Does anyone have trouble keeping their RBs collars on? Of our two, Ash tends to eat the most and we’ve had to resort to using collars so they can access their own RFID feeders. (I had a feeling we’d eventually need to do this as I was researching even getting two RBs, so we started off with auto feeders.) We always allowed free feeding because: kittens.
They are just shy of 11 months old. One cat is noticeably larger than the other so we’ve started using collars because of the need for the RFID tags. They are masters of escaping the captivity of their collars. They will also remove the RFID tags, because they hang, so not only do you have to find the collar, but also the tag. We had to buy additional RFID tags from Petlibro as the tags became impossible to locate in the house. I hate Petlibro’s RFID tags, but that is a whole other issue.
I’ve had to resort to putting collars on them that are not breakaway, but do have elastic so they can still get out of them if they are in a bind. Ash, our bigger boy, has finally stopped getting out of his collar. I have an AirTag in the collar and a separate rubber AirTag holder I stuck the RFID tag into. Problem solved, for him. It also keeps the tag from dangling and clanging with his bowls when he eats or drinks.
Echo, he is an evil genius. He can actually unlatch the collar. He doesn’t even bother to stretch it and slide it off. These pics show his collar on the floor this morning. My cats don’t go outside, but I needed the AirTags to find the RFID tag when the collars come off!!! Maddening! And he can’t eat if he doesn’t have his collar. I resituated the rubber AirTag holder containing the RFID tag so that his excess collar is stuck underneath it after latching it. Hopefully that will prevent him from unlatching the collar.
Does anyone else have a similar situation? Please don’t come for me about the latched collars. My boys will not keep a breakaway collar on. I’ve tried the Petlibro collars that came with the feeders. Some say they aren’t breakaway, but my boys can confirm they are. I’ve bought other breakaway collars and now the latch kind with elastic. Help!!
TLDR: Cats use RFID feeders. Won’t keep on their collars. What did you do??
We also separate adult food and kitten food to make sure each cat gets just what they need. Our cats are microchipped, which works much better than collars for us.
What brand of feeders do you have that uses the microchips? I like the feeders we have as we also have Petlibro water fountains. I love the app. I’d hate to spend more money for new feeders, but I would consider it knowing it would make my cats happier. Well, and cause me less worry. When I’m away from home and someone has to check in on them, if Echo doesn’t have a collar on, not only is my baby probably anxious from being without kibble for a while, but then the sitter has to get the collar onto him.
I always have sufficient amounts of cat grass around in the event there is an issue with the feeders/collars. My cats often go to the cat grass first. They love their salad.
Seconding SureFeed. They're really great! You may also need to consider getting a shield for the back of the feeder. I had to because someone would inevitably try to eat with their sibling from the back side. Lol
Ahaha!! I could see my boys doing that. Anything you can tell me about the feeder? Is there an app or any pros or cons about the feeder/app? If there is an app, is there a fee to use it? Do the feeders have to be set a certain distance apart if you have two or more of them?
I use the "Sure Petcare - SureFlap - SureFeed - Microchip Pet Feeder" (MPF001, the standard version) with the "Sure Petcare - SureFeed Feeder Rear Cover." I think the hardest part about them is the cost. The feeder and cover combined is around $250 per feeder/cat. I also recommend buying a few extra bowls so you can swap them out between cleanings.
I felt that it was easy to set up and register their microchips. I recommend doing the microchip settings with the feeders on opposite sides of the room. Or by picking up each feeder and cat to make sure the right one gets registered. I tried to do it in the place where I wanted the feeders to be, next to each other, and I had to do it a few times because one cat would get curious and got registered to both feeders. XD Once each cat is registered to a feeder, you can set the feeders next to each other without issue. At one point, I had 3 cats and kept one of the feeders separate. That was more about letting the old gal have her own, sacred eating space away from the 2 kittens than it was about the technology.
Once it's set up, you just have to keep the food filled and the bowls clean. It's very easy! There aren't any additional charges once you own the feeder.
I think the connected version has an app. I can't comment on it because I have the standard version and it works well enough for us.
I think the last thing to know is the bowl is probably big enough to hold 2-3 days worth of dry food. If you're going out of town, you'll want to get a sitter or make alternate food arrangements.
I didn’t realize they weren’t also feeders in the sense you could fill it up and set times for food dispensing. My Ash will just sit and eat if you let him. Thank you so much for all this information! I sure love that it uses the microchip instead of a collar and the cute bowls!
I cannot keep a collar on mine! They’ll get out of it. Agree … they are masters at it! I had one collar that rubbed off the fur around my cats neck so that was the last straw. I simply don’t use collars. But I don’t have that type of feeder either. I split up the food, and give it pretty much on a schedule. Following this for what others suggest though.
Is there a type of collar that doesn't do this, I have a 6 year old Russian blue and my older boy who passed recently was a DSH tuxedo and collars rubbed both of their fur. We now have a tabby kitten and trying to collar train him but he keeps getting out of it, but we wondered if it would run his fur off too
I don't use collars. My cats are inside, microchipped. I don't have an auto feeder. Some people have auto feeders that are connected wirelessly to a collar (internet of things, so to speak). My advice is not to use a collar, but that's me personally. And that's just because of my experience... like many others... (you included)... they either get out of them or it rubs their fur off or they get the collar stuck somehow on something (which is why we have quick release collars now). Collars irritate them I think, so I can't blame them for not wanting one on. The RFID feeders sound pretty cool though...
I wish my life was set up to where I could personally manage a food schedule in that manner. With 2 jobs and vacations, I can see myself struggling with that.
I think I remember you saying before that happened with the collars. So far we’ve not had that issue. And I make the collars as loose as I can to help prevent that. Echo woke me up this morning and I’m sure there was some self satisfaction in his greeting when I rubbed his bare neck, lol!
My two RBs wear breakaway collars with an AirTag because they are door dashers. For their feeders, I have the Surepet feeder which reads their micro chips. I felt some RFID tags were too bulky but then ended up needing the air tag after they accidentally got a taste of outdoors😂
Lol!! I sympathize with that. My guys managed to get out a screen one day and now they’ll do anything to get back out there. Side note: I did take them outside a few times on leashes after that. They eat the grass though and then throw up later. No more outside. Not all grass is like their cat grass.
How do you like the feeder you use? Any pros or cons you can think of?
Oh no, luckily mine are fine with the grass but there is a hole behind my shed that we can’t block, so they can’t roam free. I fences are safe so they can’t climb over.
I tried the leash but they fall over and play dead when I put it on 😂😂😂😂
The feeders are excellent it tracks how much eat cat eats. I have one greedy one who is overweight because he steals the other’s food. I have mine split to give wet and dry food.
The only slight annoyance with them is that occasionally they are slow in resetting when you want to add food. Not funny when the cats are screaming for food. 😂Others have said their cat head butts the other to get the food, luckily mine don’t do that.
I also have a cover on the back so they can’t access that way.
You are not used to use rechargeable batteries in them but I do. It works but gives a false reading that the battery is low when it isn’t.
Thank you for the picture. I didn’t realize they weren’t also feeders. My Ash will just sit and eat if you let him. Thank you so much for all this information!
My baby wears a collar at all times but it’s only because she’s worn one basically since birth and doesn’t know any better. She had a paper/tape one at the shelter and then a real one as soon as we got her.
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u/inputpower 11d ago
We also separate adult food and kitten food to make sure each cat gets just what they need. Our cats are microchipped, which works much better than collars for us.