Reddit reviews PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed - Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder - Slow Feed Setting - Portion Control

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.

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!

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:

• Lightning/micro-USB charging cable. I love that it can flip between the two charging ports; I can use one cable for my iPhone and Kindle, finally! We've replaced all of our electronic cables with these.
  
• My Kindle Voyage. Love, love, love it! It's always with me.
  
• Zinus SmartBase mattress frame. Sturdy, quiet, and super tall for underbed storage. Enough said!
  
• Packing cubes. These are soft-sided packing cubes, which is great for me since I can cram more things into them. I get so much more suitcase space back, and it helps keep things organized once I'm at a hotel.
  
• Stainless steel sink caddy. Sponges left in the sink drive me crazy! I like this one because it also has stands for scrubber brushes and the coordinating soap dispenser (which I also bought) fits nicely in the compartment.
  
• Programmable cat feeder. We've tried so, so many automatic feeders for our cats. The feeders either crap out or the cats figure out how to get it to dispense extra food. This one though --- it's been going strong for 2.5 years and the little jerkbags can't get their paws up the food chute; not that it matters, because portions are on a conveyor belt inside the feeder. You can set multiple feeding times, adjust portions for each meal, and it's super easy to refill thanks to the lid on top. We have a power adapter for it... the manufacturer didn't have the factory one listed at the time (it's separate) so we got a generic multi-purpose one that works.

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).

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.

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

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&psc=1

I got this one, nearly indestructible.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00VIXRB6O/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1472881927&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=cat+feeder&dpPl=1&dpID=41x5CRjxuDL&ref=plSrch

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

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

I recommend this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VIXRB6O/

It helped my chubby guy lose weight.

Could they not just get one of these?

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/

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.

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.

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.

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&psc=1&refRID=Q0W06AVHE8R6AMYAAV6H)

Hopefully one of these is able to help!

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!

this petsafe is the ONLY automatic feeder worth a damn that a cat can't screw with. You get what you pay for

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.

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.

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&psc=1 a bit more expensive but the cats personality with it is 100% different because he can't sneak food from it.

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&psc=1

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

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

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

• little eight pound body
  
• undeterred
  
• tiny feline choppers
  
  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)
  
  
• programmed to feed
  

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

Petsafe autofeeder. I'm super pleased with it.

I use this and it has worked great.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=emc_b_5_t

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'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&ie=UTF8&qid=1463344649&sr=1-5&keywords=pet+feeder