Stray Cat Feeder Guide: Outdoor Feeding Without Raccoons

Can I put an automatic cat feeder outside?

Check the manual first, and treat a feeder with no outdoor rating as indoor-only. Sure Petcare's manual says the SureFeed is designed for indoor use only and must not be submerged. PETLIBRO says to place its One RFID feeder in a dry location.

Some brands say nothing either way. ePawDen's FAQ, for example, doesn't address outdoor use.

Why does food left outside attract raccoons?

The University of California's IPM program says pet food left outside overnight ranks high as a raccoon food source. It advises removing outdoor pet food before nightfall. It also warns that feeding raccoons on purpose only attracts more.

Raccoons carry rabies and distemper, UC IPM notes, so keep your own pets vaccinated. It also warns that raccoon roundworm can spread to people, and young children are thought most at risk.

The CDC advises against feeding or leaving food outside for wildlife. It warns that animals fed repeatedly can lose their fear of people. The CDC also says not to let pets approach or interact with wildlife.

Ants go for pet food too. UC IPM advises storing pet food in closed containers.

Will a microchip feeder work for a stray cat?

Usually not on its own. A selective feeder opens only for a chip or tag you have registered, and a stray may not be chipped.

England's microchip law, for example, covers pet cats from 20 weeks old. It exempts cats that live with little or no human contact, such as farm, feral or community cats.

A chipped stray still might not register. ePawDen, for example, reads only 15-digit ISO chips and says 9- and 10-digit chips are not supported.

A tag means fitting the cat with a collar. Sure Petcare's manual says to use a safety collar with a breakaway buckle for its tag.

How do I feed a stray or outdoor cat?

1. Feed at set daytime meals

   Put food out at the same times each day, while you can watch who eats it.

2. Take leftovers in before dark

   UC IPM advises removing outdoor pet food before nightfall. The FDA advises washing pet food bowls with soap and hot water after each use.

3. Store food sealed

   Keep the bag in a closed container, as UC IPM advises against ants.

4. Don't feed wildlife

   UC IPM says feeding raccoons attracts more, and the CDC advises against leaving food out for wildlife.

5. Protect your own pets

   The CDC says keeping pets up to date on rabies vaccines lowers your risk.

What if the cat can come indoors to eat?

Then an indoor feeder becomes an option. Nityers says its QQ21 8 L Feeder serves up to 6 timed meals a day.

To see who turns up, the Frienhund 7 L Camera Feeder has a camera with night vision, Frienhund says. In a home with other pets, the HoneyGuardian SF35 opens only for its collar tag.

Treat all of these as indoor products. Keep them inside and dry, as PETLIBRO and Sure Petcare direct for their own feeders.

For a chipped cat, a selective bowl keeps other animals out of its food indoors. Sure Petcare says the SureFeed lid stays closed for unregistered pets. It runs on four C batteries for about six months.

Whatever the feeder, plan for someone to check on the cat each day. Cornell's Feline Health Center says loss of appetite can harm an adult cat within 24 hours.

See timed feeders with battery backup (20 feeders)

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