PetSafe feeders offer a practical solution for households managing feline rivalry
A US family has turned to automated feeding systems to resolve dietary conflicts between two cats, finding a durable but imperfect solution after testing multiple devices.
A family in the United States has adopted two PetSafe automatic feeders to manage the dietary needs of two cats who exhibit hostile behaviour towards one another. The transition from a manual feeding routine was necessitated by the arrival of a child in 2024, which disrupted the previous four-times-daily schedule. The household had owned the two cat siblings for nearly a decade, during which time the orange cat established itself as a dominant bully, while the tortoiseshell cat remained timid and nervous during meal times.
To address the issue of the dominant cat monopolising food, the family tested four different automatic feeder models, spending several hundred dollars in total. They initially trialled two VOLUAS feeders, priced at approximately $55 each, which offered quieter operation and superior portion control. However, these units failed after being left in storage with food inside, resulting in mouse damage to the silicone wheels and rendering them inoperable.
The family subsequently settled on two PetSafe programmable feeders, costing roughly $90 each. These units are described as sturdy and effective, with a design that has proven resistant to raccoons, a feature that was considered a strong indicator of quality despite the cats being indoor-only. The feeders have successfully provided consistent meals, preventing the orange cat from accessing the tortoiseshell’s food during scheduled feeding times.
Despite their effectiveness, the PetSafe units present several operational challenges. They run on four D batteries, which require the device to be inverted for replacement. The interface, comprising five buttons, is described as complex and abstruse, with the immediate release command only functioning by skipping the next scheduled feeding. Additionally, the minimum portion size is slightly too large, and the internal clocks can drift out of sync, occasionally allowing the dominant cat to finish its meal and rush over to the other’s dish.
The feeders also produce a grating noise when dispensing food, which has been known to startle the family’s toddler during bedtime routines. Although the family has not yet contacted VOLUAS support for replacement parts, they have chosen to stick with the functional PetSafe units, dubbing the system “The Robot.”
According to The Verge, the PetSafe feeders have proven to be a “good-enough” solution for the household, providing the consistency required to manage the cats’ behavioural dynamics. While the family acknowledges the minor annoyances associated with the devices, the feeders have effectively resolved the core issue of food access, allowing the household to maintain a manageable routine amidst the demands of raising a child.
