Cat Powered Auto Feeder

I needed a self feeder for my cat, so he would stop waking me up. After looking around on the Net (and instructables) I did find one that I based this feeder on, in a book called (Snowball Launchers, Giant-Pumpkin Growers, and Other Cool Contraptions by Tom Fox) I take no credit for it. Just didn’t like the idea of using cardboard. I also wasted a lot of time trying to use electric motors and timers. This was a much better idea and has been working well so far.

Step 1: Tools and Parts

Tools Needed:  Something to make holes (knife, scissors, drill)

Parts: Clamp type paper clip, rubber bands, golf ball, wire (bread) tie, round food container, 2 liters pop bottle (not shown) and at least one screw for mounting. ((PVC pipe see update on Step 5))

Comments

[kayann]

Great idea!  I don't have a cat, but this same idea would work for a dog if it was built out of sturdier materials and larger. 

My dog is 10 yo and loves food related toys of any kind.  A younger dog would probably rip it apart, but I think something similar to this would work great for my old guy.  I will get to prototyping and post my results! 

[AluraDankk]

I've got an old Rott, But would you train the dog the same way you would the cat?

[biker_trash_1340]

I don’t see why not… I hear that some dogs are almost as smart as a cat. (Just joking) food is a great motivator for my cat.

[biker_trash_1340]

Sounds good, I was thinking of a 3-5 gal. water jug, tennis ball, bungee cord, and a trash can with a hinged lid....just need to find everything that will fit together. good luck and please post it... RR

[tangol]

wow..this look nice and easy also cheap.. i would like to try it.. hope my cat understand how to get the food.. ^_^

[creeperkeeper]

mine two

[manolodelpiero]

hi,...its grat idea, but how you paste it in this part of the cat entreteiner house?....what is holding the plastic cup? Thanx.

[biker_trash_1340]

The clear cup is screwed into the tower/play house from the inside... if you are talking about the green bottle, it is threaded into the hole in the plastic cup, using the threads were the cap was.   Hope this helps

[four321zero]

what part of the instruction would help me with the green bottle bit? i dont get it. It just seems loosely lodged into the hole in the bottom of the clear bottle.

[unpro]

it looks like it does.

maybe can use less part/less cut if I start with a 1.5 liter soda bottle.

Overall, this is a great idea!!! Gonna build something like this, hang it up real high up the wall, so that my cats actually starts to climb and exercise to get food :D

[CatTrampoline]

I made this for my cat last year so he could have between-meal snacks when he was out on the back porch. I knew he only had about a month left, so it did not matter if he ate extra & gained weight. It helped keep him happier during those last dark days. Thank you.

[harif]

Wow Im so gonna try this! Great idea (Y)
Ps your cats the cutest thing everrrrr!

[ushuaia]

This looks easy. I'll try it sometime. And btw, you have a really cute cat ^__^

[biker_trash_1340]

Thank You, he's a lot of fun.

[Tinworm]

brilliant idea!

[Fanny Fink]

Looked brillant to me! Will try asap. thaks for your kind instructions... Greetings to Apollo :)

[biker_trash_1340]

Thank You, Mines still working good. Apollo is getting to the point were he can drop the food right in his mouth, with very little falling on the floor.

[royblumenthal]

 Very very cool instructable! Thanks!

One of the things I love most about it is that this style of feeding simulates the hunting process. 

The cat has to do something...

A piece of food falls down...

And the cat has to 'hunt' it.

How cool is that? Combining domesticity with the atavistic urge.

I'm going to be making one of these for our two cats. Spigot needs the exercise. And Magic is getting old, so the hunting instinct will sharpen him up. Awesome! Thanks!

Blue skies
Roy

[davialyn]

Thanks for the new word! I will try to use "atavistic" today! I totally agree with encouraging the hunting instinct in domestic cats. One of the reasons why about 90% of cats are overweight is due to overfeeding. Using this feeder will appeal to their atavistic (see!) needs, and they will hopefully only eat until they are satisfied. Plus, the food will stay fresher longer than if it were just sitting out in an open bowl all day.

[inventorio]

I made this about a week ago and it works great,unfortunately I am the one moving the ball and my cat just eats the food. I even tried holding her paw to move the ball but she still doesnt get it. Any other tips are welcome.

[biker_trash_1340]

You could try to make the rubber band real loose, and put some moist cat food on the ball. That might help her get the hang of it.

[zanne101]

This is great - my 2 cats wake me up in the middle of the night. Maybe now I can get a full night's sleep.

I only have one question.  Doesn't the rubber band break afterawhile?  I wonder if there is anything that could be used as a substitute.

Your cat is beautiful.

[BluArcher]

I liked this feeder but we have 3 cats and they would go through 2 days of food in less than 1 day.  After a couple refills, they finally broke the rubber band by really yanking down on the ball.

I think I will try it again with a solid practice golf ball or something the cats can't grab with their claws.

[mightywombat]

When my cat started waking me up at night, I started feeding herbefore I went to bed.  That way, she would be able to sleep inwith me, but still get her snack on in the middle of the night.

[biker_trash_1340]

He did chew through one, that's why i put the wire leader on the band. Ihaven't had one break yet...but there $0.49 a bag.  You could try asmall bungee cord,  remove the bottom hook and tie a knot at the ball.

[zanne101]

 I wasn't worried about replacing the rubber band ($.49/bag) - Iwas just thinking about what would happen if it broke, food all over thefloor.  I also don't want my stupid cat (one of mine is a littledopey) to swallow a broken rubber band if it came apart.
Thanks :-}

[four321zero]

i dont get it. Apart from gravity how does the cut green bottle stay down? Wont it get dislodged when the golf balls keeps hitting it?

[biker_trash_1340]

OK ... Updated Step #3   2nd picture should help

[four321zero]

Ah alright. Thank for your help. About to make one myself.

[LardaLot]

nice idea, tried it today and it works perfectly, my two cats were on it instantly, and Rufs which has more energy when it comes to getting the food :)
he has already figured it out. Puff will take more time but she will get there. Thx :)

[biker_trash_1340]

TY, Looks good, I see you changed it up a bit.

[ubersquirel]

 This will be great to keep my cat entertained!

[inquisitive]

 I so need to try this...my cat Pickles (aka Death Wish in the mornings) might leave me alone-well a girl can dream...great idea and I was starting to contemplate a $50 automatic pet feeder, but this is way better.   I will add a catch dish though.

[collinbentley]

 Awesome idea, man! I made this for my cats as a backup for when they run out of food in their dish and I'm not available to feed them for whatever reason.  I've had it installed for about 4 days and have already come home a few times to see pellets released underneath it.

Just an FYI to those of you that don't have those cylindrical containers laying around - I was able to make this using a large plastic cup ($.33 at dollar store) and the top of a Gatorade container.  I like the larger opening of the Gatorade container because it makes it a bit easier for them to get at the food (pellets fall by just a slight tap of the toy).

[Doom2099]

beautiful !
love your idea.

[neivadan]

wow thats a great idea now i dont have to get jumped on by my dogs that often.

[snootyvixen]

My 10 yr old daughter just made this for our cat Pucci. Now we are waiting to see if she'll use it!

[mainerfreebird]

My cat, Marvin, is going to love this!( He is a tuxedo cat too),  he loves balls and he loves to eat, so he will figure this out in no-time. Thank you so much, this is wonderful, and I won't be accidently kicking the food bowl anymore, and Marvin wont go sliding into it when he runs into the kitchen to fetch his jingle ball! (Howza bout his water though...wait, he drinks out of the sinks and bathtub and toilet anyway.)

[Shadowman39]

Cool, I might use this. My cats would be batting the ball all day :-P. Good idea

By the way, your cat looks a lot like one of mine. His name is Shadow :-)

[aseaheru]

cool