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

[–] Cheems@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

If I’m ever late, I have to feed it to them in multiple portions, spread out over ~1hr, for the same reason.

[–] luxadazy@lemmy.zip 6 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] naeap@sopuli.xyz 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

How long can you keep wet food in the feeder, when it's so hot?

Doesn't it get bad?

[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

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 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

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 points 3 weeks ago

Ah, I see, that answers my original question
Thank you!

[–] prettybunnys@piefed.social 2 points 3 weeks ago

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 points 3 weeks ago

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.