We have a sweet client with two cats, one is on a special diet with portion-controlled meals, and the other is naturally slim and can eat freely. The challenge? The skinny cat does not need the expensive diet food, and the diet cat should not be sneaking extra bites. Their family found the perfect solution using two different automatic feeders.
The free-fed cat wears a collar with a microchip tag that quietly and smoothly opens the feeder cover when the chip is detected. As soon as the cat steps away, the lid closes quickly and gently, keeping the diet cat from slipping in for extra food. If your cat does not like wearing a collar but has an RFID microchip, the feeder can be set to open using the chip instead.
The diet cat uses a portion-controlled, time-release feeder. This cat knows exactly when mealtime is and always keeps an eye on the feeder, waiting for the food to drop. It is pretty entertaining to watch when the cat realises it is time. A little dash to the bowl when the food is released turns mealtime into a fun burst of activity.
You can explore SureFeed feeders that work with microchips or collars and help keep mealtime stress-free. For portion-controlled, timed feeders, I have always found Petmate and PetSafe to be great options. Both brands offer reliable feeders that are easy to set up and work well for busy families.
If you try any of these, I would love to hear how they work for you and your furkids!