Microchip Pet Feeder

Anyone who has tried to keep one cat on a prescription diet while another raids the bowl will recognise the problem ePawDen is targeting. The Microchip Pet Feeder, presented as a Kickstarter project, is a sealed feeding station that identifies each animal and opens only for those registered to it.

Identification by chip or tag

According to the maker, the feeder reads FDX-B microchips compliant with ISO 11784/11785, the format used for implanted pet chips, so already-chipped animals need no extra hardware. Pets without a chip can wear the included RFID collar tag, which the maker says is paired with the feeder at the factory. Pairing a chip involves holding the pairing button on the back and bringing the pet close until the indicator light changes from blinking to steady. The maker states the feeder can store more than 15 pet IDs; an unregistered pet approaching it will not trigger the lid.

Sealed bowls and a deliberate footprint

When a pet walks away, the lid closes automatically. The campaign frames this as "No Insects No Stealing No Smell": keeping pests out, limiting moisture and air exposure, and containing odours. Inside are two food-grade stainless steel bowls of 500ml each, one with a central divider for separating foods, and the maker says they are dishwasher safe. ePawDen also says the feeder's width is calculated to be wider than one pet's shoulders but narrower than two pets' heads, so only one animal can eat at a time.

Mechanism, power and build

• Friction-wheel lid mechanism the maker describes as quiet
• Obstacle detection that stops the lid if a paw or body part is in the way
• Cordless design weighing 1kg (about 2.2 lb)
• Rechargeable 2,600mAh lithium battery, rated by the maker for several days of daily use per charge
• 3mm-thick transparent PC casing
• Removable design panel for cleaning the interior
• 1-year warranty

On durability, ePawDen says it ran a simulation assuming four uses a day over 10 years and recorded more than 12,000 open-close cycles without failure. The maker also recommends gradual training for timid pets that are wary of the device at first.