Automatically feeding the cat

When I spend the night at Neil’s, I have to leave some food out for the cat. It doesn't work so well. She eats it as soon as I put it in her bowl, and then she has to either fast or eat rodents until I get back. I can't leave so much that she won't eat it in one go; she is on a diet. It's not an ideal situation.

Neil has timed food bowls for his cat. They have a lid on, with inbuilt timers, and after the number of hours you set it to, the lid is opened. And he even uses them when he is home. If the cat sees that there are still-closed lids, she knows that at some point they will open, and it doesn't require input from Neil. That means that she does not incessantly howl at him. It seems that she does have that habit if he's not using them. And he often is in online meetings!

I have now nicked his idea, and got me a similar food bowl, where you can provide two meals and set the timers. I thought it was likely, but not sure, that she would understand how it worked. Soon after I had put the food in and set the timer, she was sniffing at them. She clearly understood what was in there! And she was pawing at them as well.

When I came back after the first time using them, the lids were open and the food was gone. Success! I will be using this more often. And it can only do two meals, but if I am away longer than that, I prefer that someone comes in and gives her a bit of attention as well. Cats need more than food! But if I'm away for only one night, I don't arrange a catsitter, and I think this device will make such situations easier. And I might as well also use it when I'm home late, for instance because of track training! 

The traditional and novel food bowls