Description
When our senior cat Chubby got diagnosed with kidney trouble, we needed to make sure he ate his special prescription food and not the regular stuff Panther and Tiny were having. Problem was, they all share the same feeders and they are night snackers, and Chubby’s not exactly good at saying no.
Instead of buying some fancy expensive automatic feeder, we built our own for under $100.
With a few affordable parts, some wood, and a lot of trial and error (plus Panther sitting on my lap the entire time), we made RFID powered lids that only open for the right cat.
This setup can be adapted for many other inventions like RFID controlled doggy doors, Chicken coop doors that open only for the hens, Personalized pet treat dispensers, Smart access boxes for other animals.
If you have any questions, I’ll gladly answer, just leave a comment below.
If you have ideas or other uses for this setup, feel free to share them in the comments. I’d love to hear them.
Thanks for watching!
Cat Food we all like:
From Chewy: https://chewpanions.chewy.com/2a8c9838694/list/aKJYGzEgxcU
Chubby's Prescription Dry Food for Renal Disease : https://amzn.to/3Hym9UA We add water, and sometimes fish oil to avoid constipation.
Chubby's Prescription Renal Wet Food:
D for Delectable is his first choice: https://amzn.to/3HxMd27, he's also tried T is for Tasty https://amzn.to/45kkAUh
Over the Counter “Urinary Health” Food: https://amzn.to/4jECnbW
Over the Counter “Digestive Health” Food: https://amzn.to/43Am1wz
Panthers favourite dry Food : https://amzn.to/4jM6dvn
Our favorite cat litter https://amzn.to/3RQwM7g
Key Parts Used for the project:
Motion Sensor – $9
https://amzn.to/3Zmx9KU
Servo Motor – $15 (per 1)
https://amzn.to/44Bu9O6
RFID Tag Reader – $30
https://amzn.to/43aZNQ1
Small Acrylic Hinges – $7 (per 12 pack)
https://amzn.to/3YJXrXc
Servo Mount Brackets – $10 (per 2)
https://amzn.to/3SvQnK3
Servo Arm Horns – $13 (per 4)
https://amzn.to/3GSV7qQ
Arduino Nano Board (Presoldered, by ELEGOO) – $15 (set of 3)
https://amzn.to/3GSVcLa
Tag holders for collars
https://amzn.to/4jQGeTK
RFID Tags (Yellow Round Livestock Style) – $20 (set of 10)
https://ebay.us/eq4hpd
(These are affiliate links, which help support the channel at no extra cost to you , thank you!)
All Arduino code for this RFID Cat Feeder is available here:
https://github.com/Honeysad007/RFID-Cat-Feeder
Help fuel future builds here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/honeysada
Important Lessons & Vet-Approved Insights
-Blood in Urine – This is always a red flag and requires immediate veterinary attention. While a urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most likely cause, persistent blood after treatment warrants further investigation of the urinary tract and kidneys.
-Excessive Drinking & Urination – What may seem like normal behavior over time—especially in larger cats—could actually signal an underlying issue. Early veterinary consultation is recommended.
-Prescription Pet Food – These diets are formulated for specific health conditions and should not be shared with other pets. While healthy cats eating small amounts accidentally on rare occasions isn’t a major concern, regular consumption could lead to health problems.
-Dry Food & Hydration – Cats with urinary issues often struggle with dry food. Adding water to their kibble is an easy adjustment most cats accept, and it helps support their hydration.
-Peeing Outside the Litter Box – This isn’t always a sign of illness, but it is a form of communication. Your cat could be expressing discomfort with the litter box’s location, cleanliness, or something else. Pay attention to their cues—they might be telling you something.
Music: Calm by Monty, Mississippi Mover by Everet Almond, All Hail the Queen by Dan Lebowitz.