The Cat Mate C50 Automatic Pet Feeder is a convenient and easy-to-use appliance that ensures your cat will be fed the right amount of food at the right times of the day.
This pet feeder has 5 compartments for 5 separate meals, but it is important to keep in mind that the first portion is served right away, while the other four meals can be scheduled later in the day (and even into the next day, depending on the type of food served and your pet’s dietary plan).
The Cat Mate C50 works with both dry and wet food and works with one AA battery that is not included in the packaging.
Features of the Cat Mate C50
As stated in the introduction, the Cat Mate C50 can be filled with either dry or wet food, and it serves up to 5 meals.
The unit comes with an analog timer or dial, that you can rotate in order to set the intervals in between meals (the minimum required interval is 4 hours), and it has twin ice pack compartment underneath to help keep wet food fresh longer.
The removable lid rotates to reveal food when each interval is up.
A great feature of the Cat Mate C50 is that it contains a battery meter which indicates how much power is left so the user has ample time to replace the battery.
How it works
The user should first remove the lid and fill each tray, then replace the lid and rotate it counter-clockwise to shut the unit.
Then, the user should turn the dial to indicate how much time should be in between meals; the Cat Mate C50 contains a catch mechanism that releases at set times, allowing the lid to rotate clockwise to reveal one tray each time.
A couple of things to keep in mind before walking away is ensuring that the start button is ON and that the dial is rotated to the interval desired.
Pros
A huge pro that The Cat Mate C50 can boast about is that it holds a considerable amount of either wet or dry food (up to 5 meals, at about 300g each meal) which should last at least one to two days.
The tray and lid are dishwasher safe which ensures easy and thorough cleaning, and the unit contains compartments underneath for ice packs which can help keep wet food fresher for longer.
The battery level indicator is also a huge pro since the user won’t have to guess how much power is left, nor will they have to be surprised when they find out their feeding has not been working.
Cons
Though the dial has a plastic cover to prevent tampering, some more intelligent cats may be able to knock it off then change the interval times.
While 4-hour intervals – the minimum interval time – may be adequate for your pet, other cats may require more frequent feedings (with less food each portion, for example).
Another con is that while the ice packs help preserve the food’s freshness, they melt completely between 4-10 hours which may result in spoiled food especially if the intervals between feeding is longer.
Many users have mentioned that the battery, which is located on the bottom of the unit, is not well protected and can drop out easily.
Others have stated that the unit will not support heavy wet food, as it prevent the lid from rotating.
Tips & Tricks
The Cat Mate C50 may require a learning curve so it is best to test out the unit for a couple of days before leaving your pet alone.
This ensures you’re using it correctly, setting the right intervals, filling it with the right food, and ultimately that you’ve chosen the right feeder for you and your pet’s specific needs.
Another factor to keep in mind is that wet food generally lasts for less than 12 hours in the bowl and should not be fed to your pet after this time as it may have been spoiled.
Other tips to keep in mind that will help your product function to the best of its ability include using a fresh battery, keeping extra ice packs on hand for backup, and taping the bottom to prevent the battery from falling out.
Conclusion of the Cat Mate Feeder
The Cat Mat C50, like many automatic moist food feeders for cats, is mainly recommended for docile cats who are not trouble-makers, nor are they obsessed with feeding or breaking into things.
These types of cats may cause the schedule to change, or may even cause the unit to tip over.
This unit may not be the right automatic feeder for you if you pet requires feeding in less than 4-hour intervals, nor if you are planning to be away from home for more than two days at a time.
Before you make a decision then you should check out the QPets Pet Dish 6-Meal Feeder | I also did a Cat Mate C20 Review so you shouldn’t miss out
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