UPDATE: this is an old version, see the new version: https://www.tindie.com/products/adouglas/open-source-clog-proof-repairable-wifi-cat-feeder/

This is a cat feeder that is not prone to jamming, and gives consistent feed quantities. It has a wifi interface. It uses a Raspberry pi Pico W with micropython. It is mechanically very reliable and it seems to have worked consistently for about a week now, but there is the slim chance that the software might have issues. I think it's fine because I am using the watchdog, so if the software works for a week it should be fine forever.

It sets the time automatically from the internet. You have to connect over usb to configure it on first boot, but you can change the feeding times through your browser or administer a single scoop whenever you want thereafter.

You can return it if you don't like it or whatever, no worries.

This is for an actual device, it's already made, I added legs to the front with stainless steel screws to tilt it back a bit, just increases usable kibble capacity to the ~400 ml it currently has.

I appreciate that you can get cheap feeders for less $, however the cheap ones have a lot of issues, and this one is for the rare person who appreciates the unique benefits of this device, and for whom money is not the most dominant concern. You can also get feeders for $500 each that probably aren't any better for a lot of purposes.

When I needed an auto cat feeder I groaned at the idea of buying a cheap one because you get so many issues, and even the amazon reviews don't reveal a lot of them. But even the reviews reveal a lot of issues. What almost always happens is that I buy cheap thing after cheap thing, the price and total expenditure and time invested rising to the point where I could have designed and made my own. I skipped to the end, this time. I have never tried a commercial unit, but I am betting even expensive ones have issues.

Unique benefits include:

• high precision feeding.

• high mechanical reliability, very simple mechanism. If I may say so the mechanism is rather clever, actually.

• open source, very hackable, if you know some python or micropython especially. You can wipe the Pico W and use Arduino if you want.

• it's cool because it's artisan made with independence.

• no planned obsolescence, should work great for a long time and it's easy/cheap to fix if you break something.

The main limitation is that it has kind of a small hopper, about 400 ml usable capacity. That's still a lot of food for most cats.

You have to refill it by pouring kibble back in the funnel which is a bit awkward, but it works.

I am finding it handy to dispense a single scoop, this is useful to redirect unwanted behaviours. I use my phone to command it to dispense a single scoop by going to the ip address in my browser and clicking the button that says "serve 1 scoop". This makes a distinct noise and only gives 1.6 grams of kibble. This distracts Raven, my cat, from doing things I don't want him to do like jumping on the counter. This is a recommended approach, the cats are not usually smart enough to associate the unwanted behavior with the food. I read this in the book Decoding your Cat, by the American Animal Behaviourist society.

Note: the shipping probably won't cost $27 usd, I hope not. I don't know how Tindie does that.

The tape is gone from the back.

This does not include the USB power supply or micro usb cable, because almost everyone has at least one spare kicking around so we might as well use that. Any normal power supply is fine, it can be a cheapie one, 1 amp is fine.

I made a quick manual here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17QiroeNo5WMtZf4q4UaK647KNackGohmk6WM-z2dj-0/edit?usp=sharing