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Pet Mate C50 Automatic Pet Feeder
by milmol7
I bought this product over 5 years ago when I started having to stay out overnight through work. This was going to be happening over a period of a few months so I was in a real dilemma about what to do about my beloved cat. After looking around and seeing this product I thought I would have to give it a try, as it was the only realistic ... solution. I would typically be going out one morning early and returning the following evening late.
The Feeder is made of sturdy plastic, a grey base/body and a white lid. It measures about 10 inches across and is about 2 inches high. With this feeder you are able to select 4 feeding times for your pet. It has 5 compartments, but obviously the first compartment has to be open when you leave. The feeder is battery operated, and there is a small "start" switch by the battery compartment underneath. Once you switch this to start, there is a visible indicator next to the time dial which turns so that you can see that the battery is working ok.
Removing the white lid, the actual compartments themselves are numbered (although these numbers are hard to see -they are grey, sort of embossed into the bases of each compartment), so you can see which compartment to start with. You then fill with food or treats as you wish for each planned meal/opening. When you replace the lid you turn it fully anti-clockwise so that the open section is compartment zero.
Attached to the side of the body of the feeder is a timer which covers up to four days (counting today as day 1). It is clearly marked with a red arrow pointing to the dial, saying "time", and you turn the dial so that the current time in the bright red "TODAY" section is lined up with the red arrow. There are then four red pegs which you drag around the edge of the dial, placing each one at a point in time when you want the feeder to open. As soon as the feeder is switched to "start" the timer dial will start to move. Bear in mind this dial covers 72 hours and in only a couple of inches across, so it's not possible to see it moving, but you can be reassured by the battery indicator going round. When the timer goes past the first peg, the lid turns with a 'click' and opens the first compartment, and so on for each of the pegs. The feeder has operated perfectly every single time I've used it, proving that it's easy to set up and very reliable. In addition I have since used it for my two much younger, much smarter, much naughtier(!) cats and they have never broken into it!
For my usage back then, I only wanted to use it over a 36 hour period, so I would feed her in the morning and could open one in the evening with her food, another later in the evening with some treats, morning breakfast and a smaller portion for later the second evening if I was delayed past her normal feed time. The closest that it's possible to get the pegs together is approx 4 hours, due to their size. The other thing to be aware of is that there is limited accuracy with the times of opening - again because of it being essentially a clockwork mechanism, and a huge time period on such a small dial. Each hour mark on the dial is approx 1mm to give some idea.
To clean the feeder, remove the lid and the part of the base with the food compartments lifts straight off. Due to its size, its not the easiest thing to clean, but it does come up sparkling every time. Also in the base are two 'ice packs' which can be used to keep the food fresh, but I have never used these, my kitchen is quite cool and the food remains safely covered in the feeder anyway.
Sadly my cat passed away 18 months ago, but this feeder was in storage and as mentioned above, I have recently used it on a few occasions for my two new cats. It still works perfectly well and is good as new, so is obviously made of sturdy materials and built to last. I guess the cost of this product is quite a shock - around £50 for a feeder, but for the things it does and for the peace of mind it has done me long and good service.
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Bob Martin Flea & Tick Spot On
by milmol7
Having adopted two cats together, I was all too aware of the costs I would encounter in their upkeep and whilst never being prepared to compromise their well-being I was keen to look for cheaper options where available. This Bob Martin product was significantly cheaper than the ones locked behind the counter in Pets at Home, and readily ... available at the local co-op, so in my mind it had to be worth a try.
My cats came from the rescue centre already protected and they weren't noticeably troubled by itching or jumping - although I should obviously say that I'm just a pet owner, no expert. I did the treatment in line with when the centre told me they'd be due - four weeks after their last treatment.
The packet has clear instructions on how and where to apply to the cats. The tubes are only about an inch long, and once the end of each tube was snipped off, the liquid came out quickly and easily, so it was a straightforward operation for me on my own to do the cats one at a time. It left a sleeky residue on their fur behind their necks but this is inevitable, and as stated on the packet, it had gone by the next day. Neither of the cats were unduly troubled by the application of the liquid.
Job done, I assumed. But within one-two weeks I really noticed one of my cats being terribly troubled both by incessant itching, and also having times of being really jumpy. Again, no expert, but I imagine the kind of jumpiness you would get if being troubled by fleas. After a couple of days I realised I had to do something and made a trip to Pets at Home for some advice.
Their view of this product was pretty dim, although I wouldn't be swayed by that - you never know if it's just a personal view or a sales pitch, but their advice seemed to be well informed. They said that the active ingredients in this product were not the same as Frontline, hence the cost difference, and advised me to try Frontline (or in this case, I took their own-brand version Fiproline). They told me after two weeks it would be ok to use the new treatment.
I did the treatment on both cats and the itching and jumping stopped almost straight away, so it certainly appears that the Bob Martin product had not deterred the fleas at all. I checked the packaging, and indeed, the active ingredients appear to be completely different, although long scientific names they obviously contain different ingredients that do (or don't do) different things. This is one product I would never buy again as in the end it was just a waste of money.
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Thomas Cat Litter
by milmol7
I have used Thomas cat litter since day 1 for my cats. I had two young large adult cats together from the local rescue and needed to keep them indoors for a good few weeks while they settled in. My logic was to see how they got on with the cheapest and if they, or I, didn't like it I could move up through the ranks, so to speak, as I ... was conscious I would be purchasing a heck of a lot of it until they were ready for outdoors.
From day one they were both impeccably clean and used their tray without hesitation. No problem with the Thomas litter. They both shared a tray and so as it was being used heavily, I initially changed the litter in full daily. After they started to go out they began to use the tray less and less and so it wasn't necessary to do a full change every day. Contrary to other reviewers, I found that the litter was very good at absorbing liquids, and clumped together. This means that with a second tray to decant into, I can tip the clean litter to one side, clean out the clumped 'stuff' (sorry!) and then reuse the clean litter, I only need to completely change the litter in full every 3rd day or so. This makes the whole process even more economical than it would already have been.
The litter itself is like tiny stones, maybe 4-5mm across. No complaints from the girls using it and from my point of view, any which is spilled or scratched out of the tray is quick and easy to sweep or vacuum up. When I fill the tray there is a slight initial puff of dust, but no more, certainly nothing to discomfort me or the girls.
I have not noticed any smells whatsoever, although in my experience of owning cats, that has varied with the cats themselves, so maybe I'm just lucky on that score with my latest two.
The only major downside of Thomas for me is the packaging. Buying in large quantities I went for the biggest bags, and the handles snapped on about one in three bags on average when carrying them from the pet shop to the car. Very annoying, not to mention very awkward to then carry. Also they are difficult to get into and pour from. I think the 'stitched' seal to the bags is intended to 'unzip' the bag but this rarely, if ever, works and so I usually need a pair of scissors on hand and a bit of patience.
On the whole I find Thomas a perfectly good budget cat litter which has saved me heaps of money whilst my cats were limited to indoors.
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