As a pet owner, you want to ensure that your furry friend is well-fed and healthy. However, managing your pet’s feeding schedule can be a challenging task, especially if you have multiple pets with different dietary needs. This is where an automatic microchip pet feeder comes in handy. These feeders use advanced technology to ensure that your pet gets the right amount of food at the right time, without the risk of overfeeding or underfeeding. They also prevents other pets from stealing food, ensuring that each pet gets their fair share.
Lets take a look at this SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder, a very popular feeder, to assess its features and functions.
An Introduction To The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is a revolutionary feeding solution for pet owners who have multiple pets or pets with specific dietary needs. This innovative feeder uses microchip technology to ensure that only the designated pet can access their food, preventing other pets from stealing their food or eating prescription food meant for another pet.
This technology makes the SureFeed Microchip Feeder is an ideal feeding solution for pet owners who have overweight cats, cats with medical conditions that require close monitoring of feeding, or multi-pet homes where one pet steals another pet’s food. The feeder is designed to stop pets from stealing each other’s food, ensuring that prescription food is consumed by the right pet and is great for pets on weight management diets. The feeder is also ideal for pet owners who want to monitor their pet’s feeding habits and ensure that they are eating the right amount of food.
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder comes in two versions – the Microchip Pet Feeder and the Microchip Pet Feeder Connect. The Microchip Pet Feeder Connect is an intelligent pet feeder that allows pet owners to monitor their pet’s feeding habits and receive notifications when their pet has eaten. The feeder is app-connected and requires a hub to function. Both versions of the feeder are easy to clean and dishwasher safe, making them a convenient and hygienic feeding solution for pet owners.
Key Features of SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
The feeder is compatible with all identification microchips worldwide and SureFlap RFID collar tags, making it a great option for multi-pet households. Here are some of the key features of the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder:
Microchip & RFID Collar Tag Compatibility
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder uses advanced technology to identify individual pets and only open when that specific animal comes in a close proximity to the feeder, allowing feed access. This is a real benefit for multi-animal households as it ensures that only the intended pet can access their food. This feature eliminates separate feeding areas or constant monitoring, which is especially important if your pets are on different diets or one being on a specific Veterinary prescription diet. This technology works by the feeder recognising either your animals microchip or SureFlap RFID collar tags, which come included in the box.
In the UK it is highly likely your pet will be microchipped, due to legislation rules, although if for them reason they are not than it is nice that SureFeed have provided owners with an alternative, allowing the feeder to still function to its full potential. Furthermore this SureFeed Feeder comes with 1x Sure Petcare RFID Collar as standard in the box.
Sealed Bowl
The bowl is designed to keep your pet’s food fresh and prevent it from drying out or becoming stale. The sealable bowl also helps to prevent odours from escaping, keeping your home smelling fresh and clean.
The bowl is made of high-quality materials that are durable and easy to clean. It can be removed from the feeder and washed in the dishwasher, making it easy to maintain and keep clean.
The sealable bowl also helps to prevent other pets or insects from accessing your pet’s food. This ensures that only the intended pet has access to their food, promoting healthy eating habits and preventing overfeeding or underfeeding.
Avoid Food Theft
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder can also help prevent food theft. This is because the feeder only opens when a registered pet approaches, meaning that other pets or animals cannot access the food.
As veterinary professionals, we often receive complaints from pet owners in multi-pet households about food theft among their pets. This can cause a range of negative health effects, especially if one of the pets is on a prescription diet. Common issues we observe in such cases include gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as fluctuating weight levels, including weight gain leading to obesity or weight loss.
What’s great about the SureFeed Microchip Feeder is that it eliminates this issue therefore promoting healthy eating habits and ensuring that each pet gets their fair share of the correct food.
Feeder Design & Appearance
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is designed with both functionality and aesthetics in mind. The feeder has a sleek and modern appearance, with a clean and simple design that blends seamlessly into any home decor.
The feeder is available in a range of colours, including white, grey, and green, allowing pet owners to choose a colour that best suits their home decor. The feeder is also compact and lightweight, making it easy to move around and store when not in use.
Colours are an excellent way to distinguish between different feeders in multi-pet households. By assigning a specific colour to each pet, you can ensure that each pet knows which feeder is theirs. This helps to prevent confusion and ensures that each pet gets their fair share of food.
Assigning a specific colour to each pet also helps to promote healthy eating habits. With their designated feeder, each pet can eat at their own pace and without the risk of other pets stealing their food. This can help to prevent overfeeding or underfeeding, leading to improved health and well-being for your pets.
Power
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is powered by 4x C-cell batteries, which are not included with the feeder. The batteries are inserted into the battery compartment located at the bottom of the feeder. The feeder is designed to be energy-efficient, with the batteries lasting up to six months depending on usage.
The battery-powered design of the feeder makes it easy to use and maintain, without the need for any cords or electrical outlets. This also makes it a great option for pet owners who want to use the feeder in areas where electrical outlets are not available or for those who want to avoid the risk of electrical cords becoming a hazard for their pets.
Another advantage of the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder being battery-powered is that it ensures that your pet will still be fed even during a power outage. This is particularly important for pet owners who live in areas that experience frequent power outages or for those who want to ensure that their pets are always fed, regardless of the circumstances.
What’s Included In The Box?
- 1 x Microchip Pet Feeder
- 1 x Single food type bowl
- 1 x Split grey bowl
- 1x Mat (to collect food spills)
- 1x Sure Petcare RFID Collar Tag (for non-microchipped pets)
Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder User Manual
Click here to download the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder User Manual
Introducing a Cautious Pet to the Feeder
If you have a cautious pet that is hesitant to use the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder, there are several steps you can take to introduce them to the feeder:
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Place the feeder in a quiet and familiar location: Choose a location where your pet feels comfortable and safe. This can be a quiet corner of the room or any other location where your pet likes to eat.
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Leave the feeder unplugged: Initially, leave the feeder unplugged and open, allowing your pet to explore it and get used to its presence.
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Encourage your pet to use the feeder: Initially, you may need to encourage your pet to use the feeder by placing their food in the bowl and guiding them towards it. Gradually, your pet will become more comfortable using the feeder on their own.
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Be patient: Introducing a cautious pet to a new feeder can take time and patience. Be patient and allow your pet to explore the feeder at their own pace allowing them to gradually wean off of their own feeding bowl and regime and onto the new microchip enabled feeder.
SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Video Review
To see the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder in action, take a look at the video below.
Pros and Cons
SureFeed Standard vs SureFeed Connect Comparison
SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is available in two variants – Standard and Connect. Here’s a summary of the differences between the two:
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Connectivity: The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing pet owners to monitor their pet’s feeding behaviour remotely using the Sure Petcare app. The Standard variant does not have this feature.
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Feeding History: The Connect variant stores your pet’s feeding history, allowing pet owners to track their pet’s feeding behaviour over time. The Standard variant does not have this feature.
- App Integration: Only available with SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect. It is available for both iOS and Android devices and allows pet owners to monitor their pet’s feeding behaviour remotely. The app provides real-time updates on your pet’s feeding behaviour , including when they last ate and how much they ate. This can help you to keep track of your pet’s feeding schedule and ensure that they are eating the right amount of food. The app also allows pet owners to set up individual feeding schedules and portion sizes for each pet, as well as receive alerts when their pet has finished eating or when the feeder needs to be refilled.
- Hub: To use the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect, a hub is required. The hub is a separate device that needs to be purchased in addition to the feeder. The hub is connected to your home Wi-Fi network and allows the feeder to connect to the internet and be controlled remotely using the Sure Petcare app.
- Notifications: Sure Petcare app provides real-time notifications when your pet has finished eating, when the feeder needs to be refilled and also when food is added to the bowl.
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Price: The Connect variant is more expensive than the Standard variant due to its additional features and requirement to purchase the additional hub, which allows app integration.
SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Standard vs Connect Version – Comparison Table
For a quick summary of the difference between SureFeed’s standard version feeder and enhanced connect version, please see this table below:
Last update on 2024-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is an innovative solution for pet owners who have multiple pets and want to ensure that each pet is eating the correct food. It uses microchip technology to identify each pet and only opens the lid when the correct pet is present. This ensures that each pet is getting the right amount of food and prevents one pet from stealing food from another.
The feeder is easy to set up and use. It is compatible with all identification microchips worldwide and SureFlap RFID collar tags. The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect also comes with an app that allows pet owners to monitor their pets’ feeding habits and receive notifications when their pet has eaten.
One of the biggest advantages of the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is that it can be used for pets on weight management diets or with medical conditions that require close monitoring of feeding. It is also great for multi-pet homes where one pet steals another pet’s food. The feeder ensures that prescription food is consumed by the right pet, which can be a lifesaver for pets with special dietary needs.
Overall, I highly recommend the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder to all pet owners, as it offers several benefits that can improve the health and well-being of pets. It is particularly useful for pet owners with multiple pets, those with pets on prescription diets, or those with limited time availability to feed their pets.
SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Key Facts at a Glance
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Microchip technology: The feeder’s microchip technology ensures that only the intended pet has access to their food, preventing other pets from stealing food and promoting healthy eating habits.
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Compatible with microchipped pets and RFID collar tags: The feeder is compatible with microchipped pets and those wearing RFID collar tags, ensuring that only the intended pet has access to their food.
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Sealable bowl: The feeder’s sealable bowl helps to keep food fresh and prevent negative health impacts like gastrointestinal problems or fluctuations in weight levels.
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SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is available in two variants – Standard and Connect + Hub.
- Battery Powered Design
Where Should I Purchase the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
- SELECTIVE ACCESS FEEDER: The lid only opens for authorised pets, preventing cross-feeding, ideal for pets on prescription diets
- PERFECT FOR WET AND DRY FOOD: Sealed lid and bowl helps keep food fresher for longer, keep flies out, whilst locking odours in
- MICROCHIP AND RFID COLLAR TAG COMPATIBLE: Works with all common identification microchips and the Sure Petcare RFID Collar Tag (1 included)
- SIMPLE ONE BUTTON PROGRAMMING: Easy and hassle-free set-up with the touch of a button, and the capability to store up to 32 pet IDs
- BATTERY POWERED: Up to 6 months battery life. Use with 4 x C Cell batteries (not included)
Last update on 2024-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
At a Glance – Features to Lookout for When Purchasing an Automatic Pet Feeder
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Feeding Schedule | Look for a feeder that allows you to set a feeding schedule that suits your cat’s needs. Some feeders allow you to dispense up to four meals per day, while others can dispense more or less. |
| Portion Control | Make sure the feeder has adjustable portion control so that you can dispense the right amount of food for your cat’s needs. |
| Food Type | Check the manufacturer’s instructions to see what types of food are compatible with the feeder. Some feeders are designed for dry food only, while others can dispense wet food as well. |
| Capacity | Consider the size of the feeder’s food container and how much food it can hold. This is particularly important if you have multiple cats or will be away from home for an extended period. |
| Power Source | Choose a feeder with a reliable power source, such as batteries or an AC adapter. Some feeders also have a backup battery in case of a power outage. |
| Ease of Use | Look for a feeder that is easy to program and use, with clear instructions and a user-friendly interface. |
| Durability | Choose a feeder that is made from high-quality materials and is built to last. |
| Cleaning and Maintenance | Look for a feeder that is easy to clean and maintain, with removable parts that can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand. |
| Safety Features | Make sure the feeder has safety features to prevent your cat from getting stuck or injured, such as a locking lid or anti-jamming mechanism. |
| Price | Consider your budget when choosing a feeder, but don’t sacrifice quality for price. Look for a feeder that offers good value for money and meets your cat’s needs. |
Automatic Pet Feeders FAQ’s
What is an automatic cat feeder, and how does it work?
An automatic cat feeder is an electronic device that dispenses food to your cat at pre-set times. It can be programmed to dispense a specific portion of food, and some models even allow you to record a voice message to call your cat to eat.
How many meals can an automatic cat feeder dispense per day?
Most automatic cat feeders can dispense up to four meals per day, but some models can dispense more or less depending on your cat’s feeding schedule.
Can I customize the portion size and feeding schedule of an automatic cat feeder?
Yes, most automatic cat feeders allow you to customize the portion size and feeding schedule to suit your cat’s needs. You can program the feeder to dispense a specific amount of food at specific times of the day.
What type of food can I use in an automatic cat feeder?
Most automatic cat feeders are designed to dispense dry cat food, but some models can also dispense wet food. Make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions to see what types of food are compatible with your feeder.
How do I clean and maintain an automatic cat feeder?
To clean an automatic cat feeder, you should first unplug it and remove any remaining food. Wash the feeder’s bowl and other removable parts with warm, soapy water, and then rinse and dry them thoroughly. Make sure to clean the feeder regularly to prevent bacterial growth.
Can I use an automatic cat feeder for wet food, or is it only suitable for dry food?
Some automatic cat feeders are designed to dispense wet food, but you should check the manufacturer’s instructions to see if your feeder is compatible with wet food. Wet food can spoil more quickly than dry food, so make sure to clean the feeder thoroughly after each use.
How long does the battery or power source last in an automatic cat feeder?
The battery or power source in an automatic cat feeder can last for several months, depending on how often the feeder is used. Some models also have a low-battery indicator to let you know when it’s time to replace the batteries. Models that connect to the wifi will use more power and therefore the batteries will not last as long. Many of these smart feeders are mains powered with battery backup.
Can an automatic cat feeder help with weight management for my cat?
Yes, an automatic cat feeder can help with weight management for your cat by controlling the portion size and feeding schedule. You can program the feeder to dispense smaller portions of food more frequently, which can help prevent overeating and weight gain.
Are there any safety concerns I should be aware of when using an automatic cat feeder?
Make sure to choose an automatic cat feeder that is made from non-toxic materials and has no sharp edges that could harm your cat. Also, make sure to supervise your cat while using the feeder to ensure that they are not getting stuck or injured.
How do I choose the best automatic cat feeder for my cat’s needs and my lifestyle?
When choosing an automatic cat feeder, consider your cat’s feeding schedule and portion size needs, as well as your own lifestyle and schedule. Look for a feeder that is easy to use and clean, and has features that are compatible with your cat’s food type and feeding preferences. Use the table above to help you to make an informed buying decision.
Being a 5th year Vet student and having a passion for improving the health and welfare of all animals, I am providing AblePaws.co.uk with a veterinary perspective / insight into the real word applications, including strengths and limitations of the products it reviews. This will allow you to make an informed decision as to the suitability of the pet products reviewed on the site to keep your pet mobile, comfortable and full of life!
