- Joined
- Sep 18, 2019
- Messages
- 1,958
- Purraise
- 5,916
I bought my oldest a microchip feeder, however, feeling overwhelmed with training her. Mainly due to having two other cats and being unable to leave the feeder in training mode (partially closed lid when not in use) due to the other cats wanting to pry lid or push head in to get at the food.
Normally, they are fed upstairs, however I have been bringing the feeder downstairs after meals to keep oldest with me with door closed. Sometimes it takes a few hours for her to go back and eat all of her food. I just worry this will be confusing for her, and make it harder to try transitioning the feeder to upstairs after she is using in regular mode.
Prior to bringing feeder downstairs, I tried leaving upstairs in training mode while watching. If the other kitties are too close, my oldest seems uninterested to even try eating out of the feeder. She would walk into the dining room and sit by the deck door, which was unusal for her, and be resistent if I tried to coax her to eat out of the feeder. She does fine eating out of it downstairs in training mode though. Occasionally she doens't stick her head in far enough and it doesn't open, but going well outside of that.
I guess I can keep feeder down here after I transfer leftover from her meals into the feeder. I just worry about it being confusing for her.
I've tried getting the other two kitties downstairs to leave the feeder upstairs in training mode, but this has proved too stressful bc kitties won't come downstairs or my oldest will follow them. I know getting into a routine would be helpful, although I'm limited energy and patience due to chronic illness and also feel bad about shutting any of the cats upstairs or downstairs as they beg to come downstairs with me when closed out of the area.
Looking for any tips that have helped others.
Normally, they are fed upstairs, however I have been bringing the feeder downstairs after meals to keep oldest with me with door closed. Sometimes it takes a few hours for her to go back and eat all of her food. I just worry this will be confusing for her, and make it harder to try transitioning the feeder to upstairs after she is using in regular mode.
Prior to bringing feeder downstairs, I tried leaving upstairs in training mode while watching. If the other kitties are too close, my oldest seems uninterested to even try eating out of the feeder. She would walk into the dining room and sit by the deck door, which was unusal for her, and be resistent if I tried to coax her to eat out of the feeder. She does fine eating out of it downstairs in training mode though. Occasionally she doens't stick her head in far enough and it doesn't open, but going well outside of that.
I guess I can keep feeder down here after I transfer leftover from her meals into the feeder. I just worry about it being confusing for her.
I've tried getting the other two kitties downstairs to leave the feeder upstairs in training mode, but this has proved too stressful bc kitties won't come downstairs or my oldest will follow them. I know getting into a routine would be helpful, although I'm limited energy and patience due to chronic illness and also feel bad about shutting any of the cats upstairs or downstairs as they beg to come downstairs with me when closed out of the area.
Looking for any tips that have helped others.