by Alexander Thompson
May 05, 2022
4 minute read
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- How Frequently Should a Cat Eat?
- Why Use a Cat Feeder?
- Why Avoid a Cat Feeder?
- How Do You Buy the Right Cat Feeder?
- In Conclusion
There has always been a wide range of thoughts and opinions about the frequency of feeding in cats. Some people believe cats should have access to food at all times, while others believe feeding their feline friends once or twice a day is fine. But the truth is, how frequently a cat eats will depend on the owner.
Science also has an opinion. Feral cats were observed to feed between 8 and 12 times within 24 hours. When they are not eating, they are hunting. Therefore, they consume less food at a go and are forced to eat more.
How Frequently Should a Cat Eat?
Feeding cats dry foods for a long time often has adverse effects on their health. These foods offer limited nutrients, and this is not surprising considering most feline animal nutrition research institutes rely on cat food manufacturers for funding. In terms of evidence, there is little to corroborate a connection between dry cat food and cat-related diseases leading to premature deaths. Check here to learn more about Why Is My Cat Not Eating.
A cat’s stomach is not expandable like the dog’s – it can take only a limited amount of food. When a cat eats too much at a go, regurgitation occurs in the cud, causing issues for cats that feed once or twice daily. Cats may also experience discomfort when they eat too quickly.
A hungry cat will secrete more bile acids in its stomach. If such a cat doesn’t eat early enough, the bile acids accumulate in the stomach, causing nausea or “starvation vomit,” where the cat vomits a foamy substance.
How long a cat should go without food differs from cat to cat. In some cases, it can be just five to six hours – the shortest. However, some cats tend to develop ‘starvation vomit’ faster, and this comes with discomforts that may take away their appetite for a long time.
Why Use a Cat Feeder?
Buying a cat feeder can bring many benefits for both you and your feline. Read on to learn the advantages of a smart cat feeder.
Cat Feeders Ensure Proper Feeding
Determining the right amount of food to serve your cat can be tricky. But you can avoid the back and forth of enough food or insufficient food by using a cat feeder. It protects your cat from eating too much or too little. Check here to learn more about How to Help Your Cat Reach Their Perfect Weight.
Cat Feeders Make Traveling Easier
Do you know how worrisome it gets to leave your cat behind with food when traveling? Cat feeders fix that. You can travel assured that your cat will eat properly while you are away.
Cat Feeders Make Feeding Easy
Get a cat feeder and observe your siesta whenever you want without worrying about how your cat will eat. The feeder takes charge and allows you to rest, or better still, lazy around.
Why Avoid a Cat Feeder?
Although there are some cons to investing in an auto cat feeder, still it is a vital tool for feeding your cat.
Noisy
Although there are a few almost-silent cat feeders, most automatic cat feeders are not silent. It may be a struggle for cats that are sensitive to noise. In addition, if your cats link cat feeders and their noise to mealtime, they may not look forward to eating.
Poor Stability
If your cat is more powerful than the cat feeder, it might just tip the feeder over and pour the food away. This depends on the model of the cat feeder and how strong your cat is.
Expensive
Getting a cat feeder is an additional expense, different from what you spend on buying food. If you can spare some time to feed your cat manually, you can save considerably by not purchasing an automatic cat feeder.
How Do You Buy the Right Cat Feeder?
Here are the things you should look out for when in the market for a cat feeder;
Does Food Get Stuck in It?
Having food stuck in a cat feeder can be a problem. For example, you can add food and go out thinking your cat can conveniently feed on the feeder, only for you to come back and realize that the food is stuck and your pet cannot access it. This may starve your cat for a few hours or days, depending on how long you were gone. The consequences can be severe.
Stuck food in cat feeders is either due to large food particles or a defective design. Both situations cause obstruction.
Does It Have a Backup Battery?
The ideal cat feeder should come with a dual power supply system, i.e., a backup dry battery and alternating current. It would be best to have both because the battery can kick in when there is a power failure, ensuring your pet doesn’t starve.
Does It Perish Grains?
An average cat feeder has a storage barrel that can hold food for up to a week. Unsealed or poorly sealed storage barrels expose the food to air, causing dampness, formation of mold, and eventually spoilage. This puts your cat’s health at risk and may affect your health also.
Is There a Food Surplus Reminder?
Getting a cat feeder relieves you of the need to monitor your cat’s feeding daily. You may even forget to check how much food you have left in the feeder. Losing track of this means you may not notice if your cat has exhausted the food. Your cats will starve if you forget to refill the feeder as and when due.
These are avoidable when you get a cat feeder with a food surplus reminder function. Even as a busy cat owner, it keeps you on top of the situation.
In Conclusion
Feeding your cats at the right time and the right way is a priority for every cat owner. Cat feeders are one of the top accessories you should consider to make life easier for you and your cat. These devices are specially designed to make feeding more convenient for the cat and the cat owner. However, not all cat owners will need one. If you are not always available to feed your cat manually and worry about your cat starving, then a cat feeder may be a good investment.
If and when you decide to buy a cat feeder, ensure you go for a model that ticks all the right boxes. That is the only way to get the best out of your new investment and provide maximum convenience for your cat, especially when you are away or busy.
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