If you're tired of your dog stealing your cat's food, imagine how annoyed your cat must feel. There are several kinds of dog-proof cat feeding stations, but the trick is finding one that works best for your pets and situation.
Deluxe Dog-Proof Cat Feeder Hammock
The Cat Mod Feeder is an innovative idea that is part of an entire cat enrichment system for your home. Catastrophic Creations sells an entire line of ramps, bridges, resting spots, and platforms made from a combination of wood, rope, and heavy-weight canvas. You can mix and match items to create an entire cat playground along the walls of your home. The Cat Mod Feeder can be added to your configuration and since you can mount it as high as you like, you can keep this station totally out of your dog's reach. If you don't want to buy an entire system, you can also purchase the feeder on its own and attach it to a wall or other area of your house that your cat can easily get to but your dog cannot. The store also sells a Dining Room Cat Shelf with a similar function that does not need to be included with the other wall units. Just be sure whichever you use that you have a way to reach your cat's dishes!
Other features:
- The station and shelf come with two dishes.
- You can select your wood stain color from English chestnut, onyx or unfinished.
- All mounting hardware is included.
Price and Return Policy
This Cat Mod Feeder sells for about $50 and the Dining Room Cat Shelf for $67. There's a 30-day return policy, but they must be in perfect condition and cannot have been mounted or used. There's also a 15% restocking fee, and the customer is responsible for all shipping costs.
Where the Cat Mod Feeder and Dining Room Cat Shelf Work Best
Both Catastrophic Creation feeders should be able to keep any dog out of a cat's food. However, it's especially suitable for cats that share homes with large dogs since it can be mounted as high as necessary. It's a good option as long as a cat is healthy and mobile enough to jump onto the station, and you're able to reach the feeding dishes at the top.
Customer Reviews
Etsy customers give this wall-mounted feeding station, as well as the other wall-mounted units sold by Catastrophic Creations, a solid average of 5 out of 5 stars for design and construction. The vast majority of owners say their cats love it.
Feed-Safe Dog Proof Cat Feeder
The Feed-Safe cat feeding station is designed to keep a larger pet out of a smaller pet's food. The feeder is made out of plastic and shaped like a small igloo with depressions in the bottom to hold the two stainless steel dishes that come with it. It measures approximately 16-inches high by 23-inches wide at the base, so it should be large enough for nearly all cats.
Other features:
- The feeder has an adjustable door in front which you can set just large enough to allow your cat inside.
- There's a small swing door in the back which your cat can use as an exit if the dog blocks the front door. This swing door pushes open easily from the inside, but it's difficult to open from the outside since it's slightly recessed in the feeder wall. This door has an optional lock you can use if you prefer.
- There's a removable lid on top of the feeder which twists and locks into place and gives you easy access to your pet's bowls.
Price and Return Policy
The Feed-Safe station is priced around $100. There's a 30-day return policy when you purchase directly from Feed-Safe.com, but the feeder must be in good condition and have all its parts. It also comes with a 2-year limited warranty.
Where the Feed-Safe Works Best
Feed-Safe works best in homes where the dog is larger than the cat. If you happen to own a cat and a Chihuahua, for example, you probably won't be able to keep your dog from entering and eating your cat's food. If you own a larger dog, like a Bulldog or Labrador Retriever, this feeder should prevent your pooch from filching your cat's dinner.
Customer Reviews
Customers on the Feed-Safe.com website give this feeder 5 out of 5 stars saying it works as advertised. A larger sampling of customer reviews at Amazon.com give the feeder about 4 out of 5 stars, with some dissatisfied customers complained about smaller dogs being able to enter the feeder and cats refusing to go in it. It also wouldn't work well if you have multiple cats and are trying to keep one cat to a specific diet, such as an overweight cat.
Sure Petcare Microchip Pet Feeder
As the name implies, the Sure Petcare Microchip Pet Feeder uses microchip technology to limit access to your cat's food by only opening when it senses his chip in the proper range. Your cat's head must actually be under the detector arch and right in front of the feed bowl in order for the safety flap to open. When he backs away, the flap shuts and keeps dogs and other pets from eating any leftover food. This feeder opening measures 8-1/4 inches wide by 6-1/8 inches high and the entire unit measures 7-7/8 inches high by 9 inches wide by 12-5/8 inches deep.
Other features:
- Each feeder comes with one regular bowl and one divided bowl as well as a removable mat. You can purchase extra bowls and mats in a variety of colors.
- The unit has a "Sealed Pet Bowl" with a motion-activated lid that will keep your cat's food fresh and keep out unwanted pests.
- The set includes a tag that goes on your cat's collar with a unique code that will open the feeder for your cat, which is ideal if your cat doesn't have a microchip.
- You can have up to 32 unique pet "identities" programmed into the feeder and it's compatible with all standard microchip companies.
- The feeder operates on four C batteries.
Price and Return Policy
The Microchip Pet Feeder sells for about $140. There's a 30-day return policy as long as you buy the feeder directly from Sure Petcare. If you purchase this feeder elsewhere, you'll have to contact the seller about returns.
Where the Sure Petcare Microchip Pet Feeder Works Best
The Microchip Pet Feeder works best in homes where the cat is willing to eat if the dog joins her. This is because a dog may be able to insert his head in the gap between the back of the detector arch and the open flap while the cat is eating. Unless the cat backs away from the food bowl when the dog approaches the feeder, her canine companion can share her meal. It's also perfect for homes with multiple cats on different diets where you need to make sure each one eats their own food and not the others'.
Customer Reviews
In a product review published at Cat Behaviourist, Anita Kelsey gives the Microchip Pet Feeder her recommendation, although she advises gradually introducing the feeder in stages so a cat has time to get used to the look of it before finally programming it to respond to a microchip or collar tag.
According to Cat Food Dispenser Reviews, the Microchip Pet Feeder works as advertised and can be a good solution for keeping a dog and other pets out of a cat's food. However, the reviewer recommends placing the feeding station against a wall to help keep other pets from reaching the food through the gap between the flap and arch.
MeowSpace Feeder Station
The MeowSpace Feeding Station uses your choice of identification system to open an electronic door at the front of a ventilated, clear polymer plastic box, and this effectively prevents your dog from reaching your cat's dishes. The station measures 30-inches long by 16-inches wide by 16-inches tall.
Other features:
- RFID entry stations come with one RFID tag.
- Magnetic entry stations come with one collar magnet.
- If you choose a microchip entry door, you won't need a collar or tag.
- The MeowSpace can also be used to house a litter box, but you wouldn't want to put a litter box and food in the same enclosure.
- In addition to the clear box, you have a choice of five other colors: purple, blue, green, gray or black.
Where the MeowSpace Feeder Works Best
Since this feeder is completely enclosed and requires the correct microchip, RFID tag or collar magnet to gain entry, it's dog proof against any pooch large or small. As long as your cat is willing to enter the box, she'll never have to share her dinner again.
Price and Return Policy
The cost depends on which model you get, but prices range from just under $200 for a magnetic collar entry feeder to about $300 for a dual microchip/RFID collar tag entry feeder. You can also buy an RFID tag for your cat's collar if they are not microchipped for about $16. MeowSpace has a 30-day refund policy, but the feeding station must be new and unused, and it must still have the protective covering on the panels. There's also a one-year guarantee on parts.
Customer Reviews and Veterinarian Endorsements
Customer reviews on the website are highly favorable. In general, cats seem to learn how to enter the feeder station easily, and the entry doors work properly. MeowSpace is also endorsed by at least six veterinarians on the website.
OurPets WonderBowl Selective Cat Feeder
The OurPets WonderBowl Selective Pet Feeder uses infrared technology to limit access to your cat's feeder. The feeder consists of a base with a lid that only opens when it detects the infrared tag that comes with the set. Simply attach the tag to your cat's collar and it's ready to use. This feeder measures 9.5-inches long by 8.25-inches wide by 6.25-inches high.
Other features:
- The feeder comes with a stainless steel bowl that sits in the base.
- The collar tag and the base are both water resistant.
- The tag has a low battery indicator.
- The system uses three D batteries, but you can purchase an AC adaptor separately.
Price and Return Policy
The price varies depending on where you purchase the WonderBowl, but it typically sells for about $49.
Where the WonderBowl Works Best
This feeder works well for cats that aren't willing to share their food. Otherwise, a dog could join the cat and share the food if the cat doesn't mind company. If the cat turns away from the feeder, the lid closes and the dog won't be able to eat anymore.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews at Chewy.com are a little mixed, but the feeder gets about 3.2 out of 5 stars overall. Some customers complain that the unit feels cheap and the sensors do not work effectively. A few also noted that the tag doesn't work as well with long-haired cats. In the end, most customers seemed to agree the feeder basically works.
Low-Cost Solutions
Of course, if you prefer to save money, there are some simple solutions that can be effective if you are diligent.
- You can feed the cats in a room behind a door, such as a laundry room or bathroom. This works best when you do not "free feed" your cat but take the food bowl up after a certain amount of time.
- You can also put a baby gate up in your kitchen to allow the cat to eat in peace with the dog kept out until your cat is done.
- Another method is to put the bowl up someplace the dog can't reach but the cat can, such as a large cat tree or a shelf. It needs to be wide and sturdy enough to hold the food bowl.
- If you prefer to free feed your cats, try placing the food bowls in a small room such as your laundry room and install a cat-sized door in the room's entry door and keep that door closed. This may not work as well if you have small dogs that can fit through the cat door although there are cat doors with microchip technology that will only allow your cat through and will keep the dog out.
Dog-Proof Feeders Make a Difference
Some "dog-proof" feeding stations work better than others, but they all seem to make at least some difference when it comes to protecting a cat's food so the dog doesn't get it. Whether your dog is a sneak thief that steals your cat's food when she's occupied elsewhere or he pushes her away from her bowl after you fill it, one of these feeding stations should improve the situation.
