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Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect Review
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This Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect review could change your life because this microchip cat feeder brings a whole new way of feeding your kitty into your home. We love it!
That might sound like a dramatic claim for some people, but many cat owners know how difficult it can be to keep on top of your pet’s eating habits. Dinner time isn’t always as simple as popping a packet of food into a bowl.
If you’re trying to manage your pet’s weight, or ensure they access the right nutrition at the right time, you’re probably going to need some technical help. That’s where the Surefeed Microchip pet feeder Connect comes in. This popular device makes life easier for pet parents by allowing you to control when your kitty gets its food. You even get an app for tracking eating habits.
Let’s take a closer look.
Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect: Overview
The Sure Petcare company created its automatic cat feeder to help cat owners handle everything from portion control to dietary monitoring. The Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder responds to your cat’s microchip to ensure that he or she can access fresh food when they need it.
And, don't worry if you're cat doesn't have an identification microchip. If it does, that's great - the Surefeed microchip cat feeder can read every type of id microchip used worldwide. So if our kitty has an id microchip, it will definitely work with this automatic cat feeder.
If your cat doen't have a microchip, then the Surefeed comes with a SureFlap RFID collar tag that you can attach to their collar and it will work in exactly the same way. (Maybe, though, next time you visit the vet with Mr Fluffkins it might be a good idea to have a microchip put in by the vet. It's painless and harmless for your kitty and gives you the peace of mind knowing they can be found if they ever go missing. We definitely recommend it.)
So, I tried this device because I needed a way to stop one cat from eating too much in a multi-cat household. If you’ve ever lived with multiple cats and had to offer them different volumes of food, you’ll know how tough this can be.
My Savannah cat, Roscoe, is currently a little on the chubby side. However, his adopted Maine Coon brother needs plenty of food while he’s still growing. The Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder ensures that I can get the right amount of food to each kitty. Plus, I can even feed my cats different meals depending on their dietary needs.
Pretty good right?
I’d also say that this automatic cat feeder is a fantastic choice if you need to feed one cat in your home food with medicine included. You can keep other kitties from being exposed to the wrong substances and make sure that the one who needs it, actually gets it!
Pros:
Cons:
Things to Consider Before Buying a Surefeed Microchip Feeder
A microchip pet feeder is a valuable piece of technology for pet parents looking to monitor what their kitties eat. Because the smart feeding station uses the individual microchip of your pet, it will only open to allow access to the right animal. Built-in scales also ensure you’re feeding your kitty the right amount of nutrition.
Microchip cat feeders are growing increasingly common these days. Before you buy yours, you’ll need to consider a few things, such as:
Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect: Features and Benefits
When you buy your Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder, you can choose between buying the microchip cat feeder on its own or purchasing it with the included hub. You do need a hub with your purchase, which can increase the cost quite significantly. In the full kit, you get:
The Microchip Feeder Setup
The Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder needs to connect to a smart hub, which can identify the individual microchips in your cats. When the cat approaches the unit, they place their head under the smart hood section, which includes a sensor to identify the pet. After identification, the transparent lid will open.
The good thing about the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder is that the lid always remains closed unless your cat is eating out of it. This means that you can keep food fresher for longer and prevent other animals from eating foods not meant for them. You could even prevent toddlers from accidentally getting access to your cat’s meals.
To set everything up, you need an ethernet cable, a source of power, and a surface that’s around 3 feet off the ground. The feeder runs on four C cell batteries, so you’ll need to stock up on those too. While the initial setup is simple enough, you may find that it’s a little challenging to get your cat to actually try the new bowl when it means placing their head underneath a hood.
If you’re having trouble with the initial introduction to your cats, be patient. It did take my boys a little while to feel comfortable with the new tech.
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The Unit Technology
One thing I did appreciate about the unit’s design is that it has Perspex guards on either side to prevent other greedy cats from eating from the bowl at the same time. This is ideal if you need to feed your kitty a special diet or avoid feeding medicine to one of your cats.
I was also thrilled to find that the portion indicator lights on the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder will light up green when your dish reaches the correct weight. You’ll need to set the desired weight through the app.
The Hub that you can buy with your feeder, or separately, will allow you to connect multiple feeders to the same app. Don’t worry, you can also set different food requirements and portions for each kitty too, so it’s easy to make sure everyone gets the right nutrition. Your feeder can store up to 32 different cat identities, although you probably won’t buy that many bowls!
The App Controls
Easily one of the most impressive features of the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect is the app functionality that you can access. Although you can get a version of this feeder without the app, I’d definitely recommend checking the app version out if you can afford it.
The app means that you can set different portion control amounts for your pets, which is ideal for when you’re trying to manage a kitty’s diet. Your app can also provide you with a lot of extra information that’s great for caring for your furry friend. You can check out things like how frequently your cats go to access their food, and how much they generally eat.
Unlike other app-connected products, the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder is a breeze to use. You can download the app in a couple of seconds, and it doesn’t take much time to designate the microchips that you want your system to recognize.
After you’ve set up the app, and your automatic cat feeder, you can also use your app to determine what the ideal portion is for each of your pets. After setting the portion weight, the lights beneath each scale on your device will light up, turning green when you add enough food. If you add too much, the light color changes to red.
The Design and Appearance
The design of the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect aims to make it easier for you to track the amount your cats eat and control portions for multiple pets. The bowls included are suitable for both wet and dry food, with a capacity of around 400ml. The fact that the bowls are sealed between uses also means that food stays fresher for longer.
From an aesthetic perspective, the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder as a device definitely looks pretty futuristic. If you’re the kind of person who loves your tech, this product is likely to appeal to you. There’s a thick plastic base where you put the main bowls. This section is easy enough to clean with a wipe or cloth. Underneath the bowls are a set of magnetic scales, so you can check your portions.
The space-age style rectangular opening in front of the bowl isn’t just for good looks. The hood also houses the sensor for tracking your kitty’s microchips. When a registered pet appears, the sensor can detect your cat and open the doors. The plastic components around the bowl also stop other pets from jumping in and stealing a bite to eat. If you have persistent pets, you can also buy a separate “rear” cover for the system too.
The biggest challenge I had was convincing my cats to use the microchip feeder in the first place. Some cats won’t feel as comfortable as others about ducking their heads underneath a hood to access their food. If you have a picky cat, this might be a problem for you. I’d recommend using a little catnip and some of your cat’s favourite foods to entice them over with the smell.
Cleaning and Maintenance
There are plenty of things to love about theSurefeed Microchip Pet Feeder. This microchip device comes with the ability to last for up to 6 months on a set of batteries, so you don’t need to replace the energy source all the time. There’s also the option to protect your purchase with a 3-year warranty too.
You’ll notice when you’re setting this product up that it’s extremely durable. Although there are a lot of plastic components, they feel really strong and well-made. I don’t expect this device to break any time soon. However, these products aren’t the best for cleaning purposes.
If like me, you have some messy eaters in your household, then you’ll discover that the food quickly goes everywhere. That means that your device will get dirty pretty quickly. Since there’s a microchip sensor and other sensitive technology within the main area of the device, you can’t just throw it in the sink or dishwasher.
The bowls for your cats are removable, so you can pull them out and wash them however you choose. There’s also a section underneath the bowl where your kitties place their paws. This mat can also be removed and cleaned. However, the unit itself cannot go under any running water. You’ll need some damp microfiber cloths or pet-safe wipes instead.
What Cat Owners Say
If you’re not convinced that this is the product for you based on my own review, you can find plenty of additional feedback from customers online. I found that the reviews for this product are mostly positive, with plenty of people talking about how this device helps them track their kitty’s meals.
Alternative Options to the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder
If you like the idea of a microchip cat feeder, but the price of the Surefeed device or its inability to go in the dishwasher is a problem for you, there are plenty of other options out there. Some of the most popular choices include:
Although each of these products have their own unique benefits to offer, it’s worth noting that there aren’t a lot of options out there that offer both wet and dry foods, like the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder product. You also don’t get the same portion control scales with the alternatives.
Finishing Thoughts on the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect
For me, the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect is an excellent solution to a common problem. If you’re looking after multiple cats at the same time, and it’s difficult for you to separate their meals, then this could be the product for you. Of course, you might need to think about buying a separate bowl for each cat, which means that the cost of feeding quickly adds up.
On one hand, there are some downsides to this product that you may need to be aware of. First, it’s going to feel quite expensive, particularly since you need to buy the hub that comes with the device too. Secondly, you might have a tough time cleaning this product since the main component shouldn’t be placed under any running water. Finally, it may take a while to convince your cats that they should use the smart feeder at all.
On the other hand, even with these negatives to consider, it’s important to note that the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder is likely to be a great investment. The app is perfect for when you need to keep track of the amount of food your cat eats, particularly for vet reasons. The design makes it easier to separate one portion of food from another, so you can feed your cats medicine and specific diets, no problem.
Though there are other automatic feeders out there, I couldn’t find any with the same series of benefits that the Surefeed has to offer. This seems to be the only reliable device that you can use for both wet and dry food. It’s also the only product I could find that allows you to weigh your food as you put it in the bowl for portion control.
I think, despite the high price tag, this is a product that any pet owner can benefit from.
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