Battery Life for Petsafe 5 Meal Auto Feeder

I just got the auto feeder this morning and tried one meal for the cat. The cat looked at it weird and sized it up for a few seconds then ate out of it. I put the Energizer brand batteries in.

So for those who own this feeder, how long did the batteries last for? Of course my biggest concern is when the feeder stops rotating when the battery is dead. Also I see a square slot underneath the feeding tray. I guess thats the spot to put in an icepack?

 

The batteries lasted several months for me before I no longer had to use the feeder. I suggest replacing the batteries at least once a year just in case.

The square under the tray itself is what goes onto the black rotating thing in the feeder so it can turn. I've never used an ice pack but a small one might fit in the bottom of the feeder. Just make sure it doesn't affect the tray from rotating.

 

I had been using batteries from the Dollar Store, and they didn't last too long before the feeder would start missing a cycle or two; maybe only 10-12 uses (I didn't use it on a daily basis). I would suggest splurging on the good batteries and maybe you'll have better luck than I did. Maybe I have a defective model, though!

 

I think mine is the same model and it came with 2 blue ice packs that you freeze and put into the impressions in the bottom half of the unit. I found that the batteries didn't last for very long...like a couple of days maybe....and they were Energizers. I stopped using the feeder because Morris eats mini meals (1/4 can of FF every other hour) and the feeder could only be set for a minimum of every 5-6 hours as the pegs wouldn't go any closer together. I'm putting mine up on ebay as soon as I get around to it.

 

I guess we have been lucky. Our batteries last a year or more - we put new ones in last spring and haven't had to change them yet. I do always get the expensive ones. Mine has the space for the freezer pack also; I did find one that fit, but don't use it often. I more often freeze the food and put it in.

 

Here's a picture of the one I have:
http://www.tscpets.com/9486-pid.html

 

A long long time. Just look at the little red and white meter whenever you set it up to make sure it's clicking. You can also hear a faint clicking as the gears turn.

I really wish it was digital, but otherwise I have used 2 of these with success since 2005! I only have an issue with one where one slot gets skipped over and I have to be careful not to use that as the "starter" slot.

 

This is the one I'm talking about. I should of put this up earlier:

 

That's the one we have

We love it! No one has been able to get into it, and Oliver made it his occupation.....

 

Yup, that's the one I used. I used Duracell batteries (either that or Energizer) and they lasted a long time.

Can't help you out with the ice pack since I never used one. Have you tried freezing food and putting that into the tray sections?

 

This is the one I use:
http://www.tscpets.com/9486-pid.html

Not the same one...maybe I should look into the one you guys are using.

 

No but I think I'll have to do that. Or I was thinking maybe getting mini ice packs and putting it in the tray then putting food on top.

 

I have that same feeder and it was still on its first set of batteries when we took it out of commission.

I used it for 4 meals. I tried to use the little slot for an ice pack, but never found one small enough to fit. Instead, I would freeze three of the portions of her meals and refrigerate one. That way the food was kept cold (in my mind, "fresh") throughout the day. Later on, I got lazy and didn't refrigerate/freeze the food. It kept just fine throughout the day.

Love that feeder. =) You made a good choice.

Vicci & Shadow (GA)

 

That's a different feeder. The PetSafe 5 is electronic.

 

Hi Ken,
I have the same one you do and it has been slightly more than a year since I've put batteries in it. I used Duracell batteries. I probably should change them... just because, well, it's been a YEAR and it has never failed.

 

I have the same one....Petsafe 5 Meal......Zoe LOVES it. I usually freeze food and put in it; however if I forget to freeze some food, I'll just throw a little crushed ice on top of the food and it does fine. It is rare that I find a compartment where Zoe has not licked the bowl clean.

 

I found the electronic one at Petco on sale for $49.99...I'm buying that one and selling my old one on ebay. Here's the link to the one on Petco:
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=402966
If you have a Petco account, they have free shipping over $30 now thru 1/7...just got an email from them. I HATE paying for shipping!