An automatic food dispenser has been an absolute lifesaver. The cat still doesn't get fed at 3:30 am, but he's mostly learned the schedule and no longer sees us as a source of food. He still begs for the wet food, but he's learned that schedule too.
i just don’t feed my cats when they’re begging. they’ve taken to just quietly being near me when food time is coming. which isn’t that different from how they usually act. just slightly more tension.
I've been told I'm lazy for having a auto feeder but this is exactly how I look at it. Before when I worked late and dinner was subsequently late they'd scarf it down and puke. They don't do that anymore
So, you wait until the food dispenser opens and then you directly feed him by hand from the can - into the dispenser or some pot I guess, and not directly into his mouth ;-)
But ok, having something to dictate schedule sounds interesting
My last cat was absolutely not food orientated and got usually fed in the afternoon and evening. So we never had the problem in the morning
But now caring for a stray mother of 2, she is obviously always hungry.
She still waits politely until we're awake, but going for a piss at 4 is currently the start for a cat party
Mother wants food, little ones want to play/have action
At the moment it still works ok, because I tell her, I'm just to the toilet and it's too early for food - and I tell her to go eat some dry food until then
But it's really hard with getting older and needing to go to the toilet in the middle of the night ;-)
Edit: I never had such a dispenser, so I have no clue how they work...sorry, if my questions sound stupid
Not quite. His food dispenser contains dry food. He has that schedule memorized and knows when we generally feed him wet food in relation to his dry food
We got a couple for our boys but one of them started tipping the feeders over to knock food out. We built some boxes to enclose the feeders and prevent this, and then the little shit learned he can jostle food loose by getting his paw up into the dispenser area and manhandling the impeller. The noise this makes sounds very similar to someone attempting to break into our home, and as a result we have switched back to manual feeding, and will just use the automatic feeders when we're planning to be away overnight.
Yep. I only refill the water bowls as soon as I wake up. The food can wait at least until I've had my coffee. So if my cats are screaming to wake me up I know they are thirsty for some reason which is a much bigger emergency since cats tend to not drink enough
Me: up at 330 am, making coffee and breakfast, doing dishes, in and out of my room while showering and dressing.
My dog: it's too early for a walk, keep it down!
28 Comments
arrow74@lemmy.zip · 38 pts · 50d
An automatic food dispenser has been an absolute lifesaver. The cat still doesn't get fed at 3:30 am, but he's mostly learned the schedule and no longer sees us as a source of food. He still begs for the wet food, but he's learned that schedule too.
Being able to sleep again is great
luxadazy@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 49d
i just don’t feed my cats when they’re begging. they’ve taken to just quietly being near me when food time is coming. which isn’t that different from how they usually act. just slightly more tension.
Cheems@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 49d
I've been told I'm lazy for having a auto feeder but this is exactly how I look at it. Before when I worked late and dinner was subsequently late they'd scarf it down and puke. They don't do that anymore
starik@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 48d
If I’m ever late, I have to feed it to them in multiple portions, spread out over ~1hr, for the same reason.
naeap@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 49d
How long can you keep wet food in the feeder, when it's so hot?
Doesn't it get bad?
arrow74@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 49d
He begs for wet food because we do feed it to him directly from the can. The food dispenser just teaches him a schedule
naeap@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 49d
So, you wait until the food dispenser opens and then you directly feed him by hand from the can - into the dispenser or some pot I guess, and not directly into his mouth ;-)
But ok, having something to dictate schedule sounds interesting
My last cat was absolutely not food orientated and got usually fed in the afternoon and evening. So we never had the problem in the morning
But now caring for a stray mother of 2, she is obviously always hungry.
She still waits politely until we're awake, but going for a piss at 4 is currently the start for a cat party
Mother wants food, little ones want to play/have action
At the moment it still works ok, because I tell her, I'm just to the toilet and it's too early for food - and I tell her to go eat some dry food until then
But it's really hard with getting older and needing to go to the toilet in the middle of the night ;-)
Edit: I never had such a dispenser, so I have no clue how they work...sorry, if my questions sound stupid
arrow74@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 49d
Not quite. His food dispenser contains dry food. He has that schedule memorized and knows when we generally feed him wet food in relation to his dry food
Wet food goes in a separate dish
naeap@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 48d
Ah, I see, that answers my original question
Thank you!
prettybunnys@piefed.social · 2 pts · 49d
My dog protects my sleep.
2 kitten boys who want to be played with and fed WHENEVER THE FUCK THEY PLEASE, but the big scary snore monster under the blankets keeps them away.
I do not look forward to the day when they discover he is the snore monster, because they love their big funny looking cat brother otherwise.
Scuzzm0nkey@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 45d
We got a couple for our boys but one of them started tipping the feeders over to knock food out. We built some boxes to enclose the feeders and prevent this, and then the little shit learned he can jostle food loose by getting his paw up into the dispenser area and manhandling the impeller. The noise this makes sounds very similar to someone attempting to break into our home, and as a result we have switched back to manual feeding, and will just use the automatic feeders when we're planning to be away overnight.
thedeadwalking4242@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 50d
Don't feed your pets as soon as you wake up.
You've trained them that waking you up means food
Sylvartas@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 49d
Yep. I only refill the water bowls as soon as I wake up. The food can wait at least until I've had my coffee. So if my cats are screaming to wake me up I know they are thirsty for some reason which is a much bigger emergency since cats tend to not drink enough
yngmnwntr@lemmy.ml · 15 pts · 50d
Me: up at 330 am, making coffee and breakfast, doing dishes, in and out of my room while showering and dressing. My dog: it's too early for a walk, keep it down!
harambe69@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 14 pts · 50d
My cat does not care. She'll just wake you up at 3:30.
I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 50d
You get up to pee, you pay the snack tax. Similar to the troll toll.
Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 49d
Cat loudly woke me up at 4:00 this morning because his dry food bowl was empty.
hdsrob@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 49d
One of ours was hopping from my wife onto my chest every half hour from 5 - 7. I assumed the dry food bowl was empty.
It was not, he just wanted breakfast (wet food).
LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 49d
My cat settled for 5:30, odd, when I get up to pee. He was loudly suggesting 1am and 3am, I disagreed.
Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 50d
Playtime!
Hadriscus@jlai.lu · 5 pts · 49d
This is a 6 month old kitten. He can't have been saying it for years
ickplant@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 49d
So you’re saying he is like three and a half in cat years? Hmmm…
Hadriscus@jlai.lu · 6 pts · 49d
fair enough
slazer2au@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 50d
Why did I read that in Smegals voice?
heartSagan5@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 49d
They have us underfoot, and we still love them. But, they are cute af.
rapchee@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 50d
afaik they like to eat a little amount frequently, so i just give them a handful in similar situations
UndergroundParking@lemmy.cafe · 1 pts · 49d
Is this cat real? Feels computer generated.
ickplant@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 49d
It’s a real cat I stole off the internet. They had multiple pictures.