats are more vocal than others. Both of mine will yowl loudly when they find a particular toy (a fuzzy crinkle ball sets them both off, as does a catnip mouse). Usually these toys end up under a sofa for a week or two but if they find it they run around with it in their mouth yowling. If this wakes me up, I have to take the toy away and hide it so they quiet down.
If your cat is wailing for food / to be fed, then I HIGHLY recommend getting [a PetSafe cat feeder] (https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1496432458&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=cat+feeder). I have had one of these things for YEARS and I've rarely had to replace the D batteries. It has five 1-cup dry-food compartments that I have set to rotate at 6:15am. The cats hear it rotate and run for breakfast, leaving me alone. They know not to bother me for food.
They are grazers so I have it rotate just once per day, but you can set it up to rotate 2 or 3 times per day if you want to dole out food in smaller portions. Then you are associated with play and cuddles and the cat(s) learn not to cry to you for food. It really works!
EDIT: I should add that I sometimes give them snacks or wet food to supplement the dry, but never when they are around / crying or begging for food. They get excited when they hear the sound of the wet food dishes coming out of the cupboard, but they never pester me for it, because it isn't something that happens every day.
Cats are not dogs first off 😺. Please throw away the spray bottle and no more yelling! If you have access to the animal planet go app you can watch Jackson Galaxy's "My Cat From Hell". He also has many You Tube videos. It is the Best advice you can get for solving behavioral problems with cats. He also has some good books so please at least invest some time into solving your problem by watching the show or videos or reading the book or all of them. I did all of them before I adopted my first cat.
I am assuming both cats are neutered. Do they have enough space to stay away from each other when they want to? For example do you have two cat trees or at least some shelves on the wall and two different beds and so on. They may get used to each other and become best buddies or they may never get along and just each hang out in what they claim to be their part of the house.
Because you have two cats, you will need two sets of these.
Doc & Phoebe's Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HFKDJF8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_878vCbQXB021F.
I'm sharing one of my favorite things for my cat it makes her happy in many ways and can solve a lot of behavioral problems. In nature cats eat 6 mice a day, these little feeders give them the feeling of the hunt catch kill eat cycle that is so ingrained into them. The amount they hold is about the same as if they were eating a mouse so they get small meals throughout the day as they hunt for it and throughout the night. It comes with three mice and I fill them up in the morning and hide them and then again before I go to bed. Even though my girl generally knows where they are during the day because I have a very small apartment when it comes time for her to hunt catch kill eat I have seen her actually get so engrossed that she does the butt wiggle before leaping towards the mouse.
I'd be slightly cautious giving strangers from the internet full access to your home. I could tell you I or many other strangers would be happy to help someone out in need but it's hard to filter out the potential a-holes. If you have someone do it for you make sure you have their ID information and maybe some references.
This place is fairly close to where you live and runs about $13.75+ per day. There are probably also some competing services if you shop around.
Also, depending on exactly how long you'll be gone you can look into an automatic cat feeder, I have one myself that feeds my cat exact amounts twice a day as well as a long lasting water supply. The only thing to be cautions of is depending on how long you'll be gone your cat may have some anxiety about the lack of interaction. When I was out of the country for about 3 weeks I had a friend of mine swing in as often as he could to maintain a presence which made a big difference.
PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_USxMAbT37ZRWS
There are fancier ones but I like this one. The cat can’t force it to rotate and neither can the dogs. The dogs tried but all they did was leave nail marks. The dogs are 55 lbs each so it was a real attempt.
It’s an automatic feeder that we had to get in order to get her to stop waking us up in the morning by yelling and pawing at our faces.
Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder with Digital Timer for Cats and Small Dogs https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01AUYLVU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_11T3Db3Z7F13E
[this one?](Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Cat and Dog Feeder 2 Sizes Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TZ7022/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_j621DbFH1PTJA)
I bought the Aspen Pet LeBistro Portion Control Automatic Pet Feeder. Would definitely recommend it. You'll see in the Amazon reviews it does have a few possible flaws, but I haven't experienced any of them personally.
Here's the one I have, the battery has lasted for quite a while now.
It has a timer so got can schedule regular feedings.
PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder, Dispenses Dog Food or Cat Food, Digital Clock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7cw6AbEXZRHTA
I got this one, nearly indestructible.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00VIXRB6O/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1472881927&amp;sr=8-6&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=cat+feeder&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41x5CRjxuDL&amp;ref=plSrch
We use this one, pretty much impossible for them to get any more food and it can use an AC adapter if batteries are a concern... but the initial set of batteries lasted about 6 months if I remember correctly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VIXRB6O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
gift one - for my real kitty, he needs this so bad. I'm not at home all day and this would be amazing for him.
gift two - this is a cake stuffed animal. She's so precious!!
C'mon on...gimme.
Lol! Thanks you guys! Y'all are amazing !!!!
this petsafe is the ONLY automatic feeder worth a damn that a cat can't screw with. You get what you pay for
If you have the resources, there are automated feeders that only need to be loaded every month or so HERE . Also automated litter boxes or lighter wood based litter that is easier to manage than the extremely heavy clay litter. And water dishes that self dispense HERE
I think a single adult cat would be easy and very therapeutic!
There are cat bowls that have timers on them so they open at a certain time: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-2-Meal-Automatic-Feeder-Dispenses/dp/B000241NRI/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1511485472&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=cat+bowl+with+timer
Leaving out unlimited dry food is also an option so she can eat whenever she wants.
12 hours is a long time for her to be alone after being used to having someone around all the time-- she might also be bored and lonely.
I bought an automatic feeder for my cats years ago when they were eating all their food at once and then bugging me for more. I like this one because you can set it to feed them when you want to up to five times a day. So long as you measure the amount of food in each dish you shouldn't have to worry about over feeding them. Now my cats can tell time, and the only time they whine at me for food is when I forget to refill the dish. It wouldn't work for wet food very well, but it's great for dry food.
I don't see anything wrong with three meals a day, that's what I do. One of my cats do start meowing about an hour before their feeding times though, that's something I haven't managed to figure out yet. I've been eyeing this feeder (http://www.amazon.com/Super-Feeder-Automatic-Digital-Capacity/dp/B005PZ0HQM/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1371163012&amp;sr=8-16) but alas I'd need two and it's a lot to spend at once. I hear it's capable of very small precise portions, which would be essential for more meals over the course of the day.
Also, I don't know that there ought to be a consensus on how much for you to feed, it would depend on the size and activity level and food. My cats are 10 and 12 pounds respectively, and don't do much; I feed them each about five tablespoons, or roughly a third of a cup of high-protein dry food. I figured this amount out by setting a target weight with the vet and adding or reducing food to reach that weight. Also, not 100% sure from the picture, but your kitty looks like he could still be a growing boy!
http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-LeBistro-Portion-Automatic-Bleached/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321641636&amp;sr=1-2
Best thing EVER!
I love this thing!
Sure!
I've got one of these, and it goes off twice a day, early in the morning, and in the afternoon. Then she gets some raw food in the evening, and the feeder gets refilled every 2 days.
We have this feeder at our house. Like yours, our cat will gorge until she barfs, so we use it all the time. Like eveekay said, get the feeder ASAP and start using it before you leave to be absolutely sure the feeder doesn't have any issues and that your guys are making proper use of it.
Biggest problem I've heard from other cat owners is that their cats find a way to open the feeder and feed themselves. Luckily my cat is dumb as dirt and hasn't figured this out yet.
We use a feeder full time, and I have to say it's life changing. Our cat doesn't bother us in the morning and we know for sure she'll be fed when we're not home during her meal time. Here's a link to the one we've had for over a year now with no issues at all.
Cat Mate C3000 Automatic Dry Food Pet Feeder
I didn't even know the microchip feeders were a thing.
I used something similiar to this for years, but I was free-feeding three cats from it:
https://www.amazon.ca/Aspen-Bistro-Programmable-Food-Dispenser/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=zg_bs_6291910011_28?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=H97GYPJGSWJJ7JJM1KP7
Amazon has a whole category of automatic pet feeders. ( https://www.amazon.ca/Best-Sellers-Pet-Supplies-Automatic-Cat-Feeders/zgbs/pet-supplies/6291910011 ) Reverse the trend, use them for research and then buy it at your local pet store ;)
I'd throw one more into the mix: The Super Feeder.
This is one of the 'dumbest' 'smart' pet feeders on the market, and that's a GOOD thing. All it does is dispense a preset (adjustable) portion of food from the hopper each time power is applied. That means it's super easy to integrate with any HA system- just use a plug in switch module and plug the feeder into that and at feeding time have HA turn on the power for one minute. You don't need another app and the feeder doesn't need WiFi. You can link multiple feeders together (just have both modules turn on at the same time, or feed them both off the same power plug). Want to feed multiple portions (IE big breakfast and small dinner)? On for one minute, off for one minute, then on for one minute again.
Congrats on your first cat! How old is he? How much would you say you're feeding him these days? I'm just wondering if he would be alright eating two small meals- perhaps you're still giving him more than he actually needs. Cats are pretty small, after all. The typical full grown cat only needs about a cup of food every day.
You could look into getting a second person involved so he's still getting small meals but that way one person doesn't have to constantly stop by to feed him. There's also toys you could buy that slowly dispense food while the cat plays with them, although if he's not particularly active he might not be interested in something like that. (Heres a link to one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-SlimCat-Meal-Dispensing-Blue/dp/B0018CG40O)
There are also food dispensers that run on a timer although they tend to be more expensive (https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=zg_bs_2975260011_1?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=Q0W06AVHE8R6AMYAAV6H)
Hopefully one of these is able to help!
There are timed automatic feeders for both dry and wet food. Here's a link to one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Dispenses-Digital/dp/B000GEWHNS?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_3038413011
Try this one. https://www.amazon.com/Super-Feeder-Automatic-CSF-3-Analog/dp/B00428TOBC
I'm not sure why you want to moisten his food. His teeth will be fine chewing kibble.
However, you would probably do better with something like this for wet food.
I am so happy for you! I'm probably going to end up repeating a lot of what others have already said, but I just wanted to chime in. :)
I think that's all I wanted to share. I wish you the best of luck with your two new furry kitties!
Not sure this is exactly the kind of thing you’ll want, and it’s right at that $50 cutoff, but I love this PetSafe feeder. It is battery operated and rotates through five vestibules. Works for either wet or dry food but I imagine wet would get rather crusty?? Anyway, we use it for weekends away because it’s perfect for covering two days with two feedings a day. You could easily refill it throughout the week though, to use it all the time. It’s especially helpful if you’re trying to only feed your pet a certain amount or monitor their food intake. The only downside is that it’s better for smaller animals probably—cats or smaller dogs. Or smaller food portions, anyway.
Yeah, I have the PetSafe with the two way splitter for two boys. Now I dont have to worry about day to day, or as much when we take off for a day or two (but we still have somebody come by) - PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_mgqvbpNB5gcLo
Plus, it has a battery backup for power outages.
It's this one on amazon! We chose it over this style because we were worried she'd figure out how to reach her greedy little paws up in there!
Also yay for chubby black cats ♡♡
I only have the one cat, however, I've had this one for years. It runs on 4 C batteries (which I've only ever changed once) and you can program it for one or more feedings per day. It also says it's good for both wet and dry food, though I've only tried it with dry because I feed her a 1/2 can every night and the dry is for mid-day snacking. They're not too expensive assuming you'd need a few at least but I love this thing and I can vouch that it's worked well for years.
PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TsQCzb19VFYXD
My cat would love to know how to break into her auto feeder ... But it's been foolproof for that chonk so far.
PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder, Wi-Fi Enabled Pet Feeder, Smartphone App for iPhone and Android https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WYP317/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_j5JODbA7XTR1X
What about this feeder? It would solve some of your wife’s concerns PetSafe Automatic 2 Meal Cat and Dog Feeder - Cat and Dog Food Dispenser - Battery Powered https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000241NRI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NdMODbH88XHJY
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Automatic-Dispenses-Digital/dp/B00VIXRB6O/
It kind of just drops the food down. They treat it like a snake or something, elongated necks, bobbing up and down.
My vet said my cat wont starve itself either but she sure is putting on the act.
I'd come home to starving cats and piles of vomit everywhere as they tried to literally eat until they burst.
3D printed options aside, I (and some friends) use this one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O
Its been completely flawless, no jams, no over or underfeeding, runs for more than a year on a set of batteries, and the design is such that the little pricks can't dig around in it and get more food out.
Not a vet so I can't comment to your original question, but! If twice daily feedings are important to you still, I have this feeder and I love it! We feed our cat 1/8 cup twice a day and it could easily go lower with accuracy. http://www.amazon.com/Super-Feeder-Automatic-Digital-Capacity/dp/B005PZ0HQM/ref=sr_1_52?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1449453506&amp;sr=8-52&amp;keywords=automatic+cat+food+feeder
Could they not just get one of these?
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/
If juggling your cat's food becomes a problem and since all cats have a hunting instinct, you may want to try puzzle feeders; any type of puzzle feeder will do. I use mouse feeders Doc & Phoebe's Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07HFKDJF8/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_iEGPCbSNHKAWM When your cat figures it out, you can start to hide them in different places in the home. This will keep your cat busy when you're not home as well as satisfy that hunting instinct. G'luck!
There are a couple of brands, we have this one but if you search 5 meal feeder you'll find a lot. Or N meals.
My two never did well with being taken to boarding so I've always left them at home alone anything < 7 days with a "nanny cam" to make sure they are doing okay.
I bought this one years ago and it works great, however i think it only supports 3 meals a day and might not fit your needs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BVY2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1. I actually use it to feed them daily and just give them treats from time to time. I got them when I was still very busy and didn't have the time for a dog and liked never having to worry about missing a feeding.
I think to do this you really would want an automatic litter box though, I always set out an extra normal litter box in case the automatic one malfunctions but never really had any issues. I use a litter robot as their normal day to day box which never seems to have any issues.
Just Make sure they have enough to last several extra days and that you have someone that can in an emergency come check on them.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BVY2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I recommend this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VIXRB6O/
It helped my chubby guy lose weight.
Even Dumber: I bought this feeder 5 years ago for $55, and have barely had any issues. I can leave my cat at home for a week straight and be fine.
How many times a day do you feed your pet? Mine has 5 slots but I feed twice daily so it only lasts 2.5 days.
Edit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GEWHNS/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1526159494&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=petsafe+feeder&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41iXWZ1eDYL&amp;ref=plSrch
Link to the feeder I use. This company makes much fancier models as well, but this one is really basic and does what I need without being super expensive.
I have used a Petsafe feeder to feed cats while away. You can feed them once or twice a day for a total of 4 feedings without refilling.
https://www.amazon.ca/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1466522322&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=pet+feeder
I use this feeder for my formerly tubby kitty. It's worked really well and cut down on her between-meals-harassment meowing by quite a bit! I fed her Purina Pro Plan weight management wet and dry food. She went from 13-14 pounds to 9-10 pounds from this routine.
Aspen Pet 24240 LeBistro Portion Control Automatic Pet Feeder, 10-Pounds (Black)
https://www.amazon.ca/Aspen-Pet-24240-Automatic-10-Pounds/dp/B000TZ7022/ref=as_li_ss_tl?psc=1&amp;SubscriptionId=AKIAJ7T5BOVUVRD2EFYQ&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=thebigaawes06-20&amp;linkId=6797fd77f2b53893bd7dea6abe24c35d
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81xrcgsWPqL._SL1500_.jpg
I'm going with this one. Battery life is a year, dispenses as little as 1/16th of a cup. It's bigger than I need, but whatever.
http://smile.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1463344649&amp;sr=1-5&amp;keywords=pet+feeder
His meowjesty does the same thing so we bought this and it has really fixed the problem. http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mate-C10-Automatic-Feeder/dp/B0002AQZKM/ref=zg_bs_2975260011_14
https://www.amazon.com/LeBistro-Portion-Control-Automatic-pounds/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1466208996&amp;sr=1-7&amp;keywords=cat+feeder
Here, the only problem for me is that I'd have to get 2 of them... they don't share well. lol
There's also this, but I'd like to try it before I buy it. It doesn't look like it would do what I want it to do. I could be wrong though. But I would still have to buy two.
this will fix it.
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Automatic-Smartphone-24-Cups-Enabled/dp/B073WYP317/ref=sr_1_30?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1523377364&amp;sr=1-30&amp;keywords=cat+feeder
just feed a little bit as often as you like. it even has a slow feed setting.
If you're going to be out for long stretches of time every day, I would suggest not getting a kitten and instead looking for an older cat who is house trained and accustomed to being alone during the day.
As far as vacation is concerned your best bet is to find a friend/relative who will be willing to drop by your house once a day to put down food/clean litter/play with the kitty for a bit. If you are only heading off for a long weekend these things can easily be taken care of by using pet fountains, automated feeders, heck you can even get self cleaning litter trays. Any longer than that though and it's best to get someone to come round and take care of these things.
One more thing, whilst feeding you cat and providing litter may be reasonably cheap, vets bills can be INSANE. I would definitely recommend getting pet insurance.
Omg this must be a new product! Such a thing does exist now! I just have to hope the male doesn't learn how to steal from it - he is a smart little devil! He's gotten into out basement ceiling and everything -_-
https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Pet-Feeder-Wireless-Whiskers/dp/B00APRBNFY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=petfeedertips-20&linkId=9ddb9ee303704e4cbbf37285c8dcf460&language=en_US
arg nvm, this doesn't portion control exactly & she'll learn to open that up for an endless supply. Back to the crate idea!
unless you supervise them, the only other options are pricey. such as
http://meowspace.biz/
https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Pet-Feeder-Microchip-eOutletDeals/dp/B01JM4XK9W/
https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-WonderBowl-Selective-Pet-Feeder/dp/B00C1BYETO/
https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Pet-Feeder-Wireless-Whiskers/dp/B00APRBNFY/
I've used the PetSafe Healthy Pet feeder for years for my cats, it's pretty solid and easy to program. My only complaint is that food seems to go stale or off in the plastic bin on it, I solved that by just leaving the food in the bag and putting that upside down. It was great for cats so I could dispense a little bit throughout the day to keep them from waking me up early or nagging. Only reason I'm switching is to go to a microchip feeder because my current two need separate bowls/diets.
If I had to replace the auto-feeder with another auto-feeder, though, I would probably upgrade to the PetSafe Smart Feed which has WiFi and a more solidly attached bowl. I've seen that one go on good sales for Black Friday and Prime Day in July.
I use this and it has worked great.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=emc_b_5_t
I had an obese cat (21 lbs) and bought this to control food. Attached to a timer I have it dispense food 5 times a day. The amount of food can be customized as well as the times and # of times. Cat cannot break into it. It also has an extra attachment you can buy that will increase capacity. I have it and fill it once very month or so.
He now weighs 14 lbs.
Super Feeder Automatic Cat Feeder, CSF-3, Stand/Bowl, Analog Timer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00428TOBC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kh30Bb448B8WA
I have this: https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Pet-Feeder-Wireless-Whiskers/dp/B00APRBNFY
It prorates food per hour. I have 5 cats, each one wears a collar tag which opens the feeder for their allotted time per hour. Once they've eaten their allotment, the doors close. Keeps them fed - and on a diet if need be. Pricey, but worth it.
Obviously the solution is to just take your baby with you on your trip! :D
lol no I'm just kidding. I would recommend this one, or a style like it:
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1498146424&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=automatic+cat+feeders
Since you'll have someone coming over every other day, they'll be able to refill the bowls. I like it because it works with wet food! But if your cat is too curious they might be able to pry open the door...Best of luck! And enjoy your vacation!
At the shelter I volunteer with we always need Kongs (off brand are ok) both large and small. It lasts the dogs forever and provides great mental exercise!
As for cats, we use treat puzzle balls and toys (like this) and the “Stretch and Scratch”.
If you are free feeding your dog, that has to stop. Most dogs will get by on two big meals a day, and that's what the insulin is for - give the injection when the dog is eating, or shortly thereafter.
You can also ask your vet if you can give your dog tiny portions several times a day (like a human with type 2 diabetes). There are automatic feeders that can help with this. With a cursory look, I noticed this one on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Automatic-Smartphone-24-Cups-Enabled/dp/B073WYP317/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1527599733&sr=1-12&keywords=automatic+dog+feeder&linkCode=sl1&tag=petlife-20&linkId=a3350ee403f5f7fdc460667981e0a43c
We got This for my mom a few years ago. It works great, but programming it can be kind of tricky at first. A little more in the mid-range for price to but it's sturdy and can take being kicked around a few times
I have an older model of this.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_7pe3wb2ZT66FH
I don’t want to offend you but is your cat overweight? Most cats shouldn’t be more than 15lbs (this number will be higher for larger breeds such as a Maine coon)
To my knowledge cats don’t need to eat that much. Just because they beg for food does not mean they actually need to be fed.
Maybe you could try giving your cat a little more food at the morning and evening feeding times?
If you don’t think that would work maybe something like this would.
Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder with Digital Timer for Cats and Small Dogs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AUYLVU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HECBCbAG78AQ7
Petsafe autofeeder. I'm super pleased with it.
This thing has been awesome for me:
PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder, Dispenses Dog Food or Cat Food, Digital Clock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OlPKBb320Q1TG
It's basically a box for the LeBistro Automatic Feeder (Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Food Dispenser- 18 Cup https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Cg97yb03YW1XT)
Instead of collecting in the tray at the bottom, this allows it to split into 2.
Problem Solved
After a lot of debating, we got this one. It's a bit bigger than I wanted but it was the only one that would hold wet food that had decent reviews
PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gMqczbEBSKG4N
This one Cat Mate C3000 Automatic Dry Food Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004BLVFSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_tRHpyb4ESGEZP is also a great alternative for cats that are too smart for their own good!
Here you go
Get an automatic cat feeder! Won't necessarily help with the feet thing, but when it becomes 100% food obsessed as all cats do an automatic feeder for the mornings will be a blessing. I lost countless hours of sleep dealing with my cat, this thing was life changing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005PZ0HQM/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_1QFhybW1H0Y75
NTA , self feeder is amazing gf and I got another cat so two. Our first cat is a hell raiser.... Last night we accidentally left the closet open.... He dumped everything that was on the top shelf off. He is very bad but he's a cuddler and wouldn't even dare claw you he loves to go into the shower with my gf and loves to be held and picked up. We decided another cat would help him exercise his energy. Now they're both shit heads but so cute so it's okay. The biggest thing that changed our weekends and days off was an automatic feeder. Changed everything and there is no downside
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TD38235/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_e6JODb7RE1618
NAH except for the cat. (I say this as a proud owner of a terror of a cat when he's hungry)
Just a suggestion, because I used to have this same problem: You can get one like this that lets you measure out each portion in advance and just opens that compartment: PetSafe 5 Meal Pet Feeder for Dogs and Cats - Food Dispenser - Portion Control https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SfNODb68GREPW
I have been using a similar one for probably five years now. My cat is super wily, so I had to weight it down with a two pound weight but it was totally worth it.
And my cat still super super loves me. He goes to eat in the morning while I sleep in then comes back into bed and cuddles with us. Good luck!
I put wet foot in my automatic feeder. I set it up to feed the cats three times a night (10pm, 4am, 6am). The canned food shouldn't go bad within the 7-8 hours it sits out.
From the article:
http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?p=3023
"Furiosa’s Cat Feeder" Quinn Dunki | BLONDIHACKS (21st December 2016)
>The trick is to be smarter than the animal with a brain the size of a walnut
>
[...]>This made picking up the machine inconvenient enough that she switched tactics. Her next move was to lie on her back in the bowl, and stick her paw up the chute. She could paw the conveyor belt itself, getting it to move. This was very effective, netting an extra meal or more.
---
YouTube information:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKV1kmaY3qQ
"IMG 6581" Blondie B | YouTube.com (Dec 19, 2016)
---
Actor:
Sprocket H.G. Shopcat
versus:
[the PetSafe programmable automated feeder](https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ "PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder")^(amazon.com)
Get one of these and you'll be able to sleep in peace again.
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS
My cat left me alone once he realized the food was automatic.
Have you considered placing him in another room for mealtimes? That way, your other cats can eat in peace.
You may want to consider portioning his meals using a timed feeder. I own a similar one, with an ice pack built in for wet food, available on Amazon as well. You can set it to dispense food up to 5 times per day. I’ve also heard that these are good for cats that eat too fast, as they have to “hunt” for their food little by little (alternatively, you can also hide his food in small portions around whatever room he eats in, inside puzzle feeders, etc). I think the food dispenser is probably easiest. The version I linked to above is $36, but I’m sure you can find it cheaper on OfferUp or eBay.
As for fighting, Jackson Galaxy and Pam Johnson-Bennett have some great suggestions. Pam has a great reintroduction guide here. They also stress the importance of playing with your cat to get any excess energy or aggression out.
My guess for why he attacks the other cat may be some insecurity on his part about his status in the home. Do you have any cat trees, or high perches where he can sit? That may help him feel secure. Does he get to spend adequate time with you? I know it sounds silly, but some studies now show that cats view their owners in the same way that children view their parents, in contrast to dogs, who view their owners as pack leaders. Maybe your cat feels like the child who is always getting disciplined (however well-deserved it may be). In either case, reintroduction would likely be the first thing to try. It can take weeks, but it may be worth it for some peace in the home.
Another option is Feliway Multicat . It is a diffuser system (and I believe they have a spray version) designed for homes with multiple cats. The diffuser contains artificial pheromones designed to mimic the ones produced by a mother cat to calm her kittens. A friend of mine volunteers at a local shelter that utilizes these extensively to help keep the peace among their cats, and I know they’re quite popular in households with cats that don’t get along. It’s a pricey product and you may need multiple diffusers throughout your home for adequate reach, but again, you may find them cheaper elsewhere. Additionally, you can try placing them specifically where the two cats fight.
Good luck with everything. If you do choose to re-home your cat, the best thing would be to find him a loving home yourself, or at the very least, be sure you are looking at no-kill shelters (they often have waiting lists, by the way, so you’ll likely have to wait a bit - but it would save his life!) Be transparent about his issues and his need to be an only cat (in probably an adults-only home) so he can be placed where he’d be a good fit.
I hope it all works out for you and you can all live peacefully together!
PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed - Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder - Slow Feed Setting - Portion Control https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mxSUDbQHJ5B9Y
Used this for years: http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-LeBistro-Portion-Automatic-Pet/dp/B000TZ7022/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_45
works great.
Here's a list of the protein/fat/carb content of most commercially available wet foods for reference: http://catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf
Shoot for a carb content under 10%. It doesn't have to be super expensive--Fancy Feast classics (and kitten feast) are low carb. The calorie column of the chart could also help you find something that has more calories for their growing bodies without too much volume in their stomachs.
I bought an autofeeder that works with wet food, and it has been a lifesaver for making sure my cat gets smaller, more frequent meals even when I'm at work or sleeping. She tends to get sick if she eats too much at once or goes too long without eating. Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/
Good luck; hope the little ones feel better soon!
Not dog, but we have automatic feeders for our two cats and it’s been an absolute lifesaver! We originally got them to make things easier for pet sitters (one of our cats is on a special diet, gets over excited if not fed on time and vomits, AND is terrible at ad lib feeding. He literally eats until he can’t move; we tried it once and omg the diarrhea and labored breathing 🤦🏼♀️)
It can be programmed for as small as 1/8 cup and can do several times feedings throughout the day. They are battery powered (C or D, I can’t recall) and we haven’t had to change them in almost 2 years; though we will have to probably in the next month or so as it’s on it’s last bar.
I believe they are PetSafe brand and are about $135, but they have been worth every penny.
PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder, Dispenses Dog Food or Cat Food, Digital Clock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dhlVCbFC2BFQK
Needs
I use this one for dry food, works great :) I've had it for 2-3 years now! It holds five meals.
I think we have your cat's twin. We went the auto-feeder route too.
We looked at that one but the reviews commented that cats were finding the feeder trip and getting food all the time. So we got one that prevents that. To say it prevents self-feeding is an understatement. Can't trip it manually and he even tried knocking it over and beating it (the lid locks).
If you have the cash I can't recommend this one enough.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VIXRB6O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I gave up on those feeders about 6 months ago. Had one that lasted for a while but had to build a contraption from stopping the cat getting into it. that one broke, got a new one that lasted a month max.
Ended up getting this feeder https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VIXRB6O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1 a bit more expensive but the cats personality with it is 100% different because he can't sneak food from it.
The version we have is no longer available, but this is the updated version. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BVY2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
If your bun is as food crazy as ours are, a tip I would suggest is to put an opaque bag over the part of the feeder that is clear. Our bunnies used to knock the thing over to get more food single time we used it, until we started doing this. Out of sight, out of mind I guess?
I like this one. It's expensive but is much easier to use than the cheaper ones which also broke after around 6 months. I think it's more economical in the long run.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GEWHNS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
This is the feeder I have. I was terrified to buy any feeder because they all have mixed reviews, but this one has worked perfectly since the day that I bought it. The con is that the tray is plastic which I don't prefer to feed in. Also, I like to feed on plates so as not to irritate my cat's whiskers, and the tray is more of a deep triangle-y bowl. Worth it though. I also feed my cats in separate rooms. If that doesn't work, try feeding between a baby gate, or maybe feed one in a carrier but in the same room.
I highly recommend trying an automatic feeder, possibly put somewhere higher than the dog can reach. Even though he is deaf, once your cat begins to realize he gets food at the same time from the feeder every day I can almost guarantee he will be right there waiting at meal times (at first you may need to show the cat the food coming out). I started using one with our cat who also would wake us up and beg incessantly for food. My cat's behavior changed dramatically within a few days of using the feeder. She no longer cries or begs for food and she doesn't wake me up at night anymore either. It's a small investment that could potentially change your life! This is the model I use.
Link: http://amzn.com/B0015ZK0VI
I have 2 cat's over 15lbs, so this would be handy!
Man's Best Friend
We got the similar one. It's been going strong on batteries for a couple years now: https://amzn.com/B000GEWHNS The cats used to beg constantly. Not anymore! Just in the morning still. :-/