The time is 8:20 AM. My cat has just spent about 10 minutes feeding himself using the interactive cat feeder (cheap as chips on Amazon). It was his supper because immediately afterwards he went to bed in the cat condo in the background. It’s got a little covered shelf or den which he popped into. He is very active at night and his bedtime is my get up time. Out of sync!
Watching him use the interactive cat feeder made me realise that it could be a good way for a cat to lose weight. And we know that obesity is a big issue among domestic cats (around 40% in the USA). A cat has to push the cat feeder around for one pellet of dry cat food to drop out. And so, a domestic cat eats far more slowly in comparison to hoovering up small pellets of dry cat food without chewing on them. That by the way is another issue, but if a cat eats more slowly, I believe it might be beneficial as a means to stabilise or lose excess weight.
The interesting aspect of this interactive cat feeder is that he didn’t use it for about three years! And then a visiting cat used it instinctively. I think she was attracted to the high-quality food inside the device. He plays with this cat and she pops into my home to feed and for some company. I don’t like her coming in and I don’t like feeding her because I do not think that neighbours should feed the cats of other neighbours but there it is, it happens. It appears that my cat learned about the interactive cat feeder from my neighbour’s cat.
He now uses it all the time which I like to see. It is more stimulating to feed like this than to feed out of a bowl. It’s more natural although still artificial. It does replicate to a certain extent hunting prey. I would recommend them but don’t expect your cat to get the hang of it immediately. And I would use Hill’s Dental Care or Oral Care as the pellets are larger which means the cat has got to chew on them. And with respect to the functioning of the cat feeder, they drop out through the holes more effectively. Smaller pellets might drop out too quickly.
P.S. This should not be the sole way to feed a cat as they need wet – more natural – cat food as their main source. I think this is accepted now by the majority of ‘experts’.
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