Automated Cat Feeder And Large Plastic Screws

We’ve seen automated food dispensers for pets, but none that go so far as to build large plastic screws for dispensing kibble.

This isn’t [Mathieu]’s first automatic cat feeder; an earlier version used a wheel to dispense cat food in excessively large version. To improve upon his first build, [Mathiu] decided to use an Archimedean screw to dispense food in 5 gram increments. There was a problem, though: a proper industrial screw cost about $1500 and the ‘consumer’ versions of what he wanted were trash. He though about casting one in epoxy but didn’t want to poison his cat with strange chemicals. He ended up using PolyMorph for his screw, a plastic that melts at 60º C and is also used in medical devices.

The electronics of the build are an Arduino, a  DS1307 real-time clock, LCD display, and a relay board powering an electric screwdriver motor. From the video demo below, we’re going to say [Mathieu] put together a pretty nice automated cat feeder.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR7fvt7PUhk&w=580]

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=E5H-7zGxXY8&w=580]

24 thoughts on “Automated Cat Feeder And Large Plastic Screws

  1. Categorical proof cat’s will out live us all ??

    Now add a ultrasonic range finder to cheek the level of the food and automatically purchase it from home delivery.

          1. That’s often a sign that they weren’t fed properly/regularly when they were young. Cat’s are natural hunters so they tend to only eat what they want when they’re hungry, unlike dogs who tend to be scavengers and if you leave food they’ll eat until they’re sick, in fact some will eat themselves to death.

            The best way to get your cat to stop doing it, is to try and feed them at around the same times everyday (also can try 2 or 3 smaller meals instead of 1 larger one) also put a little dry food down after they’ve finished eating and left the room, eventually they’ll learn that there is going to be food there for them and the don’t need to worry about going hungry.

            Hope that helps. :D

          2. What kind of cat food are you feeding the cat?

            It is unfortunate but some manufacturers add flavoring to their food that will entice pets to eat more than they should. End result is more money spent on pet food and a sick pet. You should research the specific food you are feeding your cat and find out if other pet owners have the same over eating problem.

          3. Our cats come from the local ASPCA, so, maybe they weren’t properly fed. One was found in garbage bag at 2 month and the other was diyng of coriza (don’t know the exact term in english, sorry, now, he sneeze a lot) !

            I tryed everything, pipolino, feeding at same time every day (including 6 month with pet feeder), and I will try 24 times a day with smaller dose.

            I use Royal Canin Light 40, but i will try to find if they add flavoring ;) Thanks a lot !

  2. Some cats are messy, some dispensers are too.
    Fire off bits of kibble at random intervals. Should stop the puking if they have to work for the food, and can’t bolt it down.

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